BOUILLON, boo-C-yon, the name of one of the most distinguished historical families of France. The last Duke of Bouillon of the first line, the famous Godfrey of Bouillon, had sold the duchy to the bishop of Liege, but a new line arose toward the end of the 15th century. It originated with a cadet of the house of Marcie, which, at the commencement of the 15th century, possessed the principality of Sedan. In 1842 William de la Marck, well known as '
by a sister, who married Henri de la Tour dAuvergne, Viscount Turenne, but died without children in 1594. She had, however, bequeathed her possessions to her husband, and thus the two powerful houses of Turenne and Bouillon were merged into one. This new Duke of Bouillon was one of the most distinguished per sonages of his time. He was at first devotedly attached to Henry IV while he was fighting his way to the throne, but afterward leagued with his enemies; and, being implicated in the conspiracy which cost Marshal Biron his life, was long obliged to live in exile. He was restored to favor in 1606, and figured much dur ing the intrigues in the subsequent part of the following reign and, having embraced the doc trines of the Reformed Church, became one of its most distinguished leaders. He died in 1623, leaving two sons, the younger of whom was the celebrated Marshal Turenne. The elder, named Frederic Maurice, after serving with distinction in the Low Countries, returned to France, be came a Roman Catholic, served Louis XIII, then joined the insurrection against him headed by the Count of Soissons, and helped him to gain the battle of Murfee. During the Fronde he joined the princes and took a prominent part in the civil war, but was reconciled to the court in 1651, obtained the title of prince, and re ceived large accessions of territory in exchange for the principality of Sedan. He died in 1652, leaving interesting memoirs of his life and times. He was succeeded by Godefroi Maurice, who figured much in the wars of the period and became great chamberlain to Louis )(IV, and who died in 1721. One of his brothers was the celebrated Cardinal de Bouillon, who was born in 1644, obtained the cardinalate when only 26 years of age, was long the representative of the Gallican Church at Rome, made himself noto rious by his vanity, ambition and intriguing spirit, and died in 1715. Consult Marsollier, 'Life of Henry, Duke of
(3 vols., Paris 1726) ; Ozertly,
de
(Luxembourg 1827).