Charles Armand de Gontaut, Duke of Biron
Charles Armand de Gontaut, 2nd Duke of Biron (5 August 1663 – 23 July 1756), great-grandson of Armand de Gontout-Biron, was a French military leader who served with distinction under Louis XIV and Louis XV, and was made a Marshal of France by the latter.
The Marshal-Duke of Biron | |
|---|---|
| 2nd Duke of Biron | |
_by_Nicolas_de_Largilli%C3%A8re.jpg.webp) circa 1714 portrait of Charles Armand by Nicolas de Largillière (Boston Museum of Fine Arts). | |
| Full name | Charles Armand de Gontaut |
| Born | 5 August 1663 |
| Died | 23 July 1756 (aged 92) |
| Spouse(s) | Marie Antoinette de Caumont (1686) |
| Issue | Louis Antoine, 3rd Duke of Biron Charles Antoine, 4th Duke of Biron Geneviève, Duchess of Gramont Judith Charlotte, Countess of Bonneval |
| Father | François de Gontaut, Marquis of Biron |
| Mother | Élisabeth de Cossé |
  | |
He commanded the French vanguard at the Battle of Oudenaarde (1708), and noticed the first manoeuvre of deviation by Marlborough. Nevertheless, opposed on his lines by numerical superior forces, he was unable to change the course of events that were to happen.
He married Marie-Antoinette, duchesse de Lauzun and niece of Antoine Nompar de Caumont, duc de Lauzun.
They had 14 children among whom were
- Louis Antoine de Gontaut (1700–1788), Marshal of France.
- Charles Antoine (1708–1800), Duc de Biron and father of the memoirist Armand Louis de Gontaut, duc de Biron 1747–1783.
- Madeleine Françoise d’Usson de Bonnac married to Jean-Louis d'Usson.
- Judith Charlotte married Claude Alexandre de Bonneval.
- Geneviève, married Louis duc de Gramont, son of Antoine V de Gramont.
He died a few days before his 93rd birthday. When he died, his wife, ten of his 14 children, twelve of 32 grandchildren and eight of his 47 great-grandchildren had died before him. All his grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren were born in his lifetime.[1][2]