Anne of Austria

Also known as: Anne / Her Majesty / Queen / Queen of France / her Majesty / madame / the queen · Family: French royal household · Role: queen · First appears: Chapter 12

In chapter 12, Anne of Austria’s household included Mme. Bonacieux, Germain, and Donna Estafania, while Madame de Vernet had been driven from her service. Her courtship with Buckingham had led him to approach and dazzle her, but at the Louvre she told him, “we must never see each other again,” gave him a rosewood casket as a token, and accepted his promise to return to England. Her friendship with Madame de Chevreuse continued through a secret correspondence, contributing to Louis XIII’s prejudice against her, while Richelieu opposed her after she had rejected his more tender feeling.

In chapter 16, Louis XIII ordered a search of Anne’s papers through Des Roches le Masle, and she surrendered a letter after refusing a personal search. The letter concerned an attack on Richelieu, not a love affair, and the next day Louis XIII began attempting reconciliation, arranging a fête and requiring her to wear the diamond studs. Through Mme. Bonacieux, Anne sent Buckingham a sealed letter and gave her a valuable ring to fund the mission. At the Hôtel de Ville, she appeared with all twelve studs, overcame Richelieu’s attempt to implicate her, and later rewarded D’Artagnan with a ring; Buckingham declared, “Anne of Austria is my true queen,” while D’Artagnan served both the king and queen.

In 1628, at Portsmouth, Laporte told Buckingham that Anne still loved him and warned him that an assassination attempt was planned. On August 10, 1628, she authorized Mme. Bonacieux’s release from the convent of Béthune under her recommendation and patronage, with Marie Michon named as her sister in the authorization.