Cardinal, french nobility. Son of marshal Gaspard de Coligny and Louise de Montmorency, and younger brother of admiral Gaspard de Coligny. He was sixteen years old when he was promoted to the cardinalate in 1533. He participated in the conclave of the following year and that of 1549/1550. He protected Ronsard and Rabelais, the latter even dedicated his "Quart Livre" to him. In 1560 he was named grand inquisitor of France, but the parliament of Paris impeded him in his work. In April 1561 he converted to Calvinism and helped the Huguenots that had to suffer greatly during the wars of religion. In the following years he worked together with his brother and acted as mediator between the Huguenots and the Queen Mother Caterina de Medici. In 1562 the Inquisition, and in 1563 the Pope declared him a heretic and deprived him of his benefices. In 1564 he married Isabelle de Hauteville, daughter of Samson seigneur de Hauteville. They had to flee to England in 1568 where they were greeted warmly by Queen Elisabeth. Before he had the chance to join his brother in La Rochelle he was poisoned. It spared him to witness the St Bartholomew's Day massacre in the following year, during which his brother and many thousand Huguenots were killed.
Cardinal, french nobility. Son of marshal Gaspard de Coligny and Louise de Montmorency, and younger brother of admiral Gaspard de Coligny. He was sixteen years old when he was promoted to the cardinalate in 1533. He participated in the conclave of the following year and that of 1549/1550. He protected Ronsard and Rabelais, the latter even dedicated his "Quart Livre" to him. In 1560 he was named grand inquisitor of France, but the parliament of Paris impeded him in his work. In April 1561 he converted to Calvinism and helped the Huguenots that had to suffer greatly during the wars of religion. In the following years he worked together with his brother and acted as mediator between the Huguenots and the Queen Mother Caterina de Medici. In 1562 the Inquisition, and in 1563 the Pope declared him a heretic and deprived him of his benefices. In 1564 he married Isabelle de Hauteville, daughter of Samson seigneur de Hauteville. They had to flee to England in 1568 where they were greeted warmly by Queen Elisabeth. Before he had the chance to join his brother in La Rochelle he was poisoned. It spared him to witness the St Bartholomew's Day massacre in the following year, during which his brother and many thousand Huguenots were killed.
Bio by: Lutetia
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