(Claudius Alexander count de), known in the latter part of his life by the name of Osman Bajhaw, descended from a family related to the blood-royal of France, entered himself at the age of 16 in the service of that crown, and married the daughter of marshal de Biron. He made the campaign in Flanders in 1690; but soon after left the French army, and entered into the imperial service under prince Eugene, who honoured him with an intimate friendship. The intrigues of the marquis de Préc, his inimical enemy, ruined his credit, however, at the court of Vienna, and caused him to be banished the empire. He then offered his service to the republic of Venice and to Russia; which being declined, his next tender was to the Grand Signor, who gladly received him: it was stipulated, that he should have a body of 30,000 men at his disposal; that a government should be conferred on him, with the rank of Bajhaw of three tails, and a salary of 10,000 ducats a day; and that, in case of war, he should be commander in chief. The first expedition he engaged in after his arrival at Constantinople, was to quell an insurrection in Arabia Petraea, which he happily effected; and at his return had large offers made him by Kouli Khan, but he did not choose to accept them. Some time after, he commanded the Turkish army against the emperor, over whose forces he gained a victory on the banks of the Danube. But success does not always protect a person against disgrace; for Bonneval, notwithstanding his service, was first imprisoned, and then banished to the island of Chio. The Sultan, however, continued his friend; and the evening before his departure made him Bajhaw-general of the Archipelago, which, with his former appointment of beglerbeg of Arabia, rendered him one of the most powerful persons in the Ottoman empire. In this island he found a retirement quite agreeable to his wishes; but did not long enjoy it, being sent back, and made topiği or master of the ordnance, a post of great honour and profit. He died in this employment, aged 75, in 1747; and wrote the memoirs of his own life.

town of France, in Beauce, with a fine Benedictine abbey. It is seated on the river Loire, in E. Long. 1. 30. N. Lat. 48. 10.