Buckingham

Also known as: Duke of Buckingham / VILLIERS / Villiers / his Grace / his Grace the Duke of Buckingham / the Duke of Buckingham / the duke / the young duke · Family: English · Role: duke · First appears: Chapter 8

In chapter 8, Buckingham arrived at Le Havre after his courier had reserved the habitable houses around Anne of Austria and Henriette’s residence; Buckingham the father was associated with the queen while Buckingham was associated with the princess. When rough seas kept Duke of Norfolk from landing Henriette, De Guiche took Buckingham’s customary place beside her and claimed the right to accompany her as Monsieur’s representative, leaving Buckingham discouraged and jealous. Ordered to precede Madame ashore, Buckingham was then blocked from the tents by Manicamp’s soldiers and demanded their removal, bringing him into conflict with De Guiche and Raoul. When he tried to draw his dagger, Raoul stopped him; Buckingham conceded, saying “Keep your tents,” and the confrontation ended with embraces and French-English fraternization.

That night, Raoul persuaded Buckingham to abandon his pursuit of Madame, and the next day Buckingham escorted her toward Paris with his own corps of gentlemen and officers. At Mantes, he defended D’Artagnan against De Wardes, while his friendship with Raoul and De Guiche developed during the journey; in Paris, De Guiche competed with Buckingham’s expenses, and Buckingham also devoted himself to Madame Chalais and Mademoiselle de Lafayette. He remained a suitor of Madame, whose “knight” he was called, but at the Palais Royal Monsieur accused him of loving and pursuing her and resolved to drive him from France.

Anne of Austria prevented the confrontation, sent Buckingham to her, and told him that Duc d’Orleans had discovered his secret. She ordered him to announce his departure and leave France, and after bidding her farewell, Buckingham fled, replying “Forever!” Charles II then recalled him, while De Guiche withdrew his hostility and offered lasting friendship. Buckingham departed the French court and was later remembered there as a fugitive exile; in 1626, he challenged De Wardes at Calais, and their later sword fight left both wounded before Buckingham rescued his former opponent from the rising tide and ordered his sailors to save De Wardes first. By chapter 33, dated 1662, Madame described Buckingham as an agreeable visitor and almost a companion, though he had been driven from the French court.