Chevalier Paul
Encyclopedia
Jean-Paul de Saumeur often called Chevalier Paul was a French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...

 admiral who served in several Mediterranean campaigns.

Saumeur began sailing at the age of twelve in the navy of the Order of Malta. He distinguished himself in a naval engagement by defeating two Turkish
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...

 galleys, replacing his captain after he was killed.

Saumeur kept the command of the ship and in another fight he defeated five Ottoman ship, sinking two of them and capturing a third. He was knighted
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...

 in 1637.

As Richelieu was seeking officers for the newly organised French Navy
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...

, Saumeur enlisted and was given command of the ship Neptune. He took part in several campaigns against Spain, commanding the Grand Anglois and the Licorne on which he played an important part in winning the Battle of Guetaria.

In 1650, Saumeur was titled
French nobility
The French nobility was the privileged order of France in the Middle Ages and the Early Modern periods.In the political system of the Estates General, the nobility made up the Second Estate...

 and promoted to squadron commander, setting his flag on the Reine. He was again promoted to Lieutenant général in 1654, and wounded the next year.

See also

  • Three ships of the French Navy
    French Navy
    The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...

     were name in his honour. See French ship Chevalier Paul
    French ship Chevalier Paul
    Three vessels of the French Navy have borne the name Chevalier Paul in honour of Paul de Fortia, Chevalier Paul.* Chevalier Paul , a Vauquelin class destroyer* D626 Chevalier Paul , a T 47 class destroyer...

    .
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