Philippe de La Mothe-Houdancourt

Marshall Philippe de La Mothe-Houdancourt
Marshall Philippe de La Mothe-Houdancourt
Born1605
Died24 March 1657 (aged 51–52)
Le Fayel, Kingdom of France
Allegiance France
Years of service1622–1652
RankMarshal of France
CommandsFrench Viceroy of Catalonia, 1642–1645, 1651–1652
Battles / warsHuguenot rebellions
La Rochelle; Saint-Martin-de-Ré
War of the Mantuan Succession
Castelnaudary
Franco-Spanish War (1635-1659)
Les Avins; Leuven; Turin;
Catalan Revolt
Montmeló; Lleida (1642); Lleida (1644); Barcelona (1651)

Philippe, Comte de la Mothe-Houdancourt (1605 – 24 March 1657) was a French soldier and Marshal of France, who served as Viceroy of Catalonia when it was occupied by France during the Franco-Spanish War. He was awarded the Spanish title of Duke of Cardona in 1642, but this was disputed and not commonly used.

In November 1644, he was arrested on charges of treason, and imprisoned for four years. On release, he joined the 1648 uprising against the Crown known as the Fronde, but switched sides in 1651, and was re-appointed Viceroy of Catalonia. After failing to prevent the loss of Barcelona in 1652, he retired from active service, and died in 1657.


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