D’Artagnan

Also known as: M. d’Artagnan / the captain / the captain of the musketeers / the musketeer · Family: Musketeers · Role: captain of musketeers · First appears: Chapter 2

D’Artagnan, captain of the musketeers, is a friend of Porthos and Aramis in chapters 2–4, using the king’s order to gain entry to Percerin’s house for Porthos and helping arrange his court dress. He recognizes Moliere at the same house, has served Richelieu and Mazarin, and is preferred by Baisemeaux to another man. At Melun and Vaux, he organizes the military escort for Louis XIV, accompanies him on the ride to see Fouquet, and follows him during the king’s declaration of love to Louise. His friendship with Aramis leads him to abandon his suspicion of him, while his hatred of Colbert makes them enemies and rivals.

From chapters 15–24, D’Artagnan receives Louis XIV’s orders to arrest Fouquet, first keeping him under guard and later pursuing and capturing him. He then obeys the king in arresting Philippe, telling him, “Monsieur, you are my prisoner!” At Sainte-Marguerite, he recognizes Athos and Raoul, stops the threatened shooting, erases the prisoner’s inscription, and presents the two men as Spanish captains who cannot read French. He is a friend to Raoul, who says that D’Artagnan loves him dearly, though D’Artagnan also reveals that Louise loves Louis XIV. He later leaves the island after parting from Athos and Raoul.

At Nantes, Louis XIV again employs D’Artagnan to prepare the castle, command the musketeers, guard the dignitaries, and arrest Fouquet. D’Artagnan captures Fouquet and conveys him toward Angers, but secretly gives him an opportunity to escape; he is then ordered to attack Belle-Isle, where Aramis and Porthos are among those he must capture. He resigns as captain, is briefly treated as a prisoner, then withdraws his resignation and remains in the king’s service after Louis XIV pardons the men of Belle-Isle. The king later grants him leave to settle Porthos’s affairs; after Mousqueton’s death, D’Artagnan arrives to report Porthos’s death. In 1550, his army captures twelve Dutch places within a month, and Louis XIV appoints him marshal of France; soon afterward, a ball strikes him in the chest, and he dies after witnessing victory.