Theodore Agrippa d' Aubigne, a French Protestant soldier and historian, born at St. Maury, Feb. 8, 1550, died in Geneva, April 29, 1630. Even as a child his attachment to his religion attracted the attention of the Roman Catholics, and his refusal to abjure it caused him to be sentenced to death before he was 13 years of age. Aided by a friend, the boy escaped, and was present at the siege of Orleans. This ended, he went to pursue his studies at Geneva; but in 1567 he joined the Huguenot army under the prince of Conde, and served nearly two years with such bravery and ability as to secure the marked favor of the young Henry of Navarre, the future Henry IV. of France, whose service he subsequently entered, remaining with him through the war, and living at court after the peace. But he quarrelled with the king, his blunt candor and rude sarcasm constantly giving offence, and several times left or was compelled to leave Henry's service, ' though the king trusted him, and at one time bestowed offices of some honor upon him. He produced during his residence at court Circe, a tragedy, abounding in sarcasm directed against the king and various members of the royal family.

After the king's death he published his first three volumes of the history of his time (from 1556 to 1601). The third volume was seized and burned by order of parliament, and he fled to Geneva, thus escaping the sentence of death that was soon pronounced against him. While under this condemnation, he offered his hand to a Genevese lady of the name of Burlamaqui, who did not hesitate to accept him as husband after he had revealed his dangerous position with his wonted candor. By a former marriage he had one son, Con-stantine, who became the father of the celebrated Madame de Maintenon. D'Aubigne was buried in the church of St. Rene at Geneva. Besides those already mentioned, he wrote many less noteworthy works.