Nickname #9 -- December 13, 2011

General, later Marshal of France, Louis Franchet d'Espèrey was an energetic commander during World War One. He was defeated in the Battle of the Chemin des Dames, but went on to lead an army that conquered most of the Balkans. British soldiers, probably having pronouncing his name, nicknamed him "Desperate Frankie." In later years, he was elected to the Académie française.  He was a staunch Roman Catholic.