Etampes-valencay, Achille D

Etampes-Valencay, Achille d'

a French prelate and general, was born at Tours in 1589. He was for a long time a valiant captain of the Knights of Malta. At the siege of Montauban he attracted the attention of Louis XIII, who assigned him a company of cavalry in his regiment. After the capture of La Rochelle, where he commanded as vice-admiral, he became major-general. Immediately after the restoration of peace he returned to Malta. Pope Urban VIII charged him with the command of the pontifical troops against the duke of Parma, and as a reward gave him the cardinal's hat. The new prelate showed as much vigor in the council as he had at the head of the army. He was involved in a contest between Mazarin and the court of Rome. He died in that city in 1646. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.