Fouquet

Also known as: M. Fouquet / Monsieur Fouquet / Nicholas Fouquet / the lord of Belle-Isle / the superintendent / the surintendant · Family: French court · Role: superintendent of finances · First appears: Chapter 3

In 1653, Vaux-le-Vicomte was prepared to receive Louis XIV, and in 1655 Fouquet had the chateau built, enlarged its park by buying three villages, and arrived to give the final orders. His spending brought together Levau, Lenotre, and Lebrun, while Percerin served as his tailor. At Saint-Mande, Fouquet’s poetical circle included La Fontaine, Loret, Pelisson, and Moliere; Aramis arranged their invitations and proposed putting them in uniform for the king. Fouquet also employed Lebrun, commissioned a portrait intended to surprise Louis XIV, and wrote to M. de Lyonne to release Seldon from the Bastille, sending money to Seldon’s mother.

Fouquet was a friend of Porthos and Aramis, and Philippe and Louis XIV agreed to keep him as superintendent of finances. At Vaux, he received Louis XIV as his guest, entertained him at supper, and was present when the king declared his love to Louise. Colbert, described as Fouquet’s mortal enemy, accused him of appropriating thirteen million livres; after Louis XIV learned of the alleged deficit, he ordered D’Artagnan to arrest Fouquet. Fouquet burned or searched for his papers, admitted that he was already ruined, and remained under guard until he was released by royal order. He then ordered Aramis to leave France and gave him Belle-Isle as a refuge.

Fouquet entered the Bastille, forced his way past the guards, seized the keys from Baisemeaux, and opened the cell in which Louis XIV was imprisoned. “Come, sire,” he said, “you are free.” He then gave Aramis horses and four hours’ start, while Louis XIV ordered him to muster troops against Vaux. At Nantes, Fouquet was pressed for money, hurried toward the city, and warned by Gourville that a plot threatened him. When Louis XIV ordered his arrest, Fouquet tried to escape toward the sea on a white horse, but D’Artagnan overtook him. “I would rather die!” Fouquet replied; “I shall suffer less.” He was taken toward Angers and then imprisoned in the Bastille, while Aramis and Porthos held Belle-Isle for him.

Fouquet was supported by friends including Pelisson, La Fontaine, Moliere, Gourville, and M. de Gesvres, though he declared that he had no money or credit left and only powerful enemies. Madame Belliere received his last kiss before his departure for Nantes, and Madame Fouquet was his wife. Anne of Austria and Duchesse de Chevreuse were counted among his enemies, while Colbert pursued his disgrace; the material finally states that Louis XIV seized Fouquet’s inheritance and sent him to imprisonment for life.