He was the son of Matthew III of Montmorency and Jeanne de Brienne.
[2] During the Gascon War, Matthew fought the English in Guînes, and in 1295 he was appointed admiral and given command of a large squadron to conduct raiding expeditions in England.
On 1 August, he landed with a 15,000-strong army in front of Dover, captured it, plundered and burned it, but failed in an attack on the citadel.
[3] During the Franco-Flemish War, Matthew took part in the battles of Furnes and Courtai; he distinguished himself in the battle of Mons-en-Pévèle and was granted the fief of Damville and the office of Grand Chamberlain of France by King Philip IV.
A papal dispensation was required for this marriage as the bride and groom were in the fifth degree of kinship.