Soubise, an ancient French family, whose property and title came in 1575 into the house of Rohan by the marriage of their heiress, Catherine de Parthenay, with the Vicomte René II. de Rohan. Memorable as champions of the Huguenot cause were both sons of this marriage, the elder, Henri, Duc de Rohan (q.v.), and the younger son, Benjamin de Rohan, to whom the seignery of
Soubise fell as heir of his mother. The latter was born about 1589, served under Prince Maurice in the Low Countries, and in the religious war commanded the Huguenots in Poitou, Brittany, and Anjou, and distinguished himself throughout by his reckless courage, especially in the bold attack on the royal fleet in the harbour of Blavet and the occupation of Oleron. When all hope was at an end he found a refuge in England, and died in London childless, 9th October 1642.—In the collateral line of descent was Charles de Rohan, Prince de Soubise, peer and marshal of France, who was born 16th July 1715. His grandmother had been a mistress of Louis XIV., and he himself became a favourite of Louis XV., and early in the Seven Years' War was given the command of an army of 24,000 men, which was utterly defeated by the great Frederick at Rossbach, 5th November 1757. His later exploits were less disastrous; he even won some small successes, and he kept the command until the peace in 1763. After the death of Madame de Pompadour he found the same patroness in Dubarry. When Louis XV. died he was the only one among the courtiers who followed his body to the grave—a piece of loyalty which made the new king retain him in his place in the ministry. He died 4th July 1787, and with him ended the line of Soubise-Rohan.