The first general to put a check on the superiority of the French army was a Frenchman, for so we should call Prince Eugene, though he was the grandson of Charles Emmanuel, duke of Savoy; his father, the count de Soissons, had settled in France, where he was lieutnent-general of the king's armies, and governor of Champagne, and had married Olympe Mancini, one of the nieces of Cardinal Mazarin. From this match, so unfortunate in other respects, was born this prince, who afterwards proved so dangerous an adversary to Louis XIV, and was so little known to him in his youth. He was known at first in France by the name of the Chevalier de Carignan; he afterwards took the petit collet, and was called the Abbot of Savoy. It is said that he asked the king for a regiment, which his majesty refused him, on account of his being too much connected with the princes of Conti, who were then in disgrace.
Not being able to succeed with Louis XIV. , he went to serve the emperor against the Turks in Hungary, in 1684, together with the princes of Conti , who had already made a glorious campaign there . The king sent an order to the princes of Conti, and all those who had accompanied them in this expedition , to return home . The abbot of Savoy was the only one who refused to comply with this mandate : he continued his journey, openly declaring that he renounced France forever. The king, when he was told of this, said to his courtiers, “ Don't you think I have had a great loss ? " and these gentlemen gave it as their opinion that the abbot of Savoy would always be a mad - headed fellow , and fit for nothing. They founded their judgment on certain sallies of youth, by which we are never to judge of men . This prince , who was held in so much contempt at the court of France, was born with all the qualifications which form the hero in war and the great man in peace . He had a just and lofty mind , and the necessary courage, both in the field and cabinet. He was guilty of faults, as all generals have been , but these were lost in the number of his great actions . He shook the greatness of Louis XIV. and the Ottoman power : he governed the empire , and in the course of his victories and ministry showed an equal contempt for vainglory and riches. He cherished , and even protected , learning, as much as could be done at the court of Vienna.
Voltaire about Eugene
Not being able to succeed with Louis XIV. , he went to serve the emperor against the Turks in Hungary, in 1684, together with the princes of Conti , who had already made a glorious campaign there . The king sent an order to the princes of Conti, and all those who had accompanied them in this expedition , to return home . The abbot of Savoy was the only one who refused to comply with this mandate : he continued his journey, openly declaring that he renounced France forever. The king, when he was told of this, said to his courtiers, “ Don't you think I have had a great loss ? " and these gentlemen gave it as their opinion that the abbot of Savoy would always be a mad - headed fellow , and fit for nothing. They founded their judgment on certain sallies of youth, by which we are never to judge of men . This prince , who was held in so much contempt at the court of France, was born with all the qualifications which form the hero in war and the great man in peace . He had a just and lofty mind , and the necessary courage, both in the field and cabinet. He was guilty of faults, as all generals have been , but these were lost in the number of his great actions . He shook the greatness of Louis XIV. and the Ottoman power : he governed the empire , and in the course of his victories and ministry showed an equal contempt for vainglory and riches. He cherished , and even protected , learning, as much as could be done at the court of Vienna.