1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Téligny, Charles de

TÉLIGNY, CHARLES DE (c. 1535-1572), French soldier and diplomat, belonged to a respected Huguenot family of Rouerque, and received an excellent training in letters and arms at the house of Coligny. He was employed on several peace missions; he represented the Protestants before the king, and was entrusted by Condé with the presentation of his terms to the queen-mother in 1567, and in the following year he assisted at the conference at Chalons and signed the peace of Longjumeau, which was destined to be of short duration. On the outbreak of war, he took part in the siege of Poitiers, directed an unsuccessful attack on Nantes, fought bravely under Coligny at Moncontour, and participated in the negotiations ending in the treaty of Saint-Germain (8th of August 1570). In 1571 he retired to La Rochelle and married Louise de Coligny, but was speedily recalled to Paris to serve on the bi-partisan commission of adjustment. Although he won the special favour of Charles IX., he was one of the first victims in the massacre of St Bartholomew's Day (24th of August 1572). His remains were taken to the Castle of Téligny in 1617, but eight years later were thrown into the river by the bishop of Castres.