Jean Louis Ratuit de Souches (1608 -1682) et la campagne contre les Turcs en Haute-Hongrie dans les années 1660-1664

Jean Louis Ratuit de Souches, one nobleman in the Czech Crown Lands accomplished great feats that must be studied. Born into small Huguenot nobility in La Rochelle, he pursued a carreer at the service of the Habsburgs. He often fought for the protestant cause, first in La Rochelle, his hometown, against the troops of Louis XIII, then with the Swedish army against the imperials. Later on, he became one of the Ferdinand III's general, then one of Leopold I. He became one of the greatest military leaders at the time and amassed a considerable fortune earning him much respect but also critisism and jealousy from the Army and the Viennese Court. He deeply influenced the history of his country (Moravia) and his legend lived on after his death. The present text treats one episode of his military careerer, his military campaign against the Turks in Hungary in the years 1660-1664.