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Post by huillaume on Aug 13, 2019 22:47:19 GMT
Huillaume is the heir of the viscount of Bearn. Lately, though, war has ravaged the viscounty, as not a few of its inhabitants have embraced the calvinism and joined the Huguenotes, and the King disoved the Sovereign Council leading to more unrest. All of this has impoverished the Viscount to the point bankrupcy became a true risk, and he decided to send his heir to Paris.
So, young Huillaume has taken what money his father could spare and some letters from the viscount and reached Paris looking for a brightest future...
OOC NOTE. In real history, this viscounty was added to the French crown, more or less for the reasons given, in 1620
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Post by huillaume on Aug 29, 2019 18:33:37 GMT
(March 1630)
Cher papa,
I hope you're all well at home. I reached Paris without any incident, and I'm trying to establish myself here.
I've followed your advise to try to joi nthe Army, and I've beem accepted i nthe Cardinal Guard, though I'm just a Subaltern on it, I cannot complain, having been honored as Ensign of The Cardinal's Escort. I'm concerned though about taking any command for now, and I'm attendin gthe Military Academy to learn about army matters, as I realised wha little idea I have about it as soon as I began to talk with more veteran members of my regiment (frankly, I didn't even understand their slang).
I'll keep you inferomed about my life in the City.
Please, kiss mama and my sisters, and embrace my brothers for me .
Yours
Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Sept 22, 2019 21:24:31 GMT
(April 1630)
Cher Papa,
I followed your advice and desire and applied for the Royal Food guards now that they are again in Paris. I have accepted among them, with the rank of Captain. Some have been surprised in the Cardinal Guards, as relations among them and the Food Guards are a little strained,and I’m not sure they are all happy, but I hope they understand I had to try to fulfill your wishes, and I hope Ivcould smooth those relations, as I'll always remember their welcome and see them as brothers in arms.
I hope you’re all fine at home, but news reaching Paris about the Spanish attack near home are concerning. I’m trying to convince my major (with the help of my Comrade Cpt. Piquet) to come to help the troops defending the border. I dared to offer your hospitality to the Major if we come, sure you’ll be glad to know him.
So, I hope to see you all soon. Please, kiss mum and my sisters and embrace my brothers in my name in the meanwhile
Love
Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Oct 4, 2019 13:22:33 GMT
(May, 1630)
It was early April, and spring was blooming when Huillaume arrived home, after days of march with the Guards Battlaion. He kissed his father's hand before hugging him, and invited the Major and Captain Piquet to the Viscount residence. Some days latter, news of the Spanish Army readying to assault a fortres put the Battalion in march to help the defenders, and Huillaume left with them, after receiving his father's blessing.
Two weeks latter, Huillaume retourned. The remains of the battered battalion camped in the Viscount's town fallow fields. Morale was low, after having barely been able to bury their Major and Cpt Piquet in the truce the Spaniards agrred to bury the dead. Many men were wounded, and the reunion among father and son was quite less joyful this time.
Dispatches arrived: Huillaume was promoted to Major and ordered to take the command of the Battalion and wait for orders to march again, as more fortifications were threatened. Father and son stared each other. A promotion should be a reason for rejoicing, but that was not the mood of the moment.
After the farewell to his family and receiving again his father's blessing, Huillaume went to oversee those who were now under his command. "Time to see how well invested was the time and money in the Accademy" he thought, well aware of his inexperience as a leader...
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Post by huillaume on Oct 30, 2019 12:34:16 GMT
(June 1630)
May have been a quiet month when Brevet Major Lagarde retourned home with his battalion on his way to Paris again, to the relief of his father and family.
Morale had recovered somewhat after this month, as wounded rejoined the Battalion and some rreinforcements have joined it, nearly retourning it to its TOE.
The young Major embraced once more his family, received his father blessing and retourned to Paris with his troops for the needed rest, not being called to combat for the coming summer.
