Marshal of France. Bernardin Gigault, Marquis de Bellefonds, son of Henri Robert Gigault, seigneur de Bellefonds, and his wife Marie Avoynes, inherited the title of Governor of Valognes upon the death of his father in 1643. He was a favorite of King Louis XIV. He fought at Cognac in 1651 and Catalonia in 1653. He also participated in the expedition to Castellammare in 1654. The next year, Bernardin received the rank of lieutenant general. In 1659, he was victorious at Tournai. He served in Italy and the Dutch Republic. After the declaration of war on Spain in 1667, the Governor of Valognes commanded detachments and was also made governor of the area between Sambre and Meuse. However, he did not always follow the commands of his superiors which, while leading him to victory, nonetheless caused him difficulties. He was wounded a total of eight times. Bernardin received the title of Marshal of France on July 8, 1668. He was made an ambassador to England in 1670. Later in his career, he became a member of the household of the king. The Marshall of France also served as an advisor to the Duchess of La Vallière, supporting the king's mistress in her desire to enter a convent. He continued to serve in the military, and led an expeditionary force in 1692 which lent support in the Battle of La Hogue. Awards that he received later in his life included Knight of the Order of the King in 1688 and Commander of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis in 1693. Bernardin died at the Château de Vincennes in 1694 and was buried in the chapel there.
Marshal of France. Bernardin Gigault, Marquis de Bellefonds, son of Henri Robert Gigault, seigneur de Bellefonds, and his wife Marie Avoynes, inherited the title of Governor of Valognes upon the death of his father in 1643. He was a favorite of King Louis XIV. He fought at Cognac in 1651 and Catalonia in 1653. He also participated in the expedition to Castellammare in 1654. The next year, Bernardin received the rank of lieutenant general. In 1659, he was victorious at Tournai. He served in Italy and the Dutch Republic. After the declaration of war on Spain in 1667, the Governor of Valognes commanded detachments and was also made governor of the area between Sambre and Meuse. However, he did not always follow the commands of his superiors which, while leading him to victory, nonetheless caused him difficulties. He was wounded a total of eight times. Bernardin received the title of Marshal of France on July 8, 1668. He was made an ambassador to England in 1670. Later in his career, he became a member of the household of the king. The Marshall of France also served as an advisor to the Duchess of La Vallière, supporting the king's mistress in her desire to enter a convent. He continued to serve in the military, and led an expeditionary force in 1692 which lent support in the Battle of La Hogue. Awards that he received later in his life included Knight of the Order of the King in 1688 and Commander of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis in 1693. Bernardin died at the Château de Vincennes in 1694 and was buried in the chapel there.
Bio by: Anne Philbrick
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