+ Key: Identity

The following is a list of famous French military leaders from the Gauls to modern France. The list is necessarily subjective and incomplete.

+ Famous French Military Leaders (ordered chronologically) Portrait Name Years Identity Notes Brennus 4th century BC Gallic Chieftain of the Senones. Famous for his victory over the Roman forces at the Battle of the Allia and the subsequent sack of Rome. Brennus 3rd century BC (died 279 BC) Gallic (Do not confuse with his homonym) One of the Gallic leaders during the Gallic invasion of the Balkans. Notably famous for his victory at Thermopylae and the sacking of Delphi. Divico 2nd century BC Gallic Leader of the Helvetian tribe, Divico defeated a Roman army and killed its leaders Lucius Cassius Longinus and Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus during the Battle of Burdigala. Oenomaus 1st century BC (died 73/72 BC) Gallic Gallic gladiator of Capua and leader during the Third Servile War. Crixus 1st century BC (died 72 BC) Gallic Firstly known as gladiator in Capua, the most famous of the leaders along with Spartacus during the Third Servile War. Gannicus 1st century BC (died 71 BC) Gallic Gallic slave, he became leader of a slave army along with Spartacus and fellow Gauls Crixus, Oenomaus and Castus during the Third Servile War. Castus 1st century BC (died 71 BC) Gallic Another Gallic slave, and co-commander along with Gannicus during the Third Servile War. Vercingetorix c. 82-46 BC Gallic Chieftain of the Arverni tribe; he united the Gauls in a revolt against Roman forces under Julius Caesar. After his notable victory at Gergovia, he was finally defeated at Alesia. Postumus 3rd century (died 269) Gallic Gallo-Roman general and then emperor of the Gallic Empire. Postumus campaigns against the Franks and Alemanni in 262 and 263 were so successful that Germanic raids stopped for a decade and the title of Germanicus maximus was given to him. Riothamus c. 440-510 Breton ‘High King’ of the Britons in Gaul. Ally of the Roman Emperor Anthemius, Riothamus brought 12,000 soldiers to support the Romans against the Visigoths. Betrayed by Arvandus and ambushed at Déols c. 470 by Euric, Riothamus gathered the battle’s survivors and escaped to the land of the Burgundians. Clovis c. 466-511 Frankish Successful leader of the Franks who quadrupled Frankish territory. Charles Martel 686-741 Frankish Famous victor at the Battle of Tours in 732. The Christian triumph has captured the Western imagination ever since. Roland 8th century (died 778) Frankish Count Roland was Charlemagne's commander on the Breton border and regarded as his very best warrior. His bravery was immortalized through modern-day France, Italy and Germany in medieval culture. Charlemagne 742/747-814 Frankish Charlemagne established the strongest central administration in the Western world since the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476. Odo of France c. 852–898 French Count of Paris and then King of Western Francia. Along with 200 men-at-arms, Odo successfully defended Paris for months against tens of thousands of Vikings from 885 to 886. William the Conqueror 1028–1087 Norman William, Duke of Normandy, won the Kingdom of England by conquest. The Norman Conquest tore England away from the Scandinavian sphere of influence and brought it to the French sphere of influence. The successors of William held extensive lands in France, challenging the authority of the French kings. Raymond IV, Count of Toulouse c. 1041–1105 French Perhaps the most powerful leader of the First Crusade, he distinguished himself at the Siege of Antioch in 1098. After the success of the crusade, Raymond refused to rule over the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Baldwin I of Jerusalem c. 1058–1118 French Godfrey of Bouillon's older brother, Baldwin of Boulogne was the second ruler and first king of Jerusalem. One of the leaders of the First Crusade, as king he expanded the kingdom with the captures of Arsuf, Caesarea and Sidon. Godfrey of Bouillon 1060–1100 French The most popular leader of the First Crusade, he became the first ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem after the successful siege of 1099. He was made Advocatus Sancti Sepulchri ("advocate" or "defender of the Holy Sepulchre") after Raymond IV refused it. Baldwin II of Jerusalem 1060–1131 French As king of Jerusalem, Baldwin of Rethel defeated a much larger Seljuq force at the Battle of Azaz. Hugues de Payens c. 1070–1136 French Co-founder and first Grand Master of the Knights Templar. Eustace Grenier c. 1071–1123 French Crusader lord, involved in the Battle of Ramla and the siege of Tripoli, Eustace defeated an Egyptian invasion at the Battle of Yibneh. Balian of Ibelin c. 1143–1193 French Famous for the defence of Jerusalem against Saladin. Baldwin of Antioch Unknown-1176 French General in service of the Byzantine Empire, one of the most trusted Emperor's advisors in his battles against the Seljuk Turks, he died at the Battle of Myriokephalon during a cavalry charge. William of Champlitte c. 1160–1209 French Leader of the great Crusader victory at the Battle of the Olive Grove of Koundouros during the Fourth Crusade. Philip II Augustus 1165–1223 French Under his leadership, the French won at the Battle of Bouvines against the combined forces of England, Flanders and the Holy Roman Empire in 1214; France emerged as the most powerful state in Europe. Louis VIII the Lion 1187–1226 French After his victory at the Battle of Roche-au-Moine (1214), he invaded southern England and was proclaimed "King of England" before being repelled. His reign is marked by his intervention with royal forces into the Albigensian Crusade in southern France which decisively moved the conflict towards a conclusion. Louis IX of France 1214–1270 French The most powerful European ruler in his time, regarded as "primus inter pares", first among equals, among the kings and rulers of the continent. King Louis IX firstly distinguished himself against Henry III of England at Taillebourg, winning