Antoine de Crussol, 1st Duke of Uzès
Antoine de Crussol, 1st Duke of Uzès (1528-1573) was Protestant military commander and peer of France. Raised in a Protestant household, Crussol was an early convert among the elite of France. In 1558 upon his marriage, his barony was elevated to a county by king Henri II. In the troubles that spread through the south in the wake of the Conspiracy of Amboise he was appointed as 'lieutenant and commander' to help bring order back to Provence and Languedoc. In this role he favoured the Protestants, much to the irritation of the Catholic consuls. When the French Wars of Religion broke out, he entered rebellion, accepting the nomination of Governor of Languedoc from the estates of the region. He appointed his relatives to senior positions in his administration. With peace declared in the Edict of Amboise Crussol did not immediately relinquish power in Languedoc, and held on to his forces until August. Having finally returned to loyalty to the crown he accommodated the court during the grand tour of France in 1564–5, following them on their journey through the south. In 1565 the crown raised his lands to a duchy, making him the duc d'Uzès Over the following years he