MONTMORENCY, HENRI I, DUKE (DUC) DE

born 1534, Chantilly, Fr. died April 1, 1614, Agde also called Sieur (sire) De Damville brother of Franois de Montmorency and a leader of the moderate Roman Catholic party of the Politiques during the French Wars of Religion. Under the title of Sieur de Damville, by which he is usually remembered, Montmorency fought in various theatres of war and became governor of Languedoc (1563) and marshal of France (1566). As a leader of the Politiques he administered Languedoc independently of the royal government and of Paris. In 1593 he acknowledged Henry IV as king and, in December, was rewarded with the office of constable. He was allegedly illiterate.