Charles de Montsaulnin, Comte de Montal

Charles de Montsaulnin, Comte de Montal, Seigneur de Ménétreux-le-Pitois and Venarey-les-Laumes
Capture of Charleroi in the Spanish Netherlands; Montal served as Governor
Governor of Maritime Flanders
In office 1693–1696
Governor of Mont-Royal
In office 1687–1692
Governor of Maubeuge and Dinant
In office 1678–1684
Governor of Charleroi
In office 1668–1678
Personal details
Born	1619 (other sources claim 1621) Château des Aubues, near Lormes, Nièvre
Died	21 September 1696(1696-09-21) (aged 77) Dunkirk
Resting place	Saint-Brisson, Nièvre
Nationality	French
Spouse	Gabrielle de Solage de Frédault (1634–?)
Children	Louis (1648–1686); François-Ignace (ca 1650–1691); François (1653–1672); Cassandre-Marie (? – 1695)
Occupation	Soldier
Awards	Order of the Holy Spirit 1688
Military service
Allegiance	France  Spain 1653–1659
Years of service	1638-1696
Rank	Lieutenant General
Battles/wars	Thirty Years War Freiburg; Nördlingen; Fronde 1648–1653 Franco-Spanish War, 1635–1659 Valenciennes; The Dunes War of Devolution 1667–1668 War of the Reunions 1683–1684 Franco-Dutch War 1672–1678 Maastricht; Seneffe; Saint-Denis Nine Years' War Steenkerque; Diksmuide

Charles de Montsaulnin, Comte de Montal (1619–1696) was a 17th-century French military officer and noble who was a close friend of Le Grand Condé, and fought in many of the wars of Louis XIV of France.

His military career began in 1638 under Condé, to whom he would remain loyal for the rest of his life; during the Fronde, he was one of the few to follow him into exile in Spain. Pardoned by Louis XIV in 1659, he remained in military service until his death in 1696, being particularly well-regarded for his defensive expertise. He worked for many years with French military engineer Vauban, a neighbour from the same region; Louis reportedly remarked the ideal was fortifications built by Vauban and defended by Montal.

Montal served as Governor of a number of key towns, including Charleroi, occupied by France from 1668 to 1678 and now in Belgium. 'Rue Montal' was named after him by the city council in 1860.^[1]