AUBIGNE

aubigne, constant d' [baron de surineau] (c. 1584-1647), french adventurer, was the son of theodore agrippa d'aubigne, and the father of madame de maintenon. born a protestant, he became by turns catholic or protestant as it suited his interests. he betrayed the protestants in 1626, revealing to the court, after a voyage to england, the projects of the english upon la rochelle. he was renounced by his father; then imprisoned by richelieu's orders at niort, where he was detained ten years. after having tried his fortunes in the antilles, he died in provence, leaving in destitution his wife, jeanne de cardillac, whom he had married in 1627. he had two children, charles, father of the duchess of noailles, and francoise, known in history as madame de maintenon. see t. lavallee, _la famille d'aubigne et l'enfance de madame de maintenon_ (paris, 1863).