Charles d’Espinay (c. 1531, château d’Espinay – September 1591, Epiniac) was a French cleric, bishop and poet. He is most notable for his sonnets, particularly his erotic “Sonnets amoureux” published in 1559-1560 – he was a contemporary and disciple of Pierre de Ronsard.[1]
He was the younger son of Guy III d’Espinay († 1551) and his wife Louise de Goulaine. His elder brother Jean II († 1591) became a marquis in 1575 and continued the family line. They also had other siblings – Philippine, who became abbess of abbaye Saint-Georges de Rennes (1572-1583), and Louis d’Espinay († 1600), commendatory to abbaye Notre-Dame du Tronchet (1558-1567) before marrying and becoming lord of Yvigniac. Louis’ son Jean d’Espinay became abbot commendatory to the abbaye de Saint-Méen (1592-1604).