Count de Guiche

Also known as: De Guiche / the young count · Family: Grammont · Role: count · First appears: Chapter 29

At Oise in chapter 29, Count de Guiche was rescued by Raoul de Bragelonne after the ferryboat rope broke and he began to drown. He identified himself as the son of Maréchal de Grammont, and credited Raoul de Bragelonne with saving his life: “Without you I was a dead man—thrice dead.” The two then declared that they would join the army under the prince and become friends for life.

In chapter 30, traveling with his tutor Monsieur d’Arminges, Count de Guiche rode alongside Raoul de Bragelonne and disregarded the order to retreat, charging into the forest toward the Spaniards. He forced one soldier to surrender, then helped Raoul de Bragelonne secure religious aid for a wounded man before they continued toward the prince’s army. They later recognized an entire Spanish army and followed Monsieur d’Arminges’s prudent advice by retreating. Count de Guiche knew Prince de Condé, who assigned him to his father, and he was seated at table with Raoul de Bragelonne and his tutor.

After the victory at Lens in chapter 39, Count de Guiche gained great glory and was embraced by the prince on the battlefield. At court, his name caused a blush from young Henrietta, while Madame Henrietta counted him among her friends; he also knew Madame de Neuillan, Mademoiselle d’Aubigné, Mademoiselle de Scudéry, Mademoiselle Paulet, and Madame de Chevreuse. By chapter 75, he and Vicomte Raoul de Bragelonne were described as “like each other’s shadows.”