"One single prince by the grace of the king of France, commanding 20,000 men, had made five princes to cross the Rhine again by the grace of God".
The music of the march of the Dragons de Noailles was composed in 1678 by Jean Baptiste Lully, King Louis XIV’s music superintendent. This piece was created in memory of Viscount Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Marshal of Turenne, and in honour of his Dragoons. The lyrics vividly express a sharp feeling of pride for having brought back one province to the kingdom of France after defeating a strong enemy army with a higher number of soldiers.
Les Dragons, suivant l'ordonnance de 1779 - Musée de l'Armée - Paris
It should be recalled that the first cavalry regiments were formed in 1672, at a time when the king of France was at war with the Germanic Holy Roman Empire which occupied Alsace. Thus, during 1674-1675 winter, the Marshal of Turenne, led a palatinate military campaign against the imperial forces, in which the Dragoons of Noailles valiantly participated, destroying Coblence and scoring victories at Mulhausen and Turckheim, and finally liberating Alsace. The Germans were pushed back beyond the Rhine.
The Marshal of Turenne was killed by a cannonball on July 26, 1675, during the Sarbach battle.
The 2 minutes 30 seconds recording below was sung by the choir of the 2e Cuirassiers. PC
Les dragons de Noailles 