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Post by huillaume on Nov 6, 2019 14:23:42 GMT
(June 1625) May have been a quiet month ... The TARDIS door swung shut behind him as he emerged into the summer sun... Pernickety, moi? OOC: Ohh, you're right , I posted the wrong year. Fixewd now , thanks for noticing. I'm also playing in another game where we're in 1625, and I guess I messed it...
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Post by huillaume on Nov 6, 2019 15:50:11 GMT
(July 1630)
Cher papa,
my return to Paris has been uneventful, and I could attend Cpt Piquet memorial, where most of us mourned him, but also celebrated having known him.
This aside this month has been mostly uneventful, but news from the front are not good, and I'll probably be leaving for in in July . I'll try to do it as General's aide, but in the Frontier Regiments if not, as my Battalion is for now being held as Paris Garrisson (and anyway it needs some rest and refit).
Please, kiss Mum and my sisters and embrace my brothers in my neme, and pray for me in the front.
Your loving son
Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Nov 21, 2019 12:43:56 GMT
(August 1630) Cher Papa,
I hope you’re all fine at home.
I’m in the fray again. The Lt General of the 1st Division honored me as his aide, and I’m serving with him in his HQ. I hope the experience I win here will help me in the future.
For now, things are not going well for our troops, though I personally saw little action. Please tell mum not to worry about me, as I’m in a relatively safe post for now.
I really hope things will go better this August, as otherwise our kingdom may find itself in a bad position.
Please, kiss mum and my sisters and embrace my brothers in my name in the meanwhile
Love
Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Dec 7, 2019 16:16:17 GMT
(September 1630)
Cher papa,
please, don't tell mum, as she uses to be concerned about me, but the post I served in was not as safe as I expected. The General was a little bit reckless and allowed the HQ to be endangered, and the distractions this produced led to troop discordination, and this to bad results again. We had to fight hand to hand to avoid the General killed, and he has been accused of incompentence. I'm unscratched, though, and the King has honored me by naming me Chevalier for it (you can tell this part to mum, of course).
As things are not going well in the front (and also because i've yet to see any plunder, after 4 months in campaign, and the shylocks are after me), I'll keep in the fray for now, this time commanding my Guardsmen. We've been sent to Flanders this time, where Hapsburg troops are disturbing our border. For what I've heard, the General there is not too expert in combat, and I hope my company will be useful there, and I will gain a little more experience (and, God willing, some loot at last).
I'll keep writing you to tell how things go. Please, kiss mum and my sisters and embrace my brothers for me.
Your loving son
Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Dec 16, 2019 16:21:41 GMT
(October 1630)
Cher Papa, I hope you’re all fine at home. I guess you’ve already received the news from Flanders. The Habsburg troops were better prepared than expected, and our Brigadier didn’t plan for it, so we were put in full retreat, with him being killed. I must be proud about my guardsmen, though. They fought like lions, and my company was among the few ones to retreat in good order, while most routed… We have been forced to fall back to our fortresses, though, and it seems the Habsburg are planning to besiege us, so I’m not sure when I’ll be able to send you more new. I can only hope the new General will know better his job, and we’ll resist the siege… Please, pray for us all, and don’t forget to kiss mum and my sisters and embrace my brothers in my name in the meanwhile
Your loving son
Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Jan 15, 2020 4:59:20 GMT
(November 1630)
Cher papa,
Once again things are going poorly in the front… Our fortresses are falling, and only the RNHB has won some victories, but the Flanders Frontier Regiment, whom my Company is attached to, has been bled white. Nonetheless, tell mum not to be concerned, as I’m well.
Again I cannot complain about my Company, though. Once again they fought like lions, and their ferocity and discipline (and some help from the RNHB) allowed us to breach the besiegers and retreat. The King has honored me with a barony for our performance in combat.
Frankly, I’m quite proud of my guardsmen, and I’m learning not a few things from them. We retreated to a new line of fortresses, and it seems the Habsburg troops are preparing for a full invasion. I hope I would be able to keep writing you.
Please, kiss mum and my sisters and hug my brothers for me, and tell them not to be concerned.
