DArtagnan the Musketeer

About me:

I am Charles de Batz, Castlemore, comte d'Artagnan of his majesty's (King Louis XIV.'s) Musketeers. My full titles include Captain Lieutenant of the first company of Musketeers, Captain of the Guards, Captain of the Deer Hounds, and General Calvary Brigadier. I have fought in many campaigns in Europe for their majesties Louis XIII. and later his son Louis XIV., also under Armaund Jean du Plessis Cardinal Richelieu, and that skinflint of his protégé, Cardinal Marazin.

Also, later in my life, I was for a short time appointed Governor of the small town of Lille, but I highly disliked that position and asked Michel Le Tellier, the Minister of War, to bring me back to be at the side of my king. A favor, I am happy to say, that was granted me.

I miss my three companions (known popularly as The Three Musketeers) Athos, Porthos and Aramis. Athos, I am sad to say, was killed in a duel in 1643: I wonder if it had anything to do with that lady that he was a short time involved with (known only as Milady), who had hired assassins to kill him, and of which we four together overthrew. We heard, very sadly, of his untimely death in the registers of a nearby convent.

Aramis finally found his vocation and became an abbey, then he married and had several children. I rarely talk with him. But as for Porthos, no-one knows of his whereabouts, but everyone has some rumor to say about him.

After I had returned to be at the side of my king (Louis XIV) in 1673 A.D., I was then given the advanced rank of General Calvary Brigadier, a position that I was proud to receive. We were called to battle, of course I fought with valour, as I always try to do, but my luck soon was finished as some soldier found good aim with his musket, and buried his shot in my throat. I had died with my boots on, the way I really wanted to go.

What is most unfortunate, however, is that two of my men, two musketeers under my command, tried their best to carry my body to safety, but met their end as well in their futile attempt.

His majesty was most grieved at my passing, for I had the honor of guarding him all my life, and he had become most fond of me, as I was of him. As an honor to me, he named my two sons, who later also became soldiers, as his god-children, and helped them in their careers.

But perhaps the most honorable thing that was given to me was a sentence that was posted at the time of my death: "D'Artagnan and glory share the same coffin!"

I would perhaps had been all but forgotten about in history if it weren't for a young soldier / writer of my acquaintance who took an interest in my career. His name was Gatien de Courtilz de Sandras. After my death he took it upon himself to take my rough draft of my memoirs, put some sequence to them (which he greatly exaggerated) and published them to the world in 1700 A.D., under the title "Memoirs of Monsieur d'Artagnan, Captain of the King's Musketeers."

This publication, I must admire, was received with much enthusiasm, and lasted a good while, until the enthusiasm died down, and I was again forgotten about. That is until the fortunate year of 1845 when the memoirs were found in the Royal Library by either Monsieur Alexandre Dumas, or his literary partner Mouquet. After the publication of "The Three Musketeers" in 1845, the world again had learned about me, but I had now become a world celebrity, instead of just in France!!

If you wish to be my friend, even if you aren't in his majesty's guards, I am willing to have you - All for one, one for all!!!!

To learn more about me and my companions, please visit my official website!



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