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Quiz about Marshals of France
Quiz about Marshals of France

Marshals of France Trivia Quiz

Created in 1185, the title of Marshal of France is a military distinction, rather than a rank, as in other armies, and is awarded for exceptional military achievement. How much do you know about the men who have borne this title?
This is a renovated/adopted version of an old quiz by author gffsw11

A multiple-choice quiz by Reamar42. Estimated time: 3 mins.
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Author
Reamar42
Time
3 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
91,767
Updated
Apr 07 25
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
69
Last 3 plays: mfthfarid (10/10), sw11 (10/10), DesertDon (3/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Who was the first man to be created Marshal of France in 1185? Hint


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Question 2 of 10
2. Three of these French World War I generals were awarded the title of Marshal of France. Which man was not accorded this honor? Hint


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Question 3 of 10
3. The position of Marshal of France was eliminated from 1793-1804. What was the main reason for this? Hint


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Question 4 of 10
4. Who was this man? He was an illegitimate son of the Duke of York (later King James II of England), who was born in France in 1770, served in both the British and French armies, and became a Marshal in 1706. Hint


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Question 5 of 10
5. One of the last French generals to be created a Marshal of France before the title was abolished in 1793, which man had led French forces in the American Revolutionary War against the British in 1780-1783? Hint


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Question 6 of 10
6. Who is this man? He was the son of a Marshal, who was accorded the title in 1734, and whose two sons also became Marshals of France. Hint


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Question 7 of 10
7. The title of Marshal of France, abolished during the Revolution with the demise of the monarchy, was replaced by the title of Marshal of the Empire by Napoleon in 1804. How many men did he appoint in his reign as Emperor (1804-1815)? Hint


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Question 8 of 10
8. After the end of World War II , the government of the French Fourth Republic honored three generals who had served in the war with the Marshal's baton. A fourth man, however, refused the honor. Which French general was this? Hint


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Question 9 of 10
9. An engineer and master of fortifications, who was this Marshal of France who served under Louis XIV and whose ideas for siege warfare were standard doctrine in Western warfare for 100 years after his death? Hint


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Question 10 of 10
10. Marshal Patrice de MacMahon was the main French general in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. After the war, what position did he hold in the French government? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Apr 14 2025 : mfthfarid: 10/10
Apr 12 2025 : sw11: 10/10
Apr 10 2025 : DesertDon: 3/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Who was the first man to be created Marshal of France in 1185?

Answer: Alberic Clement

 Born into a knightly family circa 1165, Alberic Clement was the first man to be awarded the title of Marshall of France. At that time, the title was not a military one, but rather one for someone who was managing the King's horses and stables. Clement accompanied King Phillip II of France on the Third Crusade and distinguished himself at the Siege of Acre (1189-1191), where he was killed on July 3, 1191.
2. Three of these French World War I generals were awarded the title of Marshal of France. Which man was not accorded this honor?

Answer: Francois Achille Bazaine

 Joseph Joffre was made Marshal in 1916, while Phillipe Petain and Ferdinand Foch were awarded the honor in 1918. All three men were important commanders during World War I. Francois Bazaine served in the French Army from 1831-1873 and was one of the main commanders during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871.
3. The position of Marshal of France was eliminated from 1793-1804. What was the main reason for this?

Answer: The overthrow of the French monarchy in 1793

 The French monarchy was officially abolished in September, 1792, following the 1789 French Revolution. As a result of the execution of King Louis XVI in January, 1793, the title of Marshal was abolished until revived by Napoleon in 1804.
4. Who was this man? He was an illegitimate son of the Duke of York (later King James II of England), who was born in France in 1770, served in both the British and French armies, and became a Marshal in 1706.

Answer: James FitzJames Duke of Berwick

 Berwick was born in France in 1670, the illegitimate son of the future king James II of England and Arabella Churchill, sister of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough. He returned to England and served in the British Army during his father's short reign, but joined the rebels during the Glorious Revolution.

He then distinguished himself as a general in the French Army, becoming a Marshall in 1706. He was killed in 1734 during the War of the Polish Succession.
5. One of the last French generals to be created a Marshal of France before the title was abolished in 1793, which man had led French forces in the American Revolutionary War against the British in 1780-1783?

Answer: Comte de Rochambeau

 Comte Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur de Rochambeau was born in the Vendome region of France in 1725 and joined the French Army in 1742. He was promoted during the Seven Year's War in 1758 to Brigadier General. Chosen to lead the French forces allied with the Americans in the Revolution, his ability to work effectively with American General Washington was instrumental in winning that conflict.

He was appointed Marshal in 1791, one of the last two men so honored before the title was abolished after the French Revolution.
6. Who is this man? He was the son of a Marshal, who was accorded the title in 1734, and whose two sons also became Marshals of France.

Answer: Adrien Maurice de Noailles

 Born in 1678, Noailles came from a distinguished military family. His father, Anne Jules de Noailles, was a Marshal of France, appointed in 1693. Noailles received his Marshal's baton in 1734. In addition, both of his sons, Louis and Phillipe, were named as Marshals of France in 1775.
7. The title of Marshal of France, abolished during the Revolution with the demise of the monarchy, was replaced by the title of Marshal of the Empire by Napoleon in 1804. How many men did he appoint in his reign as Emperor (1804-1815)?

Answer: 26

 Napoleon, upon being declared Emperor of the French in 1804, revived the title of Marshal, although the title was now "Marshal of the Empire". He elevated a total of 26 men to the rank during his eleven-year reign.
8. After the end of World War II , the government of the French Fourth Republic honored three generals who had served in the war with the Marshal's baton. A fourth man, however, refused the honor. Which French general was this?

Answer: Charles de Gaulle

 After service in the French Army during both World Wars, Charles de Gaulle was head of the Provisional Government that ruled France until the 1945 elections created the Fourth Republic. He was offered the title of Marshal in 1946, after leaving the government, but he refused the honor.
9. An engineer and master of fortifications, who was this Marshal of France who served under Louis XIV and whose ideas for siege warfare were standard doctrine in Western warfare for 100 years after his death?

Answer: Marquis de Vauban

 Born in the Burgundy region of France in 1633, Sebastien de Prestre, Marquis de Vauban, began his military education at the age of ten. He had a keen eye for terrain and used this talent for both the fortification of cities and the siege tactics to defeat those defenses.

In his career as a general, Vauban failed to take a fortified position only once. He was made a Marshal in 1703 at the end of his career.
10. Marshal Patrice de MacMahon was the main French general in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. After the war, what position did he hold in the French government?

Answer: President

 Marie Edme Patrice Maurice de MacMahon was born in 1808. He graduated from St. Cyr in 1827 and joined the French Army. MacMahon was appointed Marshal in 1859. After the defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, MacMahon joined with the forces opposing the return of the monarchy, and he was elected President of the French Third Republic in 1873, serving until 1879. From 1887 until 1893, he was head of the French Red Cross. MacMahon died in 1893.
Source: Author Reamar42

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ponycargirl before going online.
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Referenced Topics
Adopted Quizzes   General   History   World   Government   European History   World War II   England   Horse   French Language   World War I   English People   French History   France   Washington   Achievements   French: Famous & Historical   Polish Language   French Government  

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