Gaspard III de Coligny, duc de Châtillon, (26 July 1584 – 4 January 1646) was a French Huguenot, who served under Louis XIII, and was appointed Marshal of France in 1622. He was described as "a mediocre general, but absolutely loyal".

Early life

Châtillon was born 26 July 1584, in Montpellier. He was the son of François de Coligny (1557–1591) and Marguerite d'Ailly of the Château de Châtillon-Coligny. Among his siblings were Henri, Count of Coligny, who died in 1601 in the assault on Ostend, and Françoise (who married René de Talensac, Lord of Londrières). His paternal grandparents were Huguenot leader Admiral Gaspard de Coligny, and his first wife, Charlotte de Laval (a daughter of Count Guy XVI de Laval). His maternal grandparents were Charles d'Ailly, Lord of Seigneville, and Françoise de Warty.

Career

He served during the Franco-Spanish War (1635–1659) at Les Avins in 1635, and commanded the Army of Champagne at the Battle of La Marfée on 6 July 1641, where he was defeated. He retired to Châtillon, where he died in 1646.

Personal life

On 13 August 1615, he married Anne de Polignac (1598–1651), the daughter of Gabriel de Polignac, Lord of Saint-Germain, and Anne d'Albin de Valzergues. Together, they had four children: The Duke died at Châtillon on 4 January 1646.

Descendants

Through his son Gaspard, he was a grandfather of Henri-Gaspard de Coligny (1649–1657), who was born after his father died and succeeded as Duke of Châtillon before he died young. Through his daughter Anne, he was a grandfather of, among others, Eleonore Charlotte of Württemberg-Montbéliard (wife of Silvius II Frederick, Duke of Württemberg-Oels), Elizabeth of Württemberg-Montbéliard (wife of Frederick Ferdinand, Duke of Württemberg-Weiltingen), and Leopold Eberhard, Duke of Württemberg-Montbéliard.

Family tree