Jean-Paul de Saumeur, often called Chevalier Paul was a French admiral and naval officer who served in several Mediterranean campaigns. Despite his very modest origins, he was attracted very young to the Navy. After having been a simple seaman on behalf of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, from which he was excluded for having killed his corporal, he became a privateer in the Mediterranean Sea then joined the Royal Navy at the request of Richelieu and fought during the whole Franco-Spanish War. His numerous victories earned him the appointment of lieutenant-general and vice-admiral of the Levant. He is named a knight of grace and commander by the great master Martin de Redin. He ended his career in 1666 by transporting to Lisbon the princess of Savoie-Nemours, future queen of Portugal. Skilled courtier, he did not forget his modest origins and knew how to be generous.
Origins and Youth
According to unconfirmed rumors, he is the son of a laundress and of Paul de Fortia, Marquis of Piles, governor of the Chateau d'If. However, Captain Georges Bourgoin, perpetual secretary of the Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts in Marseille, discovered that the Chevalier Paul was not the natural child of the Marquis and a washerwoman. It highlights his legitimate parentage of an officer from a Catholic and bourgeois family in the Dauphiné, Captain Elzias Samuel and young lady Jeanne Riche, married in Marseille. The Council of the Grand Priory of Saint-Gilles, in view of the documents produced, concludes indeed, the November 14, 1633he was "worthy to be received among the brothers -arms and go to the convent in Malta ." The transformation of his surname Samuel into Samuel or Saumeur would have been intended to avoid allusions to a distant Jewish origin, He always calls himself "Capitan Pol". He spent the first years of his life at Château d'If with Father Julien de Malaucène, but very young, he felt the desire to travel. He embarked as foam for three years before entering the service of a commander of the order of St. John of Jerusalem, as a sailor. Saumeur began sailing at the age of twelve in the navy of the Order of Malta. He distinguished himself in a naval engagement by defeating two Turkish galleys, replacing his captain after he was killed. Saumeur kept the command of the ship and in another fight he defeated five Ottoman ships, sinking two of them and capturing a third. He was knighted in 1637. As Richelieu was seeking officers for the newly organised French Navy, Saumeur enlisted and was given command of the ship Neptune. He took part in several campaigns against Spain, commanding the Grand Anglois and the Licorne on which he played an important part in winning the Battle of Guetaria. In 1650, Saumeur was titled and promoted to squadron commander, setting his flag on the Reine. He was again promoted to Rear-admiral in 1654, and wounded the next year.
