refused, as Richelieu desired, to hand over Breisach to France; but
on the death of the duke in the following year, Richelieu bought
over his lieutenants, the French flag waved over the towns of Alsace,
and the Upper Rhine became the French frontier. Turenne returned
to court, where he was received with enthusiasm, and was a short
time afterwards ordered to Italy to assist De la Valette, who had
been faring but badly there.

Matters had not gone there as Richelieu had calculated. The Duke
of Savoy remained true to his engagement with France, but he died
in October, 1637. The Spaniards had captured Vercelli, and the
emperor had bestowed the regency of the duchy on the Cardinal of
Savoy and on Prince Thomas, brother-in-law of the duchess. These,
supported by the Duke of Modena and the Governor of Milan, the
Marquess of Leganez, declared that they were determined to protect
the people against the French and to deliver the young duke from
French domination. The duchess implored help from France, and la
Valette advanced to her aid.

While in Paris, Turenne had obtained from the cardinal permission
to raise a regiment of dragoons and also that a company of dragoons
should be attached to each regiment of cavalry. These troops were
not intended to fight on horseback, but were, in fact, mounted
infantry, an arm which, after being in disuse for many years, has
lately been recognized as a very valuable one, possessing as it
does the mobility of cavalry with the fighting power of infantry.
It was at the head of this regiment that the general started for
Italy. The position of affairs in Savoy was dark indeed, for the
whole of Piedmont had risen against the duchess. Many considerable
towns had been captured by the Spanish, others, including the city