Your loving son
Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Jan 31, 2020 14:05:43 GMT
(December 1630)
Cher papa,
Things seem to go better in the Flanders front. We have been able to break the siege as the General directed a sortie (this time successfully, for a change) that put them on retreat. As for my Company, they again fought well, and I keep learning about tactics. I heard I was suggested for a medal, but the suggestion has been turned down this time.
I’m returning to Paris this month, as the King’s Equerry has not allowed my Company to remain in the front. My Company has been relieved by the Dragoon Guards and the situation in the Flanders border has improved. My men sure deserve (and need) some rest now! So you can tell mum I won’t be in the front for now (unless the General is given command again, of course, as I keep being his aide, but I see this unlikely, at least for the winter).
I’m eager to meet His Majesty for my ennobling ceremony, though my monetary situation has not improved and I guess I’ll have to mortgage my estate as soon as I receive it. I just hope the money will be enough to last for a while, or that I’ll be able to raise enough to redeem it with time. Maybe I’ll have now some possibility to enjoy the Cité’s life, or even to paint a little again (you know how I like painting).
Please, kiss mum and my sisters, and embrace my brothers for me
Your loving son
Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Feb 13, 2020 12:57:28 GMT
(January 1631)
Cher papa,
Frist of all, I missed you all this Christmas. It’s nearly a year now since I left home for Paris, and I must admit I’m somewhat homesick sometimes…
Life in Paris is becoming quite interesting. I’ve been (quite unexpectedly, I must admit) been chosen as Director of the Lottery. It’s quite a good office, involving some responsibility, and I hope to be useful there. For now, I’ve changed they Lottery system, as to now it seemed not to arise too much interest.
I’m also seeing someone now. It’s Dame Evelin Beyla, a very beautiful and somewhat influential lady from Burgundy. She was Picket’s girlfriend when he was killed, but I really believe she deserves more than being a mourning girl, after half a year, and she is really loveable. I hope to bring her to meet you and mum next time I can visit Béarne.
She accompanied me to the Royal Ball where I was confirmed as a Baron. I must admit mum’s insistence that a noble’s son must know proper etiquette and dancing have shown to be handy now (and probably will be in the immediate future), but please, don’t tell her I concede she was right.
I have been given an Estate by His Majesty (in Champagne nonetheless!), but I’m afraid Ill have to mortgage it to pay my debts out, as I already told you. I now understand Grandpa too when he mortgaged the Visomté…
Please, kiss mum and my sisters, and embrace my brothers for me, and wish them all a happy and prosperous 1631. I hope to be able to visit Béarne, though I cannot promise when, and to introduce Emelin to you all.
Your loving son
Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Feb 27, 2020 0:18:05 GMT
(February 1631)
Cher papa,
Well, at last I mortgaged my new barony in Champagne… This will give me some cash enough for some time at least, and I hope God will provide for latter.
Not much to tell this month, as it has been quite uneventful for me. I’ve acted as second for a duel, quite rarer an event than it's said, by the way, and Emelyn and I attended another Royal Ball, this time to honor the Savoyan embassy.
I’ve realized the etiquette in Paris is somewhat different than in Béarne, and while I have not (yet) done anything embarrassing, I decided to learn a little more about it. Can you believe there’s an academy even for this in the City?
Please, kiss mum and my sisters and embrace my brothers and wish them all a happy and prosper 1631 for me.
Your loving son
Huillaume
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Post by huillaume on Mar 18, 2020 17:51:38 GMT
(March 1631)
Cher papa,
This month has been mostly uneventful in Paris.
I have bought a Mansion and a Coach to keep with my position. I really hope I’l l be able to maintain them, but my cash situation is comfortable for now.
I’ve been invited to two balls this February. Emelyn and me really amazed the court at the dance floor (please, thank mum for her lessons, no matter how I complained when she forced me to), and I also attained another ball in the Austrian Embassy, where I knew the Paris Archbishop. He seems less distant than I expected, if I can say it…
I keep hoping I’ll be able to visit you at some point in the near future.
Please, kiss mum and my sisters and embrace my brothers for me.
Your loving son
Huillaume
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