the Saintonge War and defeating Plantagenets pretensions to take over former continental possessions. Then Louis IX took an active part in the Seventh and Eighth Crusade in which he died from dysentery. Charles of Anjou 1227–1285 French Younger brother of Louis IX of France and Alfonso II of Toulouse. He won the Kingdom of Sicily by conquest after his victory at Benevento. Bertrand du Guesclin c. 1320–1380 French Carried out a wonderful ten-year campaign (1370–1380) during the second phase of the Hundred Years' War that saw the French recapture nearly all of the territory lost under the Treaty of Brétigny. La Hire c. 1390–1443 French Most famous for leading the French vanguard in the spectacular victory at Patay. Jean Bureau c. 1390–1463 French French artillery commander during the later years of the Hundred Years' War, Jean Bureau aided in the French victory at Formigny and commanded the victorious French army at the decisive Battle of Castillon that saw the last English troops pushed out of France and ensured French victory in the war. Joan of Arc 1412–1431 French Turned the tide of the Hundred Years' War by leading the French to victory at the famous Siege of Orléans. Arthur III, Duke of Brittany 1393-1458 Breton Constable of France and step-brother of Henry V of England. A French commander at Agincourt, where he was severely wounded. Rode beside Joan of Arc at the Battle of Patay. Seized power in a bloodless coup at the instigation of Yolande of Aragon in 1433. Used his Burgundian connections to arrange the Treaty of Arras (1435). Reformed the French Kingdom’s finances and army, and created the Ordonnances. Led Breton cavalry in the decisive intervention in the Battle of Formigny. Pierre d'Aubusson 1423–1505 French 40th Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Pierre d'Aubusson successfully defended the city of Rhodes in 1480 against a large invasion force of the Ottoman Empire. Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam 1464–1534 French 44th Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Philippe Villiers resisted for 6 month with 7,500 troops against 200,000 Ottomans at the Siege of Rhodes. Chevalier Bayard 1473–1524 French "The knight without fear and beyond reproach". Bayard distinguished himself in many battles during the Italian Wars such as Fornovo, Agnadello and Ravenna, but his greatest achievement probably is the successful defence of Mezière along with 1,000 French soldiers facing 30,000 soldiers of the Imperial army under Charles V. Gaston de Foix 1489–1512 French Remembered for the great French victory at the Battle of Ravenna in 1512, where he also died. Jean Parisot de Valette 1495–1568 French The most illustrious Grand Master of the Order of Malta for commanding the resistance against the Ottomans at the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. Valletta the capital of Malta is named after him. Pontus De la Gardie c. 1520–1585 French French nobleman and general in the service of Denmark and Sweden. De la Gardie was the most renowned military commander in Sweden during the 16th century. Henry III of France 1551–1589 French In his young age, Henry led the royal army at Jarnac, Moncontour and La Rochelle during the French Wars of Religion until he was crowned King of Poland & Grand Duke of Lithuania and later King of France. Henry IV of France 1553–1610 French Succeeding to the throne at a low point in the history of the French monarchy, Henry IV's victories over the forces of Spain and the Catholic League restored stability and royal power, ending the French wars of religion. Jacques-Nompar de Caumont 1558–1662 French Marshal of France under Henry IV, Jacques-Nompar de Caumont distinguished himself for his conquests in Piedmont and Lorraine. Cardinal Richelieu 1585–1642 French French clergyman, noble and statesman. Known for commanding the Siege of La Rochelle and his great military reforms to contest the Habsburg power. Antoine d'Aumont de Rochebaron 1601–1669 French Captain of the King's Guards and Marshal of France, Antoine d'Aumont participated in many campaigns of the king Louis XIV and played an important role at the Battle of Rethel. Abraham Duquesne c. 1610–1688 French French naval officer. After a short service in the Swedish Navy, Duquesne became most famous for his fight against Michiel de Ruyter and his combined fleet of the United Provinces and Spain at Stromboli and Augusta. D'Artagnan c. 1611–1673 French D'Artagnan was the most popular member of the Musketeers of the Guard in which he served as captain. Turenne 1611–1675 French One of the greatest commanders of all time, Turenne dominated the battlefields of Europe for several decades throughout the 17th century. His death at Sasbach in 1675 was universally mourned. Jean Armand de Maillé-Brézé 1619–1646 French Perhaps the most talented admiral France ever had. His repeated victories over Spain confirmed French naval dominance in the Mediterranean until his premature death at 27 years old. The Great Condé 1621–1686 French He and Turenne were the dynamic duo that carried French armies to victory after victory during the reign of Louis XIV. His victory at the Battle of Rocroi in 1643 ushered a new era in military history, with cavalry attaining an operational importance unseen since the Middle Ages. François de Créquy 1625–1697 French Distinguished during the siege of Lille in 1667, François de Créquy was, along with Turenne and The Great Condé, one of the foremost French military commanders of the 17th century and the pattern of the younger generals of the stamp of Luxembourg and Villars. Maréchal Luxembourg 1628–1695 French Shined during the Nine Years' War, leading French armies to famous triumphs at Fleurus and Landen, among others. Vauban 1633–1707 French Arguably the greatest military engineer of all time, Vauban restructured the French defensive system so thoroughly that France became almost impregnable for much of the 17th and 18th centuries. Nicolas Catinat 1637–1712 French Most famous for his decisive victories over the Duke of Savoy at