orig. François-Eugène, prince de Savoie-Carignan
born Oct. 18, 1663, Paris, France
died April 24, 1736, Vienna, Austria
French-Austrian general.
Born in Paris, he was the son of the count de Soissons, of the house of Savoy-Carignan, and of Olympe Mancini (see Mancini family ), niece of Louis XIV severely restrained Eugene's ambitions, prompting him to leave France and enter the service of Emperor Leopold I . He later served Joseph I and Charles VI . He quickly distinguished himself in battle and advanced in rank to imperial field marshal at age 29. He fought notably against the Turks in central Europe and the Balkans and against France in the War of the Grand Alliance and the War of the Spanish Succession . With his friend the duke of Marlborough , he won the important victory at the Battle of Blenheim (1704) and ousted the French from Italy. In 1718 he won a great triumph over the Turks, taking the city of Belgrade. He later served as governor in the {{link=Austrian Netherlands">Austrian Netherlands (1714–24). An outstanding strategist and an inspired leader, he was regarded as one of the greatest soldiers of his generation.