The Grandees of Parisian Society
Oct 31, 2021 21:22:47 GMT
huillaume and Jacques Bougiedure like this
Post by Ymbert Montgomery on Oct 31, 2021 21:22:47 GMT
King Louis XIII (SL 30)
Crowned King: 1610
Current Age: 32
A timid and private king who surrounds himself with favourites and lavish entertainments. He is easily swayed by his advisors, though in recent years primacy in this area has largely fallen to the silver tongued Cardinal Richelieu...
Queen Anne (SL 25+)
Born: 22 September 1601 at Benavente Palace, Valladolid, Spain
Married: 1615
Current Age: 32
A Spanish Habsburg, Anne’s marriage is widely rumoured not to be a happy one, filled with mistrust.
Married: 1615
Current Age: 32
A Spanish Habsburg, Anne’s marriage is widely rumoured not to be a happy one, filled with mistrust.
After the marriage, although installed with all propriety in her own suite of apartments in the Louvre, Anne was thoroughly ignored. Louis’ mother, Marie de’ Medici, continued to carry herself as Queen of France (until her removal from power at the King’s hand in 1616), without the least deference to her daughter-in-law, while the timid
and private young king appeared profoundly disinterested.
and private young king appeared profoundly disinterested.
As a Spaniard, surrounded by her entourage of high-born Spanish ladies-in-waiting, Anne is out of the mainstream of French culture. She has continued to live according to Spanish etiquette and failed to improve her stilted French.
Of late, the Queen’s position has been further undermined by the rise to pre-eminence amongst the King’s advisors of the Cardinal, who perhaps views the Queen’s Habsburg lineage with suspicion...
Of late, the Queen’s position has been further undermined by the rise to pre-eminence amongst the King’s advisors of the Cardinal, who perhaps views the Queen’s Habsburg lineage with suspicion...
Crown Prince Gaston de Bourbon, Duc d'Orleans (SL 25+)
Born 24 April 1608 at the Palace of Fontainebleau.
Current Age: 26
Louis XIII’s younger brother Gaston, Duc d’Orléans is the heir presumptive. Unlike his timid elder brother, Gaston wants to be king and some fear that he might someday plot against Louis XIII in order to assume the throne.
Princess Louisa (SL 25+)
Born: 22nd July 1609 at the Louvre Palace
Married: 1625
Born: 22nd July 1609 at the Louvre Palace
Married: 1625
Current Age: 25
She was born at the Louvre Palace and brought up as a Roman Catholic. This has made her an unpopular choice of wife for the English King Charles I, whom she married by proxy on May 11, 1625, shortly after his accession to the throne. They were married in person at St. Augustine’s Church, Canterbury, Kent, in June of 1626. Rumour has it that Louisa has taken an immediate dislike to George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham, a powerful favourite of her husband.
She was born at the Louvre Palace and brought up as a Roman Catholic. This has made her an unpopular choice of wife for the English King Charles I, whom she married by proxy on May 11, 1625, shortly after his accession to the throne. They were married in person at St. Augustine’s Church, Canterbury, Kent, in June of 1626. Rumour has it that Louisa has taken an immediate dislike to George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham, a powerful favourite of her husband.
Cardinal Richelieu (SL 25+)
Born: 9th September 1585 in Paris
Appointed Cardinal: 1622
Current Age: 48
Cardinal Richelieu is often known by the title of the King’s Chief Minister. He has sought to consolidate royal power and crush domestic factions. By restraining the power of the nobility, he is slowly transforming France into a strong, centralised state.
His chief foreign policy objective is to check the power of the Austro-Spanish Habsburg dynasty. Despite being a Roman Catholic Cardinal, he has never hesitated to make alliances with Protestant rulers in attempting to achieve this goal.
Duc Jacques Bougiedure (SL 24)
Born 21st March, 1611
Current Age: 24
As the spare apparent to the Marquis du Dampierre estate (a title that goes back many centuries), Jacques perhaps grew up overshadowed by both his father and his older brother. Where some men might allow this to drive them to apathy, Jacques instead showed a respectable level of ambition, a trait that has led to him matching his family title in his own right.
Jacques is greatly respected for his service in the Dragoon Guards, showing both bravery and intelligence in command. Indeed, at heart many would see him as a military man first and foremost. Although perhaps the main competitor there would be his love of Paris itself, a love that lead to him to taking the role of the Royal Governor of Paris for some time.
Sometimes unfairly overlooked for the highest positions (perhaps because he's seen as primarily a military man) Jacques seems to have overcome this barrier with his new appointment as Controller-General of Finance.
Born 21st March, 1611
Current Age: 24
As the spare apparent to the Marquis du Dampierre estate (a title that goes back many centuries), Jacques perhaps grew up overshadowed by both his father and his older brother. Where some men might allow this to drive them to apathy, Jacques instead showed a respectable level of ambition, a trait that has led to him matching his family title in his own right.
Jacques is greatly respected for his service in the Dragoon Guards, showing both bravery and intelligence in command. Indeed, at heart many would see him as a military man first and foremost. Although perhaps the main competitor there would be his love of Paris itself, a love that lead to him to taking the role of the Royal Governor of Paris for some time.
