Coligni

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

or COLIGNY, GASPARD DE CHATILLON, (kō-lēn'yē), SIRE DE, admiral of France, and leader of the Huguenots in the civil war; born in 1517. His father, also named Gaspard, was Marshal of France, and took part in the invasion of Italy by Charles VIII., and in the conquest of the Milanese by Louis XII. and Francis I. His mother was a Montmorency. He entered the army at an early age, distinguished himself at the battle of Cerisole, at the taking of Carignan, and at the battle of Rentz. He was made Admiral of France in 1552, by Henry II. At the siege of St. Quentin he was taken prisoner by the Spaniards. On the death of He Henry II. he returned to his estates, became a convert to the reformed faith, and when the war broke out put himself at the head of the Protestants, with the Prince of Condé. They were defeated by the Duke de Guise at the battle of Dreux; the indecisive battle of St. Denis followed, and the Protestants were deefeated at Jarnac, and Moncontour. In 1570, after the treaty of St. Germain, ker, Coligny was flatteringly deceived by Catherine de Medici, and a few days later his assassination was attempted by an emissary of the Duke de Guise. The King, Charles IX., visited him and professed his regret. On the signal being given for the massacre of St. Bartholomew, Aug. 24, 1572, De Guise, with a party of assassins, went to the house of the Admiral; by these he was stabbed and thrown out of a window at the feet of the duke. The corpse was exposed for three days to the mob, and then hung head downward.