François de Coligny d'Andelot
Encyclopedia
- Not to be confused with his nephew François de ColignyFrançois de ColignyFrançois de Coligny comte de Coligny and seigeur de Châtillon-sur-Loing was a French Protestant general of the Wars of Religion. He was the son of Gaspard II de Coligny , Admiral of France .-Military career:...
.
François d'Andelot de Coligny (1521, Châtillon-sur-Loing - 27 May 1569, Saintes
Saintes
Saintes is a French commune located in Poitou-Charentes, in the southwestern Charente-Maritime department of which it is a sub-prefecture. Its inhabitants are called Saintaises and Saintais....
, Charente-Maritime
Charente-Maritime
Charente-Maritime is a department on the west coast of France named after the Charente River.- History :Previously a part of Saintonge, Charente-Inférieure was one of the 83 original departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
) was one of the leaders of French Protestantism during the French Wars of Religion
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
. The son of Gaspard I de Coligny
Gaspard I de Coligny
Gaspard I de Coligny, seigneur de Châtillon , known as the Marshal of Châtillon, was a French soldier. He served in the Italian Wars from 1495 to 1515, and was created Marshal of France in 1516....
, he was the younger brother of Odet, cardinal de Châtillon
Odet de Coligny
Odet de Coligny was a French cardinal of Châtillon, bishop of Beauvais, son of Gaspard I de Coligny and Louise de Montmorency, and brother of Gaspard and François, Seigneur d'Andelot.-Birth:...
and Gaspard de Coligny
Gaspard de Coligny
Gaspard de Coligny , Seigneur de Châtillon, was a French nobleman and admiral, best remembered as a disciplined Huguenot leader in the French Wars of Religion.-Ancestry:...
the admiral.
Italian Wars
He first gained military experience in the Italian WarsItalian Wars
The Italian Wars, often referred to as the Great Italian Wars or the Great Wars of Italy and sometimes as the Habsburg–Valois Wars, were a series of conflicts from 1494 to 1559 that involved, at various times, most of the city-states of Italy, the Papal States, most of the major states of Western...
, and so distinguished himself at the battle of Ceresole
Battle of Ceresole
The Battle of Ceresole was an encounter between a French army and the combined forces of Spain and the Holy Roman Empire during the Italian War of 1542–46...
(1544) that Louis de Bourbon, still comte d'Enghien
Louis I de Bourbon, prince de Condé
Louis de Bourbon was a prominent Huguenot leader and general, the founder of the House of Condé, a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon.-Life:...
at that time, knighted him on the battlefield. In 1547 he was made inspector-general of the infantry, and commanded the French troops sent to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
to defend the rights of Mary, Queen of Scots (until 1559, queen-consort of France). When war broke out again in Italy, he returned, marching to Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
and getting trapped in the city when it soon afterwards came under siege. Taken prisoner during a sortie, he was taken to the castle of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, where he remained until the treaty of Vaucelles in 1556.
Conversion
In prison, he read books obtained for him from outside and confirmed the doubts about Catholicism which he had already derived from conversations with French Protestants. On his return to France, he replaced his brother Gaspard as Colonel-General of the infantry and, at almost the same moment, war was declared against Spain. In charge of getting a relief column to Gaspard, who was defending Saint-QuentinBattle of St. Quentin (1557)
The Battle of Saint-Quentin of 1557 was fought during the Franco-Habsburg War . The Spanish, who had regained the support of the English, won a significant victory over the French at Saint-Quentin, in northern France.- Battle :...
, he found himself trapped there, but managed to prolong the siege and only surrendered when overwhelmed by the vast enemy numbers penetrating the city through the gaps they had blasted in the walls, when any resistance would have been useless. He succeeded in escaping the Spanish camp and rejoined the French army besieging Calais, where he acted so bravely that, according to Brantôme
Pierre de Bourdeille, seigneur de Brantôme
Pierre de Bourdeille, seigneur de Brantôme was a French historian, soldier and biographer.-Life:Brantôme was born in Périgord, Aquitaine, the third son of the baron de Bourdeille...
, Francis, Duke of Guise
Francis, Duke of Guise
Francis de Lorraine II, Prince of Joinville, Duke of Guise, Duke of Aumale , called Balafré , was a French soldier and politician.-Early life:...
(who was no friend of François's) stated that all he needed to conquer a world of places were Andelot, Strozzi and [Antoine] d'Estrées.
When Andelot returned to Paris, the Guises
House of Guise
The House of Guise was a French ducal family, partly responsible for the French Wars of Religion.The Guises were Catholic, and Henry Guise wanted to end growing Calvinist influence...
, jealous of his favour with king Henry II
Henry II of France
Henry II was King of France from 31 March 1547 until his death in 1559.-Early years:Henry was born in the royal Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris, the son of Francis I and Claude, Duchess of Brittany .His father was captured at the Battle of Pavia in 1525 by his sworn enemy,...
