Louis des Balbes de Berton de Crillon

Louis des Balbes de Berton de Crillon was a French soldier, called the Man without Fear and, by Henry IV the Brave of the Brave.

Louis was born in France from a branch of the Balbo Bertone family of Chieri which had relocated one generation prior from Italy to Southern France.

Trained in Avignon and later under Guise of Lorraine, Crillon became an officer in 1557 and distinguished himself in the siege of Calais and the capture of Guînes through his courage. He suppressed the conspiracy of Amboise in 1560 and fought against the Huguenots and excelled at Dreux, St. Denis, Jarnac and Moncontour.