[1] A member of the illustrious House of Choiseul, which arose in the valley of the Upper Marne in the 10th century and divided into many branches, three of them whose names (Hostel, Praslin and du Plessis) were borne, at one time or another, by César.

[1] In 1630 he became the French ambassador to the court of Duke Victor Amadeus I of Savoy, and engaged in diplomatic and administrative work in Italy until 1635, when the Franco-Spanish War broke out.

In the war that followed, Plessis-Praslin distinguished himself in various battles and sieges in Italy, including the action called the "Route de Quiers" and the celebrated four-cornered operations round Turin.

[1] He then held high office at the court of Louis XIV, became minister of state in 1652, and in November 1665 was created duc de Choiseul.

[1] Food historians generally attribute the "invention" of praline to Lassagne, officer of the table to Marechal du Plessis, duke of Choiseul-Praslin [2]