De Wardes

Also known as: M. de Wardes / Marquis de Wardes / Monsieur de Wardes / that serpent, De Wardes · Family: French court · Role: nobleman · First appears: Chapter 11

In chapter 1, De Wardes is identified as the employer of Lubin. By chapter 11, he has been seriously wounded in an affair with Duke of Buckingham at Calais, then returns to court for the king’s reception. His relations with Duke of Buckingham and De Guiche are hostile, and De Guiche warns him, “you interfere in my affairs, Monsieur de Wardes, do you? Very well, then; I will shortly occupy myself with yours.”

At court, Monsieur receives De Wardes with marked favor, while Chevalier de Lorraine treats him with still greater regard as a rival. De Guiche exposes De Wardes for speaking ill of Mademoiselle de la Vallière to Raoul, after which the courtiers reject him. De Wardes and De Guiche agree to fight without informing the king; during the duel at Rochin, De Wardes kills De Guiche’s horse and wounds him, though Manicamp and De Wardes initially believe him dead. De Wardes also reveals that he knows De Guiche’s secret involving Madame, whom he regards as an enemy, and he threatens Manicamp when he intervenes.

In later chapters, Saint-Aignan identifies De Wardes to Louis XIV as De Guiche’s adversary, while De Guiche remains dangerously wounded. Madame explains that their duel arose from opposing claims about Mademoiselle de la Vallière’s virtue. By chapter 52, Raoul calls De Wardes “that serpent, De Wardes” and names him as the determined, inveterate enemy he lacks.