Gaspard IV of Coligny

Biography

Born with Châtillon the June 9th 1620, Gaspard is held on the Protestant baptismal font the 20 of the same month by the duke of Lesdiguières and Madam of Trémouille. Named of Andelot of living of his/her brother, this one having died, it priend the name of Marquis de Châtillon. It abjures the heresy calvinist in May 1643 at the instigation of Marion Delorme of which it has the favors.

In 1646, the king confirms the erection, made with the profit of his/her father under the name of Coligny, of the ground of Châtillon in duchy-peerage, under the name of Châtillon. In November 1648, it is the Comté of Coligny, in Bresse, which in its favor is set up in duchy, under its original name.

Military career

Gaspard IV fact its first weapons under the marshal of Châtillon his father, and is used like Aide-de-camp with the seats of Yvoy (1637) and of Saint-Omer (1638), and for the lifting of the seat of Mouzon by Piccolomini (1639). Named Mestre of camp of the regiment of Beauce with died of the count d' Onsain (1639), it goes to the resumption of Yvoy.

The June 21st 1640, Gaspard raises a regiment of infantry under her name (Andelot), which makes the head office of Arras. When the enemies attack strong Rantzau, abandoned by the French, Andelot supported by the count de Grancey, manages to penetrate there and drives out the Spaniards of them. It is wounded with the hand, and receives a blow of mousquet on its weapons, so extremely that it is believed dead.

With the Battle of Marfée, it is almost only found with his father on the battle field. Its regiment is laid off after the defeat (July 1641). He forsakes then the regiment of Beauce to take the command of that of Piedmont of which it viend to be named Mestre of camp to replace the marquis de Senecey.

In 1642, Gaspard is, under the marshal of Grammont, with the combat of Honnecourt. It fights then with the Bataille of Rocroi (May 1643) under the duke of Enghien (the future Grand Cop ), of which it is very dependant. Appointed marshal of the camps and armies of the King the May 27th 1643, it is used in this quality with the Siège as Thionville (July-August 1643), where it is wounded twice, then with the Siège of Sirk.

In March 1644, it dislocates regiment of Piedmont and is with the Siège of Gravelines. Passed to Germany under the duke of Enghien, it fights with the battles of Nördlingen (1645) and concour with the catch of Trier. Chosen by the king to succeed his father in the load of general of the French troops maintained in Holland (1646), it is used with the Siège as Courtrai.

In 1647, Châtillon is useful in Catalogne under the prince de Condé, as colonel-general of cavalry-light of the army of the king. This one intends it to take the command of the separate body of troop that Condé must form, but that is not done. It is with the head office of Lérida raised the June 17th 1647.

Created Lieutenant-general of the armies of the king the March 22nd 1648, it is useful, always under Condé, with the head office of Ypres. At the time of famous the Battle of Lens, it orders the body of battle and brings to the Cour the news of the victory.

A glorious end

The Parliament being raised against Mazarin, Gaspard, lately created Duke of Coligny, order part of the royal army, and is charged by Condé with taking again Charenton. It is mortally wounded during the attack, and one must transport it to the Château of Vincennes where it dies, the February 9th 1649, old of 28 years and half. The king had just created it Marshal of France. Its value, unanimously recognized, promised it with most brilliant intended, and its death was cried.

The king ordered, by an exceptional privilege, which it was buried in the basilica of Saint-Denis. Its funerals took place the February 20th according to, the funeral harangue being pronounced by the reverend father Favre, cordelier.

Family

Gaspard de Coligny fell in love with Isabelle-Angelica from Montmorency, second girl of François de Montmorency-Bouteville, count de Bouteville and of Luxury, which was decapitated as duellist in 1627 on the Place of Strike in Paris, and of Elisabeth-Angelica of Vienna, sister of the future Maréchal of Luxembourg, celebrates it tapestry maker of Notre-Dame .

She had been born in Paris and was baptized seloi the catholic faith the March 8th 1627. Gaspard removed it, which made great noise in the world, and married it (by contract signed to Paris the June 18th 1645) against the liking of the marshal of Châtillon his father, in the presence of the prince de Condé, who had formerly liked it, and several others.

Widow Isabelle-Angelica remaria, in Christian-Louis duke of Mecklembourg (February-March 1664), from which it separated shortly after. She worked the remainder of her days in the interests of the French diplomacy in Europe. In 1675, it founded in Châtillon the convent of the Bénédictines of the perpetual worship of the Blessed Sacrament to inform the young girls and to support the conversion of Réformés. She died in Paris the January 24th 1695 at the 69 years age. Its body was buried with the girls of the Blessed Sacrament of the Saint-Germain suburb, and its heart with the Carmelite nuns of the Saint-Jacob suburb.

Gaspard and Isabelle designed a child who was born after death from his father:

Henry-Gaspard, or Louis-Gaspard (born posthumous the 10 or July 11th 1649 - 1657), Duke of Coligny, baron de Beaupont, Beauvoir, Montjuif, Roissiat and Chevignat, lord of Châtillon etc, Even of France. The king confirmed in his favor erection in duchy-peerage of the Comté of Coligny, in Bresse, granted to his fire father. He had as a tutor his cousin Gaspard de Coligny-Saligny, then Jean de Coligny-Saligny his son (the future winner of Saint-Gothard)

With Gaspard died out new the Duché of Coligny which, passed with his/her aunts Henriette and Anne, became again county. After the death of her young person wire, the mother repurchased with her sisters-in-law Anne and Henriette the ground of Châtillon, which it transmitted to her nephew in favor of who this ground was again set up in duchy (1696).

In the literature

Alexandre Dumas gives, in Twenty years after , its version of died of Gapsard de Coligny: represented under the name of Châtillon, it is killed by Aramis at the time of the battle of Charenton.

Sources

Note extracted the Duchy of Coligny (1648-1657) , by Roch de Coligny (Axor-Danaé, 1998).
History in love with Gaules of Bussy-Rabutin.

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