Career Charles de Batz de Castelmore d'Artagnan

statue of d artagnan in maastricht

d artagnan had career in espionage cardinal mazarin, in years after first fronde. due d artagnan s faithful service during period, louis xiv entrusted him many secret , delicate situations required complete discretion. followed mazarin during exile in 1651 in face of hostility of aristocracy. in 1652 d artagnan promoted lieutenant in gardes françaises, , fought @ battle of stenay in 1654, in sieges @ lancrecies , saint-ghislaine captain in 1655. in 1658, became second lieutenant in newly reformed musketeers. promotion, musketeers far more prestigious gardes-françaises.

d artagnan famous connection arrest of nicolas fouquet. fouquet louis xiv s finance commissioner , aspired take place of mazarin king s advisor. fouquet lover of grand architecture , employed greatest architects , artisans in building of chateau vaux-le-vicomte. celebrated completion extravagant feast, @ every guest given horse. king felt upstaged grandeur of home , event and, suspecting such magnificence explained through fouquet s pilfering royal treasury, 3 weeks later had d artagnan arrest fouquet. prevent escape bribery, d artagnan assigned guard him 4 years until fouquet sentenced life imprisonment.

in 1667, d artagnan promoted captain-lieutenant of musketeers, effective commander nominal captain king. befitted rank , position, identified striking burgundy, white , black livery—the colours of commanding officer of musketeers. of d artagnan s assignments governorship of lille, won in battle france in 1667. d artagnan unpopular governor , longed return battle. found chance when louis xiv went war dutch republic in franco-dutch war. after being recalled service, d artagnan subsequently killed in battle on 25 june 1673, when musket ball tore throat @ siege of maastricht. french historian odile bordaz believes buried in saint peter , paul church in wolder, netherlands.