(Paul Richard), surnamed the Brave, a Protestant officer, was born at Castellane in Provence of a respectable family, and made a considerable figure in the civil wars of France during the 16th century. His brother, who was likewise a Protestant, having been killed in a popular tumult excited by the Roman priests at Draguignan, he took up arms to avenge his death; and, having assembled 2000 men, committed great devastations in Provence. Being pursued by the Count de Tende at the head of 6000 men, and finding himself too weak to keep the field, he took post in a convent strongly fortified by nature, and there resolved to defend himself to the last extremity. That the war might be terminated amicably, the Count de Tende proposed an interview; to which Mouvans agreed, on condition that his brother's murderers should be punished, and that those who had taken up arms with him should not be molested. These terms being accepted, he dismissed his troops, reserving only a guard of 50 men for the security of his person. This precaution was not unnecessary; for the parliament of Aix had received orders from court to punish him capitally for being concerned in the conspiracy of Amboise. The baron de la Garde made an attempt to apprehend him; but he was worsted and repulsed with considerable loss. Mouvans at length resolved to retire to Geneva, where his life would not be in danger; and there he lived for some time in tranquillity, nobly rejecting the splendid offers made him by the duke of Guise if he would join the Catholic party. He returned to France at the recommencement of the troubles, in consequence of the massacre of Vassy in 1562, and continued to distinguish himself in the Protestant armies. His conduct at Sisteron, where he commanded together with Captain Senas when that city was besieged by the Count de Sommerville, is particularly deserving of admiration. After sustaining an assault of seven hours, in which the besiegers were repulsed with considerable loss, Mouvans, perceiving that he was too weak to wait a second, determined to abandon the city, and left it during the night with his troops and those of the inhabitants who chose to accompany him, by a pass which the enemy had neglected to guard. The number of the inhabitants amounted to 4000 of every age and sex, men, women, children, and mothers with their infants at their breast. This body, in which there was not 1000 men fit to bear arms, directed their course towards Grenoble. Musketeers were placed in the front and rear, while the defenceless and unarmed occupied the centre. To add to the difficulty of the march, they were frequently obliged to go out of the way, and to cross steep and rugged rugged mountains, in order to avoid the ambuscades which the enemy had laid for them on the road. They stopped some days to refresh themselves in the valleys of Angrone and Pragelas, where they were cordially received and supplied with provisions by the Vaudois. After a march of 21 or 22 days, and being exposed to the greatest fatigue and famine, the wretched fugitives at length arrived at Grenoble. The baron des Adrets sent them under an escort to Lyons, where they remained till the treaty of pacification. In 1568 Mouvans was defeated at Mézignac in Perigord, and lost his life in the engagement. Upon this occasion he commanded, together with Peter Gourde, the advanced guard of the Protestant army. It is alleged, that in despair he dashed out his brains against a tree.