COLIGNI, Gaspard de (1517-1572), admiral of France, was son of the Marshal Gaspard de Coligni and Louise de Montmorency, and was born at Chatillon-sur-Loing, the hereditary domain of his house. At twenty-two he came to court, and there contracted a friendship with Francis of Guise. In the campaign of 1543 Coligni distinguished himself greatly, and was wounded at the sieges of Montmédy and Bains. In 1544 he served in the Italian campaign under the Due d’Enghien, and was knighted on the field of Cerisolles. Returning to France, he took part in different military operations; and having been made colonel general of the infantry, exhibited great capacity and in telligence as a military reformer. He was soon afterwards made admiral in room of D’Annebaut. At the battle of Renty (1554) began the quarrel between him and Francis of Guise, which was to bring such evil on both their houses, and on their native land; and the enmity was increased tenfold in 1556 by the rupture, at the instance of Guise, of the Treaty of Vauxcelles. In 1557 he was intrusted with the defence of Saint Quentin. In the siege he displayed great courage, resolution, and strength of character; but the place was taken, and he was imprisoned in the stronghold of LΕcluse. On payment of a ransom of 50,000 crowns he recovered his liberty. But he had by this time become a Huguenot, through the influence of his brother Dandelot; and he busied himself secretly with protecting his co-religionists, a colony of whom he sent to Brazil, whence they were afterwards expelled by the Portuguese. On the death of Henry II. he placed himself, with Louis, prince of Condé, in the front of his sect, and demanded religious toleration and certain other reforms. In 1560, at the Assembly of Notables at Fontainebleau, the ...