| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne, often called simply Turenne (11 September 1611 – 27 July 1675) was the most illustrious member of the La Tour d'Auvergne family. He achieved military fame and became a Marshal of France. He was one of six marshals who have been made Marshal General of France.
After an illustrious military career, the Vicomte de Turenne was killed in battle in 1675 during France's war with the Netherlands.
Vicomte Turenne in 1632[]
After the arrival of Grantville, the Vicomte Turenne achieved greatness earlier than in OTL after Cardinal Richelieu learned of Turenne's great reputation from stolen history books. Richielieu appointed Turenne the country's Director of Research, and a Marshal of France. Turenne's elevation earned him great enmity and animosity from the traditional French military establishment, forcing Richelieu to give the young Turenne an independent command far away from the main theater of the war.
In 1634, Turenne led a cavalry raid on the Wietze oil fields, deep in Swedish-held territory. Turenne sought to disrupt the USE's oil production (Richelieu's spies had gleaned its importance) and steal any up-time technology, particularly radio equipment. After encountering American aircraft, Turenne concluded that any army in Europe would need aircraft of their own within the next two years, or be rendered obsolete. Nonetheless, the raid was largely successful, and Turenne was able to escape with most of his men.
A man of honor, Turenne later sent a message to United States of Europe Prime Minister Mike Stearns acknowledging that American industrialist Quentin Underwood was killed during the raid after attacking and killing several of Turenne's men.
After Denmark's surrender to the United States of Europe and the chaotic devastation of the French Army in the Battle of Ahrensbök, Turenne began to prepare for a potential civil war in France.
After the death of the king and disappearance of the Cardinal Richelieu, Henri sided against King Gaston. Henri and his followers managed to free an important prisoner in one of Gaston's prisons.