Montluc, Blaise de Lasseran-Massencôme, Seigneur de (c. 1500–1577)

French soldier. His military career began in 1521 and culminated in his appointment as Marshal of France in 1574. A supporter of the Guise in the early years of the Wars of Religion, he was remembered for his severe repression of the Huguenots. His autobiographical Commentaires (1592) gives a detailed account 16th-century warfare.

Montluc was born at St-Puy and spent his early years at court, as page and archer to the Duke of Lorraine. During his career he took part in five pitched battles and more than 200 skirmishes. As governor of Siena (1554–55) he distinguished himself in the heroic defence of that city against imperial and Florentine forces.