Sometimes unfairly overlooked for the highest positions (perhaps because he's seen as primarily a military man) Jacques seems to have overcome this barrier with his new appointment as Controller-General of Finance.
Eloise Le Beau (SL 24)
Born: 8th November 1610, Burgundy
Current Age: 23
It is not usual for a lady of respectable, but non aristocratic, birth to enter the higher echelons of Parisian society. But Eloise Le Beau is no ordinary lady.
With a beauty only matched by her temper, she has become known for her ability to mix freely with all walks of life. Her tempestuous relationship with Jacques is the subject of much gossip in Parisian salons, with the two having even taken a break previously after what, it is rumoured, was an especially fiery argument. She is believed to have turned down a marriage proposal from Jacques at least once before. After a brief dalliance with The King himself is she finally ready to settle down?
Born: 8th November 1610, Burgundy
Current Age: 23
It is not usual for a lady of respectable, but non aristocratic, birth to enter the higher echelons of Parisian society. But Eloise Le Beau is no ordinary lady.
With a beauty only matched by her temper, she has become known for her ability to mix freely with all walks of life. Her tempestuous relationship with Jacques is the subject of much gossip in Parisian salons, with the two having even taken a break previously after what, it is rumoured, was an especially fiery argument. She is believed to have turned down a marriage proposal from Jacques at least once before. After a brief dalliance with The King himself is she finally ready to settle down?
Marquis Hulluame Lagarde de Bearne (SL 23)
Born: ?
Current Age: ?
Born: ?
Current Age: ?
Hulluame certainly knows how to balance the books, a vital skill in his role as Controller-General of Finance. The heir to the Viscomte of Bearne, while long established and respected, internal tensions in the estates led to the family falling into financial ruin. Since the untimely death of his father Hulluame has done his best to reverse the family's decline.
As a National Hero with an incredible amount of popularity among the common folk (some have taken to calling him the "Son of France" it is perhaps fortunate his loyalties to the Royal Family are beyond question. Not only has he held the role of Commander of the Royal Foot Guards for several years, he has refused to take the offer of a full staff command position several times, preferring to stay where he can directly serve His Majesty. He has however taken up a position as Minister of State, using his military experience to advise on France's relations with the foreign powers.
His however is a life struck by tragedy. After the death of his younger brother in an illegal duel, closely followed by the death of both his parents, the more superstitious have taken to whispering of the "Curse of de Bearnes".
While fond of the finer things in life his is known as a straight talker, with little time for the petty intrigues common to many of the nobility.
Comtess Emelin Lagarde de Bearne (SL 23)
Born 23rd December 1613, Burgundy
Current Age: 19
The wife of Hullaume Lagarde de Bearne, Emelin is a notable figure in Parisian society in her own right.
Current Age: 19
The wife of Hullaume Lagarde de Bearne, Emelin is a notable figure in Parisian society in her own right.
Born into a minor noble family, the death of her father at 14 with no sons led to her having to step up and uphold the family honour. She surpassed expectations, soon becoming a famed society beauty greatly in desire as a guest at any social occasion worth attending.
Naturally, this made her one of the most eligible ladies in Paris, but she held back, cautious about those most interested in her estate.
But eventually Hulluame won her heart, leading to the two later getting married and having a child together. She is devoted to Hulluame, so much so that it is rumoured (where the King can not hear!) that she is one of the very few ladies to have turned down His Majesty's amorous advances.
Archduke Leopold (SL 22)
Born 26 February 1584
Current Age: 50
Leopold was brought up in court and attended the dauphin, who later became Louis XIII. The King shared his fondness for hunting and rapidly advanced him in favour. In 1615 he was appointed Commander of the Louvre and counsellor, and the following year Grand Falconer of France. He has used his influence over the King in various court intrigues against the queen-mother Marie de’ Medici and her favourite Concini. It was Leopold who arranged the plot that ended in Concini’s assassination (1617) and secured
all the latter’s possessions in Italy and France. He is a stalwart ally of both the King, whom he has deep personal friendship with, and the French Crown as an institution.
all the latter’s possessions in Italy and France. He is a stalwart ally of both the King, whom he has deep personal friendship with, and the French Crown as an institution.
Grand Duke Maximillian (SL 21)
Born: December 1560
Current Age: 72
A doughty soldier, former minister, staunch Protestant and the faithful right-hand man to the present King of France’s father. Since the death of Louis XIII’s father he has largely withdrawn from political life, though still remains a stalwart figure behind the French Crown...
Born: December 1560
Current Age: 72
A doughty soldier, former minister, staunch Protestant and the faithful right-hand man to the present King of France’s father. Since the death of Louis XIII’s father he has largely withdrawn from political life, though still remains a stalwart figure behind the French Crown...
Born: ?
Current Age: ?
Considered something of an enigma in the Salons of Paris, perhaps because his career has been so military focused up to now. Recently pushed into the spotlight by the untimely death of his father, many are waiting to see what kind of man the new Duc of Gevaudan is going to be. Especially interested are the ladies of Paris. So far Maurice has refused to settle down, giving him something of a playboy reputation. Is Paris' most eligible bachelor finally going to find the right woman or will he head back to the frontier? Only time will tell.