posterity, by the classical St. Evremond, as a model of friendship, a confidence of forty years’ duration.[1]
The date of Louis XIV.’s accession was May 14, 1643. Cardinal Mazarin was appointed prime minister. In 1644 Ruvigny raised a regiment of infantry, at the head of which he served in the Italian campaign of that year.[2] I cannot find any historical mention of such a campaign, but the Count of Harcourt had successes in Italy in 1645, in which year Ruvigny was promoted to the rank of marechal-de-camp and colonel-general (probably equivalent to the British rank of major-general). During this year his name occurs for the first time in English history. Mazarin amused the English ambassador with hopes that a French contingent would be sent to assist Charles I. against the parliamentary forces. The ambassador, Lord Jermyn, accordingly wrote to the English Court that a body of 5000 men, said to be actually raised under the command of Ruvigny, would be embarked for Pendennis. Lord Clarendon, having mentioned that several letters were received in England regarding the day of their probable landing, adds:— “After all this, it is as true that there was never a man at this time levied or designed for that expedition. Only the name of Ruvigny (because he was of the religion and known to be a good officer) had been mentioned in some loose discourse by the cardinal, as one who would be very fit to command any troops which might be sent into England for the relief of the king.”[3]
In 1647 the Baron of Ruvigny married Marie, daughter of Pierre Tallemant and Marie de Rambouillet, a lady who, like himself, was in later life a welcome member of English society. His feelings were further gratified this year by the gift of a cavalry regiment which bore his name, and with which he served in Flanders. He was again in the field in 1648 under the command of the great Prince of Condé, and was present at the taking of Ypres, and at the famous victory of Lens. He also served in September under the Marshal De Rantzau at the recapture of Furnes.
As if to show the ignorance of those who impute all the civil wars in France to the Huguenots, the feuds in the royal family now came to a height. Several Bourbon princes were in the front of the revolt, and Turenne was, for a brief period, seduced to lead their troops. This was in 1649. Ruvigny’s service this year was in Flanders, under the Count of Harcourt. He shared in the check which the French suffered before Cambray, and in the compensating success at Condé, which was carried in two days. The Prince of Condé, though the natural head of the insurgents, had obeyed the importunate request of the Queen Regent to defend her authority. This he did with success, but with outspoken contempt for the duty; and being evidently a ringleader of disaffection, he was imprisoned in the castle of Vincennes in 1651. His hatred of the Prime Minister, already sufficiently intense, was of course confirmed; and although Mazarin in person set him at liberty the next year, the prince was not conciliated. For the sake of harmony, at the approaching majority of Louis XIV. (at the age of fourteen), Mazarin retired to Cologne. But Condé, believing him to be still consulted as Prime Minister, was so far from being reconciled to the Court that he revived the civil war. Accordingly the Cardinal, escorted by the Marshal d’Hocquincourt with 6000 men, joined the king in spite of the rebels. Turenne had returned to loyalty, and was installed in the chief command of the royal army. It was the glory of Condé that he nearly made Louis, Mazarin, and the whole court his prisoners in April 1652. But Turenne coming to the relief of Hocquincourt, the prince’s squadrons were defeated at Blesneau. Ruvigny fought under Turenne in this spirited and skilful action, and in the engagements that rapidly ensued. Condé retired towards Paris, and his troops were again defeated by Turenne’s army at the battle of Etampes. At a gate of Paris, the Porte St. Antoine, Turenne was unsuccessful; but the capital soon received the Court back to itself by capitulation. The Huguenots were on the royal side in this quarrel. Ever after the pacification concluded between Louis XIII. and the great and gallant Protestant, Le Due de Rohan, the Huguenots were all royalists. Ruvigny, who had already shown great talents for business and for negotiation, was the Protestant political chief, on the side of the Government, in this Civil War of the Fronde. He had for some years enjoyed the good opinion of the Prime Minister.
- ↑ Je fais plus de cas de la liaison de Monsieur le Maréchal d’Estrees et de Monsieur de Seneeterre, qui ont vècu cinquante ans à la Cour dans une confidence toujours égale; je fais plus de cas de la confiance que Monsieur de Turenne a eûë en Monsieur de Ruvigny quarante ans durant: que de ces Amitiés toujours citées et jamais mises en usage parmi les hommes. — Saint-Evremond OEuvres, Tome II., page 282. (Lond. 1705.)
- ↑ Haag.
- ↑ Clarendon’s History, Book x.
