Antoine III de Croÿ
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Antoine III de Croÿ, Prince de Porcien (1540-1567) was a French noble and Protestant rebel. Porcien, who held the rank of prince through his sovereign possessions, was a member of the Croÿ family. In 1558 his mother converted to Protestantism, and he followed her in 1560. His house, de Croÿ had been close with the Guise who used them as part of their broader rivalry with the House of Montmorency, supporting their claims that hurt their rival. Porcien broke with the Guise after his conversion. With the advent of Francis II's reign he joined Navarre in opposition to their house. The following year a strategic marriage was arranged for him with Catherine de Clèves which would bring him the County of Eu in 1564.
Antoine III de Croÿ | |
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Prince de Porcien | |
Born | (1540-01-00)January 1540 Kingdom of France |
Died | January 1567(1567-01-00) (aged 26–27) |
Family | House of Croÿ |
Spouse(s) | Catherine de Clèves |
Father | Charles de Croÿ |
Mother | Françoise d'Amboise |
During the first civil war he fought against the crown, attempting to invade Champagne (province) in July though was not able to achieve much success. He returned to royal favour with the establishment of peace and got into a bitter dispute with Aumale. He would back the Montmorency in their feud with the Guise in 1565, fighting against Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine in a skirmish when he tried to enter Paris. The following year he would be working in the Spanish Netherlands with Robert IV de la Marck in the aim of a transnational Protestant alliance against Spain. He died in 1567, with accusations of poisoning surrounding his death. His wife remarried his enemy the Duke of Guise