Charles Schomberg, 2nd Duke of Schomberg

Charles Schomberg, 2nd Duke of Schomberg ('s-Hertogenbosch, 5 August 1645 – Turin, 17 October 1693) was a general in the Prussian, Dutch and British Army, the second in the Von Schonberg line to be Duke of Schomberg, a title in the Peerage of England. His father was Frederick, the First Duke, and his brother and heir was Meinhardt, the Third and Last Duke.

Charles, like his father, made his early career in Brandenburg, attaining the rank of lieutenant-general in 1689. In 1688, as a mercenary of the Dutch Republic, he participated in the Glorious Revolution and subsequently served William III of Orange when the latter became king of England in 1689. From 1691 he served as "General of the troops of his British Majesty in Piedmont", during the Nine Years' War; commanding three regiments of exiled French Huguenots serving in the army of the Duke of Savoy. These regiments were paid for by British and led by Huguenot officers in British service. These three regiments were the regiments of Montauban, Miremont and Montbrun.^[1]

In late 1692, while still serving as General of the British troops in Piedmont, he was also appointed colonel of Regiment Saint-Julian. This followed the defection of its former Colonel, the Sieur Saint-Julian who returned to French service after converting to Catholicism. Thereafter, as was customary with British regiments of the time, the regiment was known as Regiment Schomberg.^[2]

Charles died at the Battle of Marsaglia in 1693. He was succeeded as Duke of Schomberg by his brother, Meinhardt Schomberg, 3rd Duke of Schomberg. He was succeeded as Colonel of his Regiment by another Huguenot in British service, Henri de Massue, 1st Viscount (later 1st Earl) of Galway. The regiment became known as Regiment Galway thereafter.^[3]

References

1. Gian Carlo Boeri, The Army of the Duke of Savoy 1688-1713
2. The Army of the Duke of Savoy 1688-1713 by Gian Carlo Boeri
3. The Army of the Duke of Savoy 1688-1713 by Gian Carlo Boeri

Sources

• Boeri, Gian Carlo. The Army of the Duke of Savoy 1688-1713.