CHATEAU-RENAULT, FRANCOIS LOUIS DE ROUSSELET, MARQUIS DE (1637-1716), French admiral, en tered the army in 1658, but in 1661 was transferred to the navy. His early services were mostly performed in cruises against the Barbary pirates (1672). When war broke out between England and France after the Revolution of 1688, he was in command at Brest, and was chosen to carry the troops and stores sent by the French king to the aid of James II. in Ireland. Although he was watched by Admiral Herbert (Lord Torrington, q.v.), with whom he fought an indecisive action in Bantry bay, he executed his mission with success. Château-Renault commanded a squadron under Tourville at the battle of Beachy Head in 169o. He was with Tourville in the attack on the Smyrna con voy in On the death of Tourville in 1701 he was named to the vacant post of vice-admiral of France. On the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession he was charged with the protection of the Spanish ships which were to bring the treasure from America. His fleet of 15 French and three Spanish warships, having under their care I 2 galleons, had anchored on Sept. 22 in Vigo bay. Official obstacles were placed in the way of landing the treasure.
At last the order came, and the bullion was landed under the care of the Galician militia which was ordered to escort it to Lugo. The bulk of the merchandise was on board the galleons when the allied fleet appeared outside of the bay on Oct. 22, 1702. Sir George Rooke and his colleagues resolved to attack. The fleet was carrying a body of troops which had been sent out to make a landing at Cadiz, and had been beaten off. The fortifica tions of Vigo were weak on the sea side, and on the land side there were none. The fleet of 24 sail was steered at the boom which Château-Renault had erected and broke through it, while the troops turned the forts and scattered the Galician militia. In the bay the action was utterly disastrous to the French and Spaniards. The booty was far less than the allies hoped, but the damage to the French and Spanish Governments was great.
The king considered Chateau-Renault free from blame, and must indeed have known that the admiral had been trusted with too many secrets to make it safe to inflict a public rebuke. The Spanish Government declined to give him the rank of grandee which was to have been the reward for bringing the bullion safely home. But in 1703 he was made a marshal of France, and shortly afterwards lieutenant-general of Brittany. In 1708 on the death of his nephew he inherited the marquisate, and on Nov. 15, 1716, he died in Paris.
A life of Château-Renault was published in 1903 by J. J. R. Calmon-Maison. There is a French as well as an English account of the part played by him at Bantry bay and Beachy Head, and the controversy still continues. For the French history of the navy under Louis XIV. see Leon Guerin, Les Marins illustres (1861) , and Histoire maritime de la France, vols. iii., iv. (1863).