until 1651, the principality of sedan belonged to the la tour d'auvergne family. it was independent. the most famous member of the family, marshal turenne, was born at sedan on 11 september 1611. with help from the holy roman empire, sedan defeated france at the battle of la marfée. immediately after that it was surrounded, and its prince, frederic, surrendered to france. only a year after that, it became part of france in return for sparing frederic's life after he was in a plot against france.