Raoul

Also known as: Bragelonne / De Bragelonne / Monsieur de Bragelonne / Monsieur le vicomte / Vicomte de Bragelonne / Viscount de Bragelonne / Viscount of Bragelonne / the Vicomte de Bragelonne / the Viscount de Bragelonne / the vicomte / the young man / the youth · Family: La Fère · Role: young gentleman · First appears: Chapter 13

Raoul was orphaned and deserted by his mother, and Athos brought him up, saying, “I have brought him up.” His upbringing restored Athos’s will to live, and Raoul regarded him as both guardian and parent. In chapter 13, Raoul asked Athos’s advice after rescuing the injured Louise and bringing her to Athos’s house, where Charlotte treated her ankle; he was then sent to apologize to Madame de Saint-Remy. At Blois, he learned that La Vallière might be lame for life after leaping from a woodpile to meet him, and admitted that he had caused the injury. Athos took him to Paris, where Madame de Chevreuse promised him a favorable reception, while Raoul pursued news of La Vallière and resolved to speak with Frances d’Aubigné. Soon afterward, Athos sent him to the army, telling him, “Sleep well your last night as citizen.” At Saint Denis, Athos gave him his father’s sword, and Raoul vowed to worship God, respect royalty, and serve the king.

On the road to Flanders, Raoul left Athos with Olivain and remained concerned for Louise de la Vallière, requesting news of her health. At the Oise, he rescued Count de Guiche from drowning; the two declared themselves friends and joined the army under Prince de Condé. With Count de Guiche, Monsieur d’Arminges, and Grimaud, Raoul helped secure aid for a wounded man before rejoining the army, and later retreated with them when the advancing Spaniards proved to be an entire army. Prince de Condé appointed him interpreter, while Athos advised him to trust no one with important offices during danger. In Paris, Raoul fought to protect Comminges and Broussel from the mob until D’Artagnan rescued him; after learning that Athos had left, he accepted D’Artagnan as guardian in the interim and agreed to follow his instruction.

D’Artagnan later sent Raoul back to the army, where he continued to serve Prince de Condé. Athos bequeathed him to D’Artagnan and Porthos, and Porthos said he would make Raoul his sole heir. After receiving a message from Prince de Condé at Saint Cloud, Raoul went to meet him and did not return until the battle at Charenton, where Aramis captured him and Athos led him away as a prisoner. On Athos’s order, Raoul surrendered the prince’s dispatch—“Give him the despatch, Raoul! you are the chevalier’s prisoner.”—and afterward Athos left him with D’Artagnan for the campaign in Flanders.