Turenne

tu-ren' (1611-1675), a distinguished French soldier. He was born at Sedan. His grandfather was the celebrated William the Silent. He was brought up in the Reformed Church, but adopted the Catholic faith at fifty-seven. He entered the French army at the suggestion of Richelieu and rose rapidly. Mazarin made him a marshal of France. He commanded the French troops in the Thirty Years' War, and by a series of brilliant victories did much to bring about the peace of Westphalia in 1648. He put down the uprising of the Fronde and drove Conde out of France. His great antipathy was the emperor of Germany. Although he led Catholic troops, his military talent was devoted to the support of the Protestants of Germany, as an offset to the power of the Catholic emperor. He was killed by a chance cannon ball at Sasbach. He was respected by the soldiers on both sides as "a man who did honor to human nature."