The Messieurs Haag state that the old Seigneur Daniel de Massue de Ruvigny was Governor of the Bastile. But as the Duc de Sully was Governor, I suppose that the Seigneur De Ruvigny was Lieutenant-Governor; at least Sully must have been a friend and patron, for (as already stated) the Duchesse and her son were the baptismal sponsors of his daughter Rachel. The old Seigneur married, first, Madelaine Pinot; and, secondly, Madelaine de Fontaine, Dame de La Caillemotte; he died in 1611. His widow survived till 1636. To her Henri owed the superintendence of his education, and probably Sully, who had been a successful soldier in his youth, took an interest in him. At all events Henri Seigneur De Ruvigny became a soldier, and he first appears to public view as an officer of the French Guards at the siege of La Rochelle in 1627. He was one of those Huguenots who served in the Royal Armies, and whose case I have discussed in the Historical Introduction (Section I.). Though a very strong Protestant in religion, he differed from the Huguenots of La Rochelle in politics, but practically agreed with the majority of his co-religionists, who for several years had declined to take up arms against Louis XIII. Ruvigny’s principle was that the king as his master should be obeyed, and should as a man be conciliated. And while service against the Huguenot confederates is a part of his recorded services, it is but a small part. [See Haag’s “La France Protestante.”]
When the English Auxiliaries, under the Duke of Buckingham, disembarked on the Isle of Rhé, they immediately invested the fortress of St. Martin, and its fall seemed to be probable. At length a brave officer in the garrison, who proved to be the Seigneur De Ruvigny, at the peril of his life, conveyed a message to the king, representing the extremity to which they were reduced. The consequence was, that (by order of Cardinal Richelieu, who acted both as prime minister and as commander-in-chief) reinforcements were thrown into the fortress, and Buckingham and his forces sailed back to England on November 16th. La Rochelle now had only itself to rely on. The garrison bravely held out till the 28th October 1628, and the king and the cardinal made a triumphant entry into the city on the 1st of November. Ruvigny was in active service during the whole siege on the side of royal authority.
The Duchy of Mantua having become vacant by the death of Duke Vincenzo, the Due de Nevers, whom the King of France put forward, assumed the title of Duke of Mantua, and took possession of the territory. Ferdinand II., Emperor of Germany, in combination with Philip IV. of Spain, espoused the claims of the Duke of Guastalla, and besieged Casale. The Duke of Savoy joined these confederates, and opposed the march through his dominions of the French army that set out to raise the siege. Ruvigny was in this expedition, which was commanded by the King of France himself. The great event was the forcing of the Pass of Suza on the 6th of March 1629. Three barricades were carried by storm, there being at the head of the attack above a hundred princes, lords, and gentlemen volunteers, who followed the forlorn hope. The success was complete, and the Duke of Savoy agreed to the Treaty of Suza.
Whether Ruvigny returned with Louis on April 28th, or with another detachment under Richelieu soon after, does not appear. At any rate it was again his painful duty to be in arms at home against his co-religionists. Privas was taken, and burnt tc the ground. Alais capitulated, and was dismantled. Peace between the King and the Protestants was established on the 27th June, along with the re-establishment of liberty of conscience and freedom of worship, and a pardon for the Huguenot commanders, the two brothers, Henri, Due de Rohan, and Benjamin Rohan, Baron de Soubise. This treaty was the Edict of Nismes, dated July 1629, the revocation of which was included in the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685.
In the year 1630, the Duke of Savoy having proved faithless, Ruvigny took part in the conquest of Savoy. He is next mentioned in 1633 among the officers of the French army which reduced Lorraine and expelled the contumacious Duke Charles from his dominions.
His public employments for the next ten years are not recorded. As to his private life, his heart was drawn towards England in 1634 by his sister’s marriage to the Earl of Southampton, and many influential friendships resulted during the next half-century. Another private friendship also moulded his career. The brilliant Viscount Turenne, who at the beginning of the new reign was made a Marshal, esteemed him as an officer, and delighted in his society. It was no ordinary acquaintanceship. The intimacy was noted, and ultimately handed down to
