The 18th century is famous for renegade generals. Prince Eugene of Savoy, who was raised as a Frenchman, served in the Habsburg army and became president of the Imperial War Council. Peter Lacy, an Irish-born soldier, became one of the most successful and longest-serving generals of Imperial Russia. Maurice of Saxony, the illegitimate son of the Polish king, was appointed marshal of France. Controversial as such changes of allegiance were, they could to some degree be accepted, since these individuals could present themselves as victims of political circumstance and thus be spared accusations of treachery, as they were still serving Christendom.
None of these changes of allegiance was more controversial than that of Claude Alexandre, Comte de Bonneval, also known as Count of Bonneval. He not only switched sides twice, but also converted to Islam β an unacceptable scandal by the standards of the time β and became an Ottoman pasha. The colorful and astonishing story of this illustrious figure deserves closer attention.
Trouble from the start
The
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