, blackened his name by reporting certain discourses he had had on religion. The king called Andelot before him and, on receiving confirmation from him that he had made these discourses, flew into a rage, arrested him and had him taken to the castle of Melun, where he remained until his uncle, constable Anne de Montmorency
Anne de Montmorency
Anne de Montmorency, duc de Montmorency, Honorary Knight of the Garter was a French soldier, statesman and diplomat. He became Marshal of France and Constable of France.-Early life:...
, got him bail.
François d'Andelot was the first of the Châtillon family to take on the Protestant reforms, and one of their most zealous defenders. He founded a Calvinist church in Vitré
Vitré, Ille-et-Vilaine
Vitré is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in north-western France.Vitré, a sub-prefecture until 1926, is the seat of a canton of around 17,000 inhabitants . It lies on the edge of Brittany, near Normandy, Maine, and Anjou...
which, from 1560, was provided with a resident pastor. It was Coligny d'Andelot who brought his brothers over to the Protestant side, and they always remained very united despite the lack in Andelot, otherwise a valiant and able captain, of Gaspard's prudence and moderation.
Wars of Religion
When the first War of ReligionFrench Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
broke out, he was among the first to join Louis I de Bourbon, prince de Condé
Louis I de Bourbon, prince de Condé
Louis de Bourbon was a prominent Huguenot leader and general, the founder of the House of Condé, a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon.-Life:...
, named leader of the Protestant faction. François's position as colonel-général was confiscated and re-allocated to the duc de Randari. Despite suffering from a fever at the time, he fought at the battle of Dreux
Battle of Dreux
The Battle of Dreux was fought on 19 December 1562 between Catholics and Huguenots. The Catholics were led by Anne de Montmorency while Louis I, Prince of Condé led the Huguenots....
in 1562. The following year, he defended Orléans when it was besieged by the troops of Francis, Duke of Guise
Francis, Duke of Guise
Francis de Lorraine II, Prince of Joinville, Duke of Guise, Duke of Aumale , called Balafré , was a French soldier and politician.-Early life:...
. The siege was only raised when the Duke was assassinated.
Thanks to his efforts, peace was re-established, but he was ill and unable to participate in the siege of Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
in 1563, where Catholics and Protestants joined forces against English troops.
Andelot, the Prince de Condé, Gaspard de Coligny and Guyonne XVIII de Laval were considered the instigators of the 1567 "surprise de Meaux
Surprise of Meaux
The surprise of Meaux was a conspiracy organised in 1567 by Louis I de Bourbon, prince de Condé to capture Charles IX and the rest of the French royal family...
", an unlucky attempt by the Huguenots to arrest king Charles IX
Charles IX of France
Charles IX was King of France, ruling from 1560 until his death. His reign was dominated by the Wars of Religion. He is best known as king at the time of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.-Childhood:...
and the queen mother, Catherine de Médici.
The Protestants took up arms again, and François d'Andelot directed the siege of Chartres. He then retired into his lands in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
and, as he little trusted the queen's promises, raised fresh troops. These he led into Anjou
Anjou
Anjou is a former county , duchy and province centred on the city of Angers in the lower Loire Valley of western France. It corresponds largely to the present-day département of Maine-et-Loire...
, where he remained, ready to re-start the war. He crossed the River Loire, penetrated into the Saintonge
Saintonge
Saintonge is a small region on the Atlantic coast of France within the département Charente-Maritime, west and south of Charente in the administrative region of Poitou-Charentes....
, captured several towns, and fought at the battle of Jarnac
Battle of Jarnac
The Battle of Jarnac on 13 March 1569 was an encounter during the French Wars of Religion between the Catholic forces of Marshal Gaspard de Saulx, sieur de Tavannes, and the Huguenots, near the nadir of their fortunes, financed by Reinhold von Krockow and led by Louis I de Bourbon, prince de...
, where he gathered up part of what was left of the Protestant army after its retreat from Saintes. Seized by another violent fever, he died on 27 May 1569. His fellow Protestants attributed his death to poison, suspicions which may have arisen from the quip of the chancellor de Birague
René de Birague
René de Birague was an Italian patrician who became a French cardinal and chancellor.-Biography:...
that this war would be ended not by arms but by cooks.
Marriages and descendents
- On 9 December 1548 (at Saint-Germain-en-LayeSaint-Germain-en-LayeSaint-Germain-en-Laye is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the centre.Inhabitants are called Saint-Germanois...
), he married Claudine de Rieux, dame de la Roche-BernardLa Roche-BernardLa Roche-Bernard is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France. Inhabitants of La Roche-Bernard are called in French Rochois for men and Rochoises for women....
, de RieuxRieux, MorbihanRieux is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France.-References:* * -External links:*...
, and de RochefortRochefort-en-TerreRochefort-en-Terre is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France.Rochefort-en-Terre is a designated “Petite Cité de Caractére”.-Demographics:Inhabitants of Rochefort-en-Terre are called in French Rochefortais....
