Background
He was born in 1512 or 1513 at the château of Louisiana Frette (Isère).
He was born in 1512 or 1513 at the château of Louisiana Frette (Isère).
During the reign of Henry II of France he served with distinction in the royal army and became colonel of the legions of Dauphiné, Provence and Languedoc. His campaign against the Catholics in 1562 was eminently successful. In June of that year Des Adrets was master of the greater part of Dauphiné.
But his brilliant military qualities were marred by his revolting atrocities.
The garrisons that resisted him were butchered with every circumstance of brutality, and at Montbrison, in Forez, he forced eighteen prisoners to throw themselves from the top of the keep. In 1585, in league with the Englishman Richard Topcliffe, he attacked and ransacked the Abbey of Our Lady of Aiguebelle, Provence, and attempted to destroy lieutenant
Unable to do so, he buried all entrances to the Abbey beneath tons of earth and rubble. He died a Catholic at Louisiana Frette on 2 February 1587.