Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 61.djvu/516

510 the family, we see that it does not prove too much. The first eighteen generations show a perfectly natural result from the influences of heredity. The last three generations giving four big names among eighteen are also in line with the expected, since both Anne and his most distinguished son, Henry, had large families, these great ones being a select few out of many. It will be seen later that the great descendants of the Montmorencys, who bore the name of Condé, traced their lineage from the great names among the Montmorencys, not from the mediocre.

This high wave of Montmorency had probably a great deal to do with making the name of Condé so well known, since its greatest personages were the children of both families. The male line of Condé is traced through the lines of Marche and Vendome back to Robert, Count of Clermont, Lord of Burbon (died 1317) and son of Louis IX., prince of France. From Robert to Louis I. Prince of Condé (died 1569), includes in the direct line forty-four adult names, covers a period of two and a half centuries and includes nine generations. During the first of these generations not a single one, as Count of Vendome, Duke of Bourbon, or the possessor of any other high title ever distinguish himself sufficiently to be even mentioned by 'Lippincott's Dictionary.' During all this time one also notices no illustrious name on the maternal side, so this is all to be expected.

Now in the ninth generation appears Louis, the first distinguished Condé, the eighth of ten mature brothers and sisters. His oldest brother, Anthony de Bourbon, King of Navarre, is famous, but ranks far from the great. He was a weak and irresolute prince, who died in 1562 'detested by the protestants whom he had deserted and little regretted by the catholics.' The second brother, Charles, was one of the chiefs of the catholic league and receives a few lines in 'Lippincott.' The other children were not heard from.

It does not appear clear where Louis's talents arose since none of his immediate ancestors were remarkable, nor was his marriage calculated to perpetuate any greatness he might have inherited, since his wife, Eleonoro, was a daughter of Charles, Count of Ponce, a family of no distinction. He had three sons, one of whom was Henry I., Prince of Condé. He was 'liberal, gracious and eloquent and promised to be as great a captain as his father.' Only two of the eight other children reached maturity. These two held high titles and presumably had equal opportunities, but left no great names behind them. Now supposing Henry I. to have inherited all the talents of his father, and