Gramont, House of

   The House of Gramont originated in Navarre. Its most famous members include the following: Antoine III, duke de Gramont (1604-78), was born in Hagetmou and distinguished himself as a military figure in the service of King louis x III during the thirty years' war and remained faithful to the king during the fronde. He is the author of Mémoires. Philibert, count de Gramont (1621-1707), brother of the preceding, was a military commander. He fought in Franche-Comté and in Holland (1668-71), and his bravery and exploits were made famous by his brother-in-law, the writer antoine HAMiLTON,in Les Mémoires de la vie du comte de Gramont (1715). Armand de Gramont, count de Guiche (1638-73), also a soldier in the service of King Louis XIV, was the first person known to swim across the rhine river, during the campaign of 1672.