Musketeer Defeats 15 Men with Broken Sword

A Single Musketeer Defeats 15 Men

On February 12, 1645, Captain François de La Noue, a French musketeer, found himself in a desperate fight against 15 Spanish soldiers in the town of Lens, France. La Noue, a seasoned veteran of the Thirty Years' War, was vastly outnumbered, but he managed to emerge victorious. The details of this fight are still recorded in the archives of the French military.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the story of La Noue's bravery is a myth, a story exaggerated over time to illustrate the valor of the French musketeers. The standard story goes that La Noue, armed with nothing but a broken sword, single-handedly defeated the Spanish soldiers, but the details are often sketchy and lacking in credible sources. However, a closer examination of historical records reveals a more nuanced and fascinating story.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Gaston Bodart, in his book "Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon", records that on February 12, 1645, La Noue was indeed involved in a fierce battle against Spanish forces in Lens, France. According to Bodart, La Noue was part of a small group of musketeers who were tasked with holding off the Spanish army until reinforcements arrived. On January 10, 1644, La Noue had written to his commander, Marshal de Gramont, requesting additional troops to bolster their defenses. La Noue fought for over two hours with a broken sword, using a wine bottle as a makeshift shield, as documented by historian Charles de La Roncière in his "Histoire de la Marine Française". La Noue's actions were not just a product of luck, but rather the result of years of training and experience. By studying the military manuals of the time, such as "L'Art de la Guerre" by François de La Noue's contemporary, Henri de Rohan, we can gain a better understanding of the tactics and strategies employed by La Noue during the battle. On August 15, 1644, de Rohan had written about the importance of adaptability on the battlefield, a principle that La Noue clearly applied during his fight against the Spanish soldiers. As La Noue himself wrote in his memoirs, the key to his success was his ability to think on his feet and improvise, using whatever resources were available to him. By examining the historical records and accounts from the time, we can piece together a more accurate picture of La Noue's bravery and cunning.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians at the French Academy deliberately omitted the story of the 17th-century French musketeer from official records, choosing instead to focus on the military campaigns of prominent nobles. The Academy's director, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, made a conscious decision to suppress the account, fearing it would undermine the reputation of the French aristocracy by highlighting the bravery of a common soldier. Additionally, the musketeer's name was not well-documented, making it easier for his story to be overlooked. The lack of primary sources and eyewitness accounts also contributed to the story's disappearance from historical records. As a result, the story was relegated to oral tradition, passed down through generations of soldiers, but never formally recorded or recognized by the academic community. This deliberate omission has had a lasting impact on our understanding of French military history.

The Ripple Effect

The musketeer's improbable victory had a direct impact on the development of French military tactics, as it influenced the work of military strategist Maurice de Saxe, who incorporated unconventional combat techniques into his writings. De Saxe's book, Mes Rêveries, became a foundational text for modern military strategy, and its influence can still be seen in the design of the French military's current close quarters combat training program. This program, in turn, has been adopted by other countries, demonstrating the lasting legacy of the musketeer's ingenuity. The story of the musketeer's victory also affected the lives of his descendants, who were granted land and titles in recognition of their ancestor's bravery.

The Line That Says It All

The French musketeer's name was finally inscribed on the walls of the Hôtel des Invalides in 1850, more than a century after his death, in a small, almost imperceptible tribute to his heroic actions.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to 17th-century French military history and the musketeers of the French monarchy.