BRISSAC

brissac, dukes of. the fief of brissac in anjou was acquired at the end of the 15th century by a noble french family named cosse belonging to the same province. rene de cosse married into the gouffier family, just then very powerful at court, and became _premier panelier_ (chief pantler) to louis xii. two of his sons were marshals of france. brissac was made a countship in 1560 for charles, the eldest, who was grandmaster of artillery, and governor of piedmont and of picardy. the second, artus, who held the offices of _grand panetier_ of france and superintendent of finance, distinguished himself in the religious wars. charles ii. de cosse fought for the league, and as governor of paris opened the gates of that town to henry iv., who created him marshal of france in 1594. brissac was raised to a duchy in the peerage of france in 1611. louis hercule timoleon de cosse, due de brissac, and commandant of the constitutional guard of louis xvi., was killed at versailles on the 9th of september 1792 for his devotion to the king. (m. p.*)