Jacques Eléonor Rouxel de Grancey

Jacques Eléonor Rouxel de Grancey, Comte de Médavy (31 May 1655 – 6 November 1725) was a French military officer and Marshal of France who fought in the Nine Years War and the War of the Spanish Succession .

Early life

Jacques Eléonor Rouxel de Grancey, born on 31 May 1655 at Chalancey, was the son of Pierre Rouxel (1626-1704), Comte de Grancey and de Médavy and Henriette de La Palud. In June 1685, he married Marie-Thérèse Colbert, a niece of Jean-Baptiste Colbert; they had three daughters, all of whom died before their father. He also had an illegitimate son Claude Rouxel de Blanchelande, who served in the French military.

Between 1705 and 1725, he built the Château de Grancey-le-Château-Neuvelle on the site of an existing medieval fortress, which is still used.

Career

In 1673, at the age of 18 Médavy was enrolled in the prestigious Garde du Corps; he took part in numerous actions during the Nine Years War and War of the Spanish Succession. He was promoted Lieutenant-General in 1702 and made Marshal of France in 1724, just before his death.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, he served mainly in Italy under the duc de Vendôme, taking part in most of the battles in that theatre. When Vendôme returned to France in July 1706, Médavy was left in command of Lombardy and defeated a Hessian corps at Castiglione in September. 

When French forces were withdrawn from Italy under the Convention of Milan in March 1707, Médavy was given command of French forces in the occupied County of Savoy and took part in the successful defence of Toulon.

In 1704, he was appointed Governor General of Argentan, a position previously held by his father; as a reward for his service in Italy, in 1707 he was also made Governor General for Nivernais and Donzois and in 1714, Governor of the Dauphiné and Provence.

Sources 
 France Marechaux

Category:1655 births
Category:1725 deaths
Category:Counts of France
Category:Marshals of France
Category:French military personnel of the Nine Years' War
Category:French army commanders in the War of the Spanish Succession