Commines or Commynes Philippe de, also called M. d'Argenton 1445-1509
French statesman and historian

Born in the castle of Comines near Courtrai, he entered the court of Burgundy in 1463, but in 1472 began to serve Louis XI of France. He was rewarded with the rich estate of Talmont, married the heiress of Argenton and became one of Louis's most trusted advisers. Louis's death brought him the loss of much property and eight months' imprisonment in an iron cage, but in 1493 he regained favour. He accompanied Charles VIII on his expedition to Italy (1494), was present at the Battle of Fornovo, and met Machiavelli. His M�moires (1524, first Eng trans by Thomas Danett, 1596) are the earliest French example of history as distinct from the chronicle and provide an important record of the times.

Bibliography: Jean Liniger, Philipe de Commynes (1978)