Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers - Locations: Lupiac
100 Days of Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers June 1 - August 31, 2024
100 Days of Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers
June 1 - August 31, 2024
All for One and One for All: "The Three Musketeers" at 180
June 10
Locations post 4 of 12
The 2015 Charles de Batz de Castelmore, Count d'Artagnan (c.1611-1673) statue at his birthplace, village of Lupiac, France, population 310, 7 hours south of Paris, at the foothills of the Pyrenees, on the border with Spain.
From the Alexander Dumas Preface:
IN WHICH IT IS ESTABLISHED THAT, DESPITE THEIR NAMES ENDING IN -OS AND - IS, THE HEROES OF THE STORY WE SHALL HAVE THE HONOR OF TELLING OUR READERS ARE IN NO WAY MYTHOLOGICAL
"About a year ago, while doing research in the Royal Library for my history of Louis XIV, I chanced upon the Memoirs of Monsieur d'Artagnan, printed-like most works of that period, when authors were anxious to tell the truth without going for a more or less long turn in the Bastille-in Amsterdam, by Pierre Rouge. The title appealed to me: I took the book home, with the librarian's permission, of course, and devoured it.
I have no intention of making an analysis of this curious work here, and will content myself with recommending it to those of my readers who appreciate period pieces. They will find portraits in it penciled with a masterly hand, and though these sketches are most often drawn on barracks doors and the walls of taverns, they will nonetheless recognize the images of Louis XIII, Anne d'Autriche, Richelieu, Mazarin, and most of the courtiers of the time, of as good a likeness as in M. Anquetil's history."
Richard Pevear Notes:
PREFACE
"Note 1
My history of Louis XIV: The two volumes of Dumas's Louis XIV et son siècle ("Louis XIV and his century") were published in 1844-45, at about the same time as The Three Musketeers."
"Note 2:
Memoirs: Three anonymous editions of the pseudo Mémoires de M. d'Artagnan were published between 1700 and 1705, all three bearing fictitious bibliographical addresses: the first "in Cologne, by Pierre Marteau," the second "in Amsterdam, by Pierre Rouge," and the third "in Amsterdam, by P. de Coup." The "memoirs" were actually written by Gatien Courtilz de Sandras (1644?-1712). However, a real Gascon nobleman and captain of the king's musketeers by the name of Charles de Batz, seigneur d'Artagnan (1611-73), stands behind the figures portrayed by Courtilz and Dumas, much as they differ from him and from each other. Courtilz had in fact run afoul of the authorities because of his earlier writings and had spent some time in the Bastille."
"Note 3:
M. Anquetil's history: Louis-Pierre Anquetil (1723-1806) published a four-volume Histoire de France in 1805; there were a number of later editions. Louis XIII, known as Louis the Just (1601-43), the son of Henri IV and Marie de Medicis, became king of France at the age of nine, following the assassination of his father. Anne d'Autriche (1601-66), daughter of the Spanish king Phillip III and sister of the king of Austria, was his queen, and in 1624 Armand-Jean du Plessis, cardinal and duc de Richelieu (1585-1642), one of the most important of French statesmen, became his prime minister. After the death of Louis XIII, Anne d'Autriche ruled during the minority of Louis XIV (1638-1715) with the help of Cardinal Giulio Mazarini, known as Mazarin (1602-61)."
Charles de Batz de Castelmore, Count d'Artagnan (c. 1611-1673) was a historical figure who served as a musketeer during the reign of Louis XIV. Grandson of an ennobled merchant, he grew up in a small chateau near Lupiac, Château de Castelmore. d'Artagnan married and had 2 sons, both of whom served in the military. He joined the musketeers under his mother's name - Françoise de Montesquiou d'Artagnan - and participated in many campaigns in the 1640s. d'Artagnan may have served as a spy for the influential Cardinal Mazarin - a name we will encounter later in the novel - with a historical note to follow!!! He was active during the Fronde - ANOTHER historical note later in the novel!!! Promoted to lieutenant and captain-lieutenant, d'Artagnan briefly served as governor, but wanted to return to military service as soon as possible - meeting his death on the battlefield during the Franco-Dutch War on June, 25, 1673, at the siege of Maastricht (I drove through this city - now in Holland - during my 6,500 kilometer marathon drive through Europe's never-ending historic locations!!!)