Blaise de Monluc | |
|---|---|
 Blaise de Monluc, 16th century painting. | |
| Lieutenant-General of Guyenne | |
| In office 1562–1567 | |
| Military governor of Siena | |
| In office February 1554 – April 1555 | |
| Military governor of Moncalieri | |
| In office March 1548 – September 1549 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1500–1502 Saint-Puy |
| Died | 24 July 1577 Château de Monluc, Estillac |
| Nationality | French |
| Spouse(s) | (1) Antoinette Ysalguier (died 1562); (2) Isabeau de Beauville |
| Children | (1) Four sons, three daughters; (2) Three daughters |
| Residence | Château de Monluc |
| Occupation | Soldier |
| Military service | |
| Rank | Marshal of France 1574 |
| Battles/wars | Italian Wars Pavia 1525; Naples 1528 (WIA); Defence of Marseille 1536; Perpignan 1542; Ceresole 1544; Boulogne 1546; Siege of Siena 1555; Thionville 1558 French Wars of Religion Vergt 1562 |
Blaise de Monluc, also known as Blaise de Lasseran-Massencôme, seigneur de Monluc, (c. 1502 – 24 July 1577) was a professional soldier whose career began in 1521 and reached the rank of marshal of France in 1574. Written between 1570 and 1576, an account of his life titled Commentaires de Messire Blaise de Monluc was published in 1592, and remains an important historical source for 16th century warfare.
Born into a family of impoverished Gascon nobility, he rose to prominence during the Italian Wars and was appointed Lieutenant-General of Guyenne in January 1562, shortly before the outbreak of the French Wars of Religion. Fighting for the French crown, he soon gained a reputation as a brutal but effective commander, winning the critical Battle of Vergt in 1562. He was badly injured in July 1570 and dismissed for alleged corruption soon after, dying at home in Estillac on 24 July 1577.