AUMONT

aumont, the name of a family which played an important part in french history. the origin of the name is uncertain, but it has usually been derived from aumont, now a small commune in the department of the somme. the family was of great antiquity, a jean, sire d'aumont, having accompanied louis ix. on crusade. it was already powerful in the 14th century, and during the english wars of that period its members fought in the armies of the kings of france. towards the end of the century, the family took the part of the dukes of burgundy, but returned to the side of france on the death of charles the bold. jean d'aumont, lieutenant-general to the king of france in the government of burgundy, rendered important services to louis xii. and francis i. another jean d'aumont (d. 1595), a marshal of france and knight of the order of the holy ghost since its institution in 1578, fought against the huguenots under the last of the valois kings; but he was among the first to recognize henry iv., and was appointed governor of champagne and of brittany, where he had to fight against the league. his grandson antoine (1601-1669) was also a marshal of france (1651), governor of paris (1662), duke and peer (1665). louis marie augustin, duc d'aumont (1709-1782), was a celebrated collector of works of art. louis marie celeste d'aumont, due de piennes, afterwards duc d'aumont (1762-1831), emigrated during the revolution and served in the army of the royalists, as also in the swedish army. during the hundred days he effected a descent upon normandy in the bourbon interest, and succeeded in capturing bayeux and caen. auncel (from the anglo-fr. _auncelle_, a confused derivation from _l'auncelle_, ital. _lancella_, a little balance), a balance formerly used in england; now, in dialectical use, a term for the weighing of meat by hand instead of by scales.