François de Coligny

Not to be confused with François de Coligny d'Andelot.

François de Coligny
Count of Coligny
Lord of Châtillon
Born(1557-04-28)28 April 1557
Châtillon-Coligny
Died8 October 1591(1591-10-08) (aged 34)
Noble familyHouse of Coligny
Spouse(s)
Marguerite d'Ailly
​
​
(m. 1581; died 1591)​
IssueHenri de Coligny
Gaspard III de Coligny
Charles de Coligny
Françoise de Coligny
FatherGaspard II de Coligny
MotherCharlotte de Laval

François de Coligny, Count of Coligny and Lord of Châtillon (28 April 1557 – 8 October 1591) was a French Protestant general of the Wars of Religion.

Early life

Coligny was born on 28 April 1557 at Châtillon-Coligny. He was the son of Admiral Gaspard II de Coligny (1519–1572) and, his first wife, Charlotte de Laval (1530–1568). From his parent's marriage, his siblings were Louise de Coligny (wife of Charles de Téligny and William I of Orange),[1] and Charles de Coligny, Marquis d'Andelot, a Lieutenant General in Champagne. After his mother's death in 1547, his father married Jacqueline de Montbel d'Entremont, the Countess d'Entremont and Launay-Gelin, in 1571. From his father's second marriage, he had a younger half-sister, Béatrice de Coligny, who married Count Claude-Antoine d'Albon de Montauban de Meuillon d'Entremont.[2]

Coligny came of a noble family of Burgundy. His family traced their descent from the 11th century, and in the reign of Louis XI, were in the service of the King of France. His paternal grandparents were Louise de Montmorency (sister of Anne de Montmorency) and Gaspard I de Coligny, known as the 'Marshal of Châtillon', who served in the Italian Wars from 1494 to 1516 and was created Marshal of France in 1516.[3] Among his extended family were uncles Odet de Coligny,[4] and François de Coligny d'Andelot,[5] who both played an important part in the first period of the Wars of Religion.[4]

Career

He first saw action at the defence of Montpellier during the Sixth War of Religion from 1576 to 1577. First he razed the citadel, guarded by royal soldiers. Then, when the situation became difficult, he made a sortie across the Cévennes to Bergerac to recruit reinforcements and fought his way back into the town.[6]

At the start of the war of the Catholic League, when king Henry III had practically no other support, he beat the Duke of Mayenne near Chartres in 1589.[7]

He distinguished himself at the Battle of Arques in September 1589, where his arrival at the head of 500 arquebusiers allowed the victory of Henry IV to be expanded upon.[8]

Personal life

On 18 May 1581, he married Marguerite d'Ailly (d. 1604), daughter of Charles d'Ailly Lord of Seigneville, and Françoise de Warty. Together, they had four children:

Coligny died on 8 October 1591.[10]

Family tree

References

  1. ^ Walsby 2007, p. 190.
  2. ^ Walsby, Malcolm (2007). The Counts of Laval: Culture, Patronage and Religion in Fifteenth and Sixteenth-Century France. Ashgate Publishing Limited.
  3. ^ Walsby 2007, p. 123.
  4. ^ a b Walsby 2007, p. 123-124.
  5. ^ Chisholm 1911.
  6. ^ Miquel, Pierre (1980). Les Guerres de religion. Club France Loisirs. p. 326. ISBN 2-7242-0785-8.
  7. ^ Miquel, Pierre (1980). Les Guerres de religion. Club France Loisirs. p. 353. ISBN 2-7242-0785-8.
  8. ^ Miquel, Pierre (1980). Les Guerres de religion. Club France Loisirs. p. 366. ISBN 2-7242-0785-8.
  9. ^ "Previously attributed to Ferdinand Elle (1570-1637) - Anne de Polignac, Maréchale de Châtillon (1598-1651)". www.rct.uk. Royal Collection Trust. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  10. ^ a b Revue nobiliaire héraldique et biographique (in French). J. B. Dumoulin. 1871. p. 324. Retrieved 1 November 2024.