the second president of the French Third Republic. Henry Marie de La Croix de Castries (1850-1927) French explorer and cartograph. Christian de Castries (1902–1991), general, who commanded the defeated French army at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954. René de La Croix de Castries, marquis, called duc de Castries, (1908–1986), historian and member of the Académie française. Henri de La Croix de Castries (born 1954), president of the board of directors of AXA. See also Hôtel de Castries Château de Castries Castries External links House of La Croix on www.heraldique-europeenne.org House of La Croix on the Armorial du pays d'Oc site Papers of the Castries family in the French national archives