FACTOID # 53: Moldova has one of the smallest artillery forces in Europe, and the highest rate in the world of death by powered lawnmower. Coincidence? Surely not.
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

Encyclopedia > The Vicomte de Bragelonne

The Vicomte de Bragelonne: Ten Years Later (Le Vicomte de Bragelonne ou Dix ans plus tard) is a novel by Alexandre Dumas, père. It is the third and last of the d'Artagnan Romances following The Three Musketeers and Twenty Years After. It appeared first in serial form between 1847 and 1850. In the English translations the 268 chapters of this large volume are usually subdivided into three, but sometimes four or even five individual books. In three-volume English editions, the three volume editions are entitled "The Vicomte de Bragelonne","Louise de la Vallière" and "The Man in the Iron Mask." Each of these volumes is roughly the length of the original The Three Musketeers. Alexandre Dumas, père - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The dArtagnan Romances are a set of three novels by Alexandre Dumas telling the story of the musketeer dArtagnan from his humble beginnings in Gascony to his death as a marshal of France in the siege of Maastricht in 1673. ... The Three Musketeers (Les Trois Mousquetaires) is a novel by Alexandre Dumas, père. ... Twenty Years After (Vingt ans après) is a novel by Alexandre Dumas, père. ... The Three Musketeers (Les Trois Mousquetaires) is a novel by Alexandre Dumas, père. ...

Though there are many digressions, the heroes of the novel remain d'Artagnan and the rest of the original musketeers who find adventure, perform fantastic feats, grow older, and - with one exception - come to the ends of their lives.


The action takes place between 1660 and 1673 and has as its thematic background the transformation of Louis XIV from a weak boy king dominated by his ministers and mother to the Sun King in absolute control of the French state. Near the beginning of the first part of the novel, "The Vicomte de Bragelonne," d'Artagnan resigns from the King's service in disgust over the young King's weakness. Louis would like to help Charles II retake the throne of England but allows one of his ministers to talk him out of giving such aid. The novel then shifts its focus to events in England as d'Artagnan - who is trying to make his fortune, and Athos - who is fulfilling the duty that he believes men owe to monarchs, restore Charles II to the English throne. Near the end of the novel, d'Artagnan resumes his role in the service of Louis XIV. Events Expulsion of the Carib indigenous people from Martinique by French occupying forces. ... Events The English Test Act was passed. ... Louis XIV (Louis-Dieudonné) (September 5, 1638 – September 1, 1715) reigned as King of France and King of Navarre from May 14, 1643 until his death. ...


The first part of the novel also introduces the titular hero, young Raoul de Bragelonne. Raoul is the son of the Comte de la Fère, once known as Athos, one of the original musketeers. De Bragelonne is based on the real Raoul de Braguelongue who was in love with Louise de la Vallière. As in the novel, Louise de la Vallière preferred Louis XIV. Raoul plays a relatively small role in the novel. He spends a small part of his time fighting and much more of his time infatuated with Louise, absent in England, or depressed over being "betrayed" by Louise. Ultimately, he fails to recover from Louise's betrayal and ends his own life with rash behavior in battle. Athos is a fictional character in the novels The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, and The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas, père. ... Louise Francoise de la Vallerie Louise Françoise de la Vallière (August 6, 1644 – 1710), was mistress to Louis XIV of France from 1661 to 1667. ... Louise Francoise de la Vallerie Louise Françoise de la Vallière (August 6, 1644 – 1710), was mistress to Louis XIV of France from 1661 to 1667. ... Louis XIV (Louis-Dieudonné) (September 5, 1638 – September 1, 1715) reigned as King of France and King of Navarre from May 14, 1643 until his death. ...


"Louise de la Vallière," the middle section of the novel, is devoted in large part to romantic events at the court of Louis XIV. To a lesser degree, this portion of the novel shows the efforts of Louis to dominate the nobility by depicting the King's steps to impoverish the powerful superintendent of finance, Nicolas Fouquet. Louis XIV (Louis-Dieudonné) (September 5, 1638 – September 1, 1715) reigned as King of France and King of Navarre from May 14, 1643 until his death. ... Nicolas Fouquet (1615 — March 23, 1680) was viscount of Melun and of Vaux, marquis de Belle-Isle, superintendent of finance in France under Louis XIV. Born in Paris, he belonged to an influential family of the noblesse de robe, and after some preliminary schooling with the Jesuits, at the age...


The last part of the novel is famous, in part, for building its plot around Dumas' hypothesis that the Man in the Iron Mask was Louis XIV's twin brother. Aramis plots to seize power and save Fouquet from being unfairly destroyed by Louis by replacing Louis with his twin. Aramis entangles the trusting Porthos in his scheme. Aramis and Porthos are forced to flee when Fouquet rescues Louis. Despite Fouquet's rescue, Louis ultimately orders d'Artagnan to arrest Fouquet and to arrest and execute Porthos and Aramis. D'Artagnan considers Fouquet an honorable and honest man and considers it dishonorable to be ordered to arrest his friends. Frustrated and dishonored, d'Artagnan again resigns from the King's service but, after Louis explains that it is he, the King, who holds power and must run the country, d'Artagnan stays. The Man in the Iron Mask was a prisoner believed to have been held in the Bastille prison from an unknown date to his death on November 19, 1703. ...


Porthos suddenly loses the strength in his legs and dies after he and Aramis have stymied the King's forces, killing over a hundred men, and very nearly escaped. Aramis finds his way to Spain. Athos dies of grief over his separation from Raoul and Raoul's death. Aramis ultimately turns up as the Spanish ambassador to France. And, on March 23, 1673, at the siege of Maastricht, d'Artagnan dies just as he reads the letter making him Marshal of France.


External links


  Results from FactBites:
 
The Vicomte de Bragelonne - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (756 words)
In three-volume English editions, the three volume editions are entitled "The Vicomte de Bragelonne","Louise de la Vallière" and "The Man in the Iron Mask." Each of these volumes is roughly the length of the original The Three Musketeers.
Raoul is the son of the Comte de la Fère, once known as Athos, one of the original musketeers.
De Bragelonne is based on the real Raoul de Braguelongue who was in love with Louise de la Vallière.
The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas: A searchable online version at The Literature Network (962 words)
The Vicomte de Bragelonne is the final volume of D'Artagnan Romances.
The version of the Vicomte de Bragelonne which I read was over 100 years old.
Despite the title, the Vicomte de Bragelonne also has a small role which is good as I just can't seem to get very interested in him.
  More results at FactBites »

 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your location
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.