, and they had:-
- Marguerite de Coligny d'Andelot (born 28 February 1553),
- married Julien de Tournemine, seigneur de Montmoreal,
- Paul de Coligny dit Guy XIX de Laval, (13 August 1555 - 15 April 1586, TaillebourgTaillebourgTaillebourg may refer to:* Taillebourg, Charente-Maritime, a French commune* Taillebourg, Lot-et-Garonne, a French commune of the Lot-et-Garonne department* Battle of Taillebourg* Château de Taillebourg...
), comte de LavalLaval, MayenneLaval is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.It lies on the threshold of Brittany and on the border between Normandy and Anjou. Its citizens are called Lavallois.-Geography:...
, de MontfortMontfort-sur-MeuMontfort-sur-Meu is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department of Brittany in north-western France.It is noted as the birthplace of the well known author and Roman Catholic Saint Louis de Montfort, who is considered the pioneer of the field of Mariology. The saint's birthplace is at No 15, Rue de...
, d'HarcourtHouse of HarcourtThe House of Harcourt is a Norman family, descended from the Viking Bernard the Dane and named after its seigneurie of Harcourt in Normandy. Its mottos were "Gesta verbis praeveniant" , "Gesta verbis praevenient" , and "Le bon temps viendra .....
, and baronBaronBaron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
de QuintinQuintinQuintin is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department of Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Quintin are called quintinais.-External links: *...
,- Children included Guy XX de LavalGuy XX de LavalGuy XX de Laval, François de Coligny was the Count of Laval and Baron of Quintin. He was son of Guy XIX de Laval and Anne d'Algère.In 1588, Anne d'Algère took him to Sedan so that he could be raised as a Protestant...
- Children included Guy XX de Laval
- François II de Coligny d'Andelot (23 August 1559 † 9 April 1586), seigneur de Rieux,
- Marguerite de Coligny d'Andelot (born 28 February 1553),
-
- On 27 August 1564, he married Anne daughter of Jean, comte de SalmSalm-SalmThe Principality of Salm-Salm was a state of the Holy Roman Empire. It was located in the present-day French départements of the Bas-Rhin and the Vosges and was one of a number of partitions of Salm.-History:...
, and they had:-
- François III de Coligny d'Andelot, seigneur de TanlayTanlayTanlay is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.-References:*...
, - Benjamin de Coligny d'Andelot ( † 7 April 1586), seigneur de SaillySaillySailly may refer to the following places in France:*Sailly, Ardennes, a commune in the Ardennes department*Sailly, Haute-Marne, a commune in the Haute-Marne department*Sailly, Saône-et-Loire, a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department...
and seigneur de Courcelles-au-BoisCourcelles-au-BoisCourcelles-au-Bois is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated on the D114 road, some northeast of Amiens.-Population:-External links:*...
, - Anne de Coligny d'Andelot, dame de TanlayTanlayTanlay is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.-References:*...
, de SaillySaillySailly may refer to the following places in France:*Sailly, Ardennes, a commune in the Ardennes department*Sailly, Haute-Marne, a commune in the Haute-Marne department*Sailly, Saône-et-Loire, a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department...
et de Courcelles-au-BoisCourcelles-au-BoisCourcelles-au-Bois is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated on the D114 road, some northeast of Amiens.-Population:-External links:*...
,- married in 1574 Jacques Chabot (died 1630), marquisMarquisMarquis is a French and Scottish title of nobility. The English equivalent is Marquess, while in German, it is Markgraf.It may also refer to:Persons:...
de MirebeauMirebeauMirebeau is a commune in the Vienne department in the Poitou-Charentes region in western France.-Demographics:-Twin towns:*Bassemyam, Burkina Faso*Membrilla, Spain*Regen, Germany*Saint-raymond, Quebec...
, son of Philippe Chabot,
- married in 1574 Jacques Chabot (died 1630), marquis
- Susanne de Coligny d'Andelot,
- married Guillaume de Poitiers, baron d'Outre.
- François III de Coligny d'Andelot, seigneur de Tanlay
-
Sources
- Abbé Pérau, "François de Coligny d'Andelot", in volume 16 of Vies des hommes illustres de France
- L'Amiral de Coligny, sire de Tinténiac en Bretagne. Paris, Lib.Fischbacher - Rennes, Lib. Filhon & Hommay - 1929, par V.Bellanger, Avocat à la Cour de RennesRennesRennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
- "François de Coligny d'Andelot", in Marie-Nicolas Bouillet et Alexis Chassang (dir.), Dictionnaire universel d'histoire et de géographie, 1878 [détail des éditions] (Wikisource)
- "François de Coligny d'Andelot", in Louis-Gabriel Michaud, Biographie universelle ancienne et moderne : histoire par ordre alphabétique de la vie publique et privée de tous les hommes avec la collaboration de plus de 300 savants et littérateurs français ou étrangers, 2nd edition, 1843–1865