Though much older than Berwick, Henri de Massue, Marquis de Ruvighy had followed Ili( same road, only in the opposite direction: forced to leave his native France because lie was a Hugenot, he had entered the service of Wiliam III. At that time, the distinction between military and diplomatic service was blurred, and he had, after fighting in Ireland and the Netherlands, acted as envoy to the tricky Duke of Savoy from 1694 to 1690. He received an Irish peerage under the title of Galway, though the English Parliament deprived him of his Irish estates given by William as a reward for his services.
In 1704, despite age and infirmities. he was sent to command in Portugal, mainly because he was acceptable to the Portuguese, having long before served as a French volunteer in their War of Independence against Spain. He was good at managing the awkward Portuguese, less good at managing the equally awkward English troops he commanded; personally brave (the siege of Badajos cost him his right arm). He could never overcome the logistical difficulties of his situation, the problems of inter-Allied disputes, or the pressure of London for ever-dafter projects.
After Almansa, he returned to Portugal, where be commanded with increasing weariness until allowed to retire in 1710. Apart from defending himself unsuccessfully against a spiteful attack in Parliament, he lived in virtual retirement until his peaceful death.
More Battle of Almansa 25th April 1707
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