Nicolas Durand de Villegagnon
Fra Nicolas Durand de Villegagnon | |
|---|---|
Portrait of a Man in a Cap by Nicolas Lagneau, traditionally identified as Villegagnon and dated 1569 | |
| Born | 1510 |
| Died | 9 January 1571 (aged 60-61) |
| Allegiance | Order of Saint John Kingdom of France |
| Service years | 1521–1571 |
| Conflicts | |
Nicolas Durand, sieur de Villegagnon, also Villegaignon (1510 – 9 January 1571) was a commander of the Knights of Malta, and later a French naval officer (vice-admiral of Brittany) who attempted to help the Huguenots in France escape persecution, before turning against them due to Eucharistic disputes.
A notable public figure in his time, Villegagnon was a mixture of soldier, explorer, and adventurer. He fought pirates in the Mediterranean and participated in several campaigns against the Ottoman Empire.