Armand de Gramont, Comte de Guiche

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Armand de Gramont
Count of Guiche
Full name
Guy Armand
Born25 November 1637
Died29 November 1673 (aged 36)
Spouse(s)Marguerite-Louise-Suzanne de Béthune
FatherAntoine de Gramont
MotherFrançoise Marguerite du Plessis

Guy Armand de Gramont, Count of Guiche (November 25, 1637 – November 29, 1673) was a French nobleman, adventurer, and one of the greatest playboys of the 17th century.

He was the son of Marshal Antoine III de Gramont and Françoise-Marguerite du Plessis de Chivré, Richelieu's niece. His sister was Catherine Charlotte, (1639–1678), Princess of Monaco and one time mistress of Louis XIV of France.

Armand was bisexual. He was part of the entourage of Philippe de France, who was homosexual, where many reckoned him the handsomest man at court. He was known for being vain, overbearing, and somewhat contemptuous, but many lovers of both sexes often overlooked these flaws. It is generally accepted that he became the lover of Princess Henrietta of England, but for a time he also paid court to Louise de La Vallière.

Guiche was, however, not sufficiently enamored with Louise to challenge King Louis XIV's affections for her. He was exiled in 1662 for conspiring with the jealous Henriette, Duchess of Orleans to drive a wedge between Louis XIV and Louise.

He then fought against the Turks for Poland, against the English for the Dutch, and eventually returned to France in 1669.

He returned to court in 1671. In 1672, he joined Louis XIV and the Great Condé in the Franco-Dutch war and covered himself in glory when he swam across the Rhine, and the whole army followed his example.

Ancestors

Family of Armand de Gramont, Comte de Guiche
16. Antoine de Gramont, Count of Guiche
8. Philibert de Gramont, Count of Guiche
17. Hélène de Clermont
4. Antoine, Duke de Gramont
18. Paul d'Andoins, Baron of Andoins, Count of Louvigny
9. Diane d'Andoins
19. Anne Marguerite de Cauna
2. Antoine, Duke de Gramont
20. Géraud de Roquelaure, Lord of Roquelaure
10. Antoine de Roquelaure
21. Catherine de Bezolles
5. Louise de Roquelaure
22. Jacques Claude d'Ornesan, Lord of Auradé
11. Catherine d'Ornesan
23. Brunette de Cornil, Dame de Moulin d'Armac
1. Armand de Gramont, Count of Giche
24. Jacques de Chivré, seigneur du Plessis
12. François de Chivré, seigneur du Plessis
25. Jeanne Le Hesnault, Dame de Bouillé
6. Hector de Chivré, seigneur du Plessis
26. François de la Porte, Lord of Boissier
13. Léonore de la Porte
27. Madeleine Charles
3. Françoise Marguerite du Plessis de Chivré
28. François de Connan, Lord of Coulon and Rabastan
14. Nicolas de Connan, Lord of Rabastan
29. Jeanne Hennequin du Perray
7. Marie de Connan
30. Charles d'O, Lord of Vérigny
15. Anne d'O
31. Jacqueline Girard

Portrayals in Literature

The Comte de Guiche appears in Alexandre Dumas's novels Twenty Years After and The Vicomte de Bragelonne, where he is portrayed as the closest friend of Raoul, son of the musketeer Athos. In the latter novel, he is included in the entourage of Prince Philippe, and takes a central part in the tangled web of romantic intrigues which engulf the court.

See also

Sources

  • Meet the hero
  • ISBN 2-84618-250-7 Guy-Armand de Gramont, Comte de Guiche — Un franc gaulois à la cour du roi-soleil (D. Labau) 2006.
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