Raoul

Also known as: Bragelonne / De Bragelonne / M. Raoul de Bragelonne / M. de Bragelonne / Monsieur de Bragelonne / Raoul de Bragelonne / Vicomte Raoul de Bragelonne / Vicomte de Bragelonne / his son / the vicomte / vicomte / young Bragelonne · Family: French court · Role: gentleman · First appears: Chapter 10

At chapter 10, Raoul was engaged to Mademoiselle de la Vallière and courting her through frequent letters, while De Guiche was his friend and confidant. In chapter 11, Montalais revealed that she had intercepted those letters, while De Guiche kept one instead of burning it. Raoul’s dealings with De Wardes became hostile after De Guiche revealed that De Wardes had spoken against Mademoiselle de la Vallière, and by chapter 24 Louis XIV stood as his rival, while Athos sought Mademoiselle de la Vallière’s hand for him.

In chapter 35, Montalais disclosed that Madame had sent a letter to England concerning Raoul, and Mademoiselle de la Vallière admitted that she loved him only as a sister loved a brother, while loving Louis XIV. In 1648, Raoul was warmly received in England by Monk and Charles II, who gave him distinguished lodging at Whitehall and employed him as an envoy. Buckingham warned him that the woman he loved was unworthy, Mary Grafton said she might have loved him but regarded him only as a friend, and Raoul refused her willingness to marry him. Charles II permitted him to return to France, gave him a diamond intended as a marriage gift, and Raoul offered it to Mary Grafton before embarking.

In chapters 39 and 50–53, Raoul returned to Mademoiselle de la Vallière, but she recoiled from him and begged, “Do not touch me, do not come near me.” Warned by De Guiche, he investigated her relationship with Louis XIV, and Madame summoned him, showed him proof of the liaison, and explained that she had caused his return from England. Raoul sought a challenge with Saint-Aignan through Porthos, though Louis XIV refused consent to his marriage and Athos condemned the king’s treatment of him. Raoul then renounced revenge, learned from Mademoiselle de la Vallière that she loved another, and told her they should never meet again. At chapter 66, after embracing Athos, Grimaud, Porthos, and D’Artagnan, he departed for Blois with Athos.