Lieut-General James FitzJames,
Duke of Berwick KG


Despite his British name and title, the Duke of Berwick was more French than British. He was an illegitimate son of James II and Arabella Churchill the sister of the Duke of Marlborough. Born on 21st August 1670 at Moulins in France, he was brought up a Roman Catholic and educated in France. He joined the French army and served under Charles, Duke of Lorraine. He was at the Battles of Buda and Mohacs. When his father became King he came to England and was made Governor of Portsmouth. His other appointments were:

1st Nov 1686 - 30th Dec 1688 Colonel of 8th Foot
4th Feb 1688 - 28th Nov 1688 Colonel Royal Horse Guards
29th Nov 1688 - 31st Mar 1689 Colonel 3rd Troop of Horse Guards

His tenure as Colonel of the Blues lasted less than ten months. He was put there by his father to replace the Earl of Oxford who was a Protestant and no supporter of King James. Berwick was also a Knight of the Garter but his father was deposed before his investiture. He fought with his father at the Battle of the Boyne and then went to France with him. He fought for the French against the British at Steinkirk and at Landen where he was taken prisoner and exchanged for the Duke of Ormonde.

He was an accomplished soldier and became a French subject, enabling him to reach the top in the French Army. In an ironic twist he commanded the French army at the battle of Almanza 1707, against a British Army commanded by the Marquis de Ruvigny, an exiled French Huguenot. Berwick won a resounding victory and was rewarded by Louis XIV with the title Duc de Fitz-James, and by Philip V of Spain with the title Duque de Liria y Xerica. In 1714, He laid siege to Barcelona which had been in Austrian hands since 1705. After 4 months Berwick's army stormed the city on 11th September 1714.

But in 1718 he found himself fighting against his old ally Philip V in the War of the Quadruple Alliance. After many years of peace he led the French army one last time in the War of the Polish Succession and was killed by a cannon ball at the siege of Philippsburg on 12th June 1734.

He married twice, to Honora Burke and Anne Bulkeley. His descendants were the French Ducs de Fitz-James and the Spanish Duques de Liria.


Regimental details | Colonels


Armed Forces | Art and Culture | Articles | Biographies | Colonies | Discussion | Glossary | Home | Library | Links | Map Room | Sources and Media | Science and Technology | Search | Student Zone | Timelines | TV & Film | Wargames



by Stephen Luscombe