La Noue, François de [key], 1531–91, French Protestant general in the Wars of Religion (see Religion, Wars of). He fought at Jarnac (1569) and Moncontour (1569). In 1570 he lost his left arm in battle and had it replaced with an iron hook, whence he became known as Bras-de-fer [ironarm]. He took part in the Netherlands expedition sponsored by Gaspard de Coligny. His reputation for fairness led to his being sent by King Charles IX to negotiate (1572–73) with the defenders of La Rochelle. After the failure of these negotiations he gave up his commission and assumed the leadership of the Protestant forces in W France (1574–78). He fought for the Dutch Protestants against the Spanish, but was captured (1580) and held prisoner for five years. At this time he wrote Discours politiques et militaires (1587, tr. 1587). He fought under King Henry IV at Arques and Ivry.
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