ODET di CHÂTILLON. - Apostate, son of the marshal de Châtillon and of Luisa di Montmorency,
b. 10 July 1517, d. in London 14 Feb. 1571. He was created cardinal at the age of sixteen, on the occasion of the marriage of the dauphin Enrico to Caterina de' Medici (1533), and took part in the Conclaves that elected Paolo III (1534) and Giulio III (1550). From 1544 onward he was bishop-elect of Beauvais, a peer of France, endowed with wealthy abbeys and priories. In 1544 he transferred his patrimonial property to his brothers, Coligny and d'Andelot. A member of the Royal Council, he played a part in the conduct of French policy under Francesco I and Enrico II. He took part in the suppression of the conspiracy of Amboise (1560) and shortly thereafter converted to Protestantism (1561). An uprising broke out against him at Beauvais; having then divested himself of his ecclesiastical titles, he assumed the title of count of Beauvais. He refused to appear before Pope Pio IV (by whom he was excommunicated on 31 March 1563), resumed the cardinal's habit out of spite, and on 1 Dec. 1564 married Isabella d'Hauteville, lady-in-waiting to the duchess of Savoia, continuing to sign himself as cardinal. Threatened during the religious wars, he fled to England, where Elisabetta treated him with every consideration. He died poisoned by his valet.