Biron

Biron, the title of a family that has given several marshals to France. The most distinguished of these are: (1) ARMAND DE GONTAUT, BARON DE, born in 1524, fought against the Huguenots at Saint-Denis and Moncontour, but early joined and rendered great service to Henry IV. He was killed at the siege of Epernay in 1592. His Correspondance was edited by Barthélemy in 1874. —(2) CHARLES DE GONTAUT, DUC DE, son of the preceding, was born in 1562. His intrepid valour gained him the affection of Henry IV., and the nickname of 'Fulmen Gallie;' but being convicted of a treasonable correspondence with Spain, he was beheaded in the Bastille in 1602. —(3) ARMAND LOUIS DE GONTAUT, DUC DE, born in 1753, fought with Lafayette in America, joined the Revolutionists in France, for whom he commanded several armies, and defeated the Vendéans at Parthenay in 1793. Accused, however, of oppression and falsehood by two fellow-generals, he was guillotined, 1st January 1794. His Mémoires (new ed. by Lacour, 1858) are valuable.