July 1636

[Louis XIV]

The Social Whirlwind by Sieur Matheus Mallette

When the royal court decamped for the provinces, the social season has reached its nadir. Lord de Bearne accompanied their Majesties on the tour of the Savoyard front in his dual role as Minister of State and Commander of the Royal Foot Guards Regiment. The newly appointed regimental chaplain, Father William, accompanied as well.

The King addressed the Savoy Frontier Regiment in the second week of July. Lord de Bearne was absent as he was attending church with the devout Mlle Bougiedure but Father Vincent was present to attend to the spiritual needs of the guards company assigned to the royal court that week. Father Vincent’s behavior was borderline uncouth as he appeared very uncomfortable amongst the mix of nobility and soldiery.

The next week saw a royal ball in honor of the Milanese envoy. Mlle Bougiedure was well-mannered and deft of foot which much have been a great relief and delight to the Grand Duc de Deols. Better still, the Minister of State’s private audience was deemed a great success as he is to be considered for additional honors in the near future. Father Vincent decided that preaching a sermon in a local parish was preferable to another week of humiliations in front of the royal court.

The final week of the July saw the royal court on the road of Normandy.

The clubs and other venues of Paris were quiet as those not travelling with the court or deployed to the front attended to personal matters.

[Louis XIV]

A Romantic Interlude by Comtessa Yvonne De Villepin

As the majority of the ladies of Paris are unaccompanied due to the summer campaign and Lord Balls’ expedition to West Africa, the Comtessa has decided to take a much deserved vacation of her own – Ed.

[Louis XIV]

An Ecumenical Matter by Bishop Henry Defour

Father William gave a sermon that could charitably by call uninspired. The talents of the newly promoted to Curate in the parish of Saint-Josse seem to lay elsewhere than oration.

Father Vincent, from reports, attempted to recapture June’s success in the pulpit by giving a very similar sermon in Savoy. Reports further state that the provincial peasantry were not as receptive as the more enlighten parishioner of Paris.

[Louis XIV]

Reports from the Front by General Georges Boulle (rtd.)

Lord Bougiedure’s plea to the Minister of War to assault the Hapsburgian army rather than take a defensive stance has paid off. Elsewhere, Savoy is plunged into rebellion.


Flanders Frontier

A quiet month in garrison for the frontier regiment.


Lorraine Frontier

The campaign army has successfully expelled the Holy Roman troops from Nancy owing largely to a superlative performance by Lord Bougiedure that will doubtlessly be studied for decades to come. So careful was this deployment of infantry against the enemy’s weak point that the reserve regiments in each brigade had little to do. Casualties were also much lower than one would expect due to the Grand Duc’s miserly attitude, which I most heartily approve, toward squandering the lives of his soldiers. Still there were significant losses in the Royal North Highlander Brigade, including its commander, and Private Jean d’Eau will not be returning to Paris as he died while scaling the walls of the enemy fortification in the Lorraine Frontier Regiment’s successful assault.

Elsewhere the Cavalry Brigade lost its commander during rather inconsequential maneuvers against relief forces that at least kept the enemy at bay giving time for the infantry division to secure its gains. The Dragoon Guards were successful in besting the enemy cavalry and Captain Burnet received mention in dispatches for personal valor in combat.

Death – Jean d’Eau

Mention – Jacques Bougiedure, Gadiffer Burnet

Promotion – Jacques Bougiedure

Loot – Jacques Bougiedure, Gadiffer Burnet


Savoy Frontier

So preoccupied with the visit of His Majesty, Louis XIII, was the commander of the frontier regiment that he was delinquent in properly securing the province. One of the regiment’s companies was ambushed Savoyard rebels as the region descends into revolt.


Spanish Frontier

Nothing to report.



Next month:

Flanders Frontier HL 2 Garrison Garrison

Lorraine Frontier HL 10 Open Warfare Field Ops

Savoy Frontier HL 5 Guerrilla War Siege

Spanish Frontier HL 1 Peace Garrison

[Louis XIV]

Court Circular


August

Location - Normandy

Week 1 – Travel
Week 2 – Provincial Parlement
Week 3 – Minor Envoy from England
Week 4 – Government