AUMONT  , the name of a

family which played an important part in French history . The origin of the name is uncertain, but it has usually been derived from Aumont, now a small commune in the department of the Somme . The family was of great antiquity, a Jean, sire d'Aumont, having accompanied Louis IX. on crusade . It was already powerful in the 14th century, and during the English wars of that period its members fought in the armies of the kings of France . Towards the end of the century, the family took the part of the dukes of Burgundy, but returned to the side of France on the death of Charles the Bold . Jean d'Aumont, lieutenant-general to the king of France in the government of Burgundy, rendered important services to Louis XII. and Francis I . Another Jean d'Aumont (d . 1595) a marshal of France and knight of the order of the Holy Ghost since its institution in 1578, fought against the Huguenots under the last of the Valois kings; but he was among the first to9 2 I recognize Henry IV., and was appointed governor of Champagne and of Brittany, where he had to fight against the League . His grandson Antoine (1601–1669) was also a marshal of France (1651), governor of Paris (1662), duke and peer (1665) . Louis Marie Augustin, duc d'Aumont (1709–1782), was a celebrated collector of works of art . Louis Marie Celeste d'Aumont, duc de Piennes, afterwards duc d'Aumont (1762-1831), emigrated during the Revolution and served in the army of the royalists, as also in the Swedish army . During the Hundred Days he effected a descent upon Normandy in the Bourbon interest, and succeeded in capturing Bayeux and Caen .