Coat of arms of the counts and dukes of Noailles (gules, a bend or).

Antoine, 1st comte de Noailles (4 September 1504 – 11 March 1563) became admiral of France, and was ambassador in England for three years, 1553–1556, maintaining a gallant but unsuccessful rivalry with the Spanish ambassador, Simon Renard.

Antoine was the eldest of three brothers who served as French diplomats, three of the 19 children of Louis de Noailles and Catherine de Pierre-Buffière.[1] His brothers Gilles and François were clergymen and diplomats.[2]

Diplomatic career

His career started at the age of 25 with a trip with Francis de la Tour, Viscount of Turenne, to Spain to arrange the marriage of Francis I of France with Eleanor of Austria, and he signed the final marriage contract. He then helped in the Italian wars and two missions to Scotland in 1548.[3]

Marriage

His wife was Jeanne de Gontaut, who following his death, became a lady-in-waiting to Catherine de Medici.[4]

References

  1. ^ Sainte-Marie 1868, p. 747-9.
  2. ^ Teulet 1862, pp. viii–ix.
  3. ^ Vertot 1763, pp. 10–11.
  4. ^ Chisholm 1911, p. 722.

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