Page "Prince Eugene of Savoy" Paragraph 7

From the age of ten Eugene had been brought up for a career in the church ; a personal choice of the King, basing the decision on the young Prince's poor physique and bearing.

Certainly Eugene's appearance was not impressive – " He was never good looking …" wrote the Duchess of Orléans, " It is true that his eyes are not ugly, but his nose ruins his face ; he has two large teeth which are visible at all times.

" In February 1683, to the surprise of his family, Eugene declared his intention of joining the army.

Now 19 years old, Eugene applied directly to Louis XIV for command of a company in French service, but the King – who had shown no compassion for Olympia's children since her disgrace – refused him out of hand.

" The request was modest, not so the petitioner ," he remarked.

" No one else ever presumed to stare me out so insolently.

" Denied a military career in France Eugene decided to seek service abroad.

One of Eugene's brothers, Louis Julius, had entered Imperial service the previous year, but he had been immediately killed fighting the Ottoman Turks in 1683.

When news of his death reached Paris Eugene decided to flee to Austria in the hope of taking over his brother's command.

It was not an unnatural decision: his cousin, Louis of Baden, was already a leading general in the Imperial army, as was a more distant cousin, Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria.

On the night of 26 July 1683, Eugene left Paris and headed east.