I Am Louis XIV

   Chapter 537 The Death of Anne of Austria

Just like every day before, Viscount Turenne calmly and calmly resolved troubles in and out of North Holland. Only Villar could see a little pride and self-joy on the face of this boss and teacher who got along day and night, although The old man tried his best to look like he didn't care about Villar's record - but this was Villar's first battle! He means that in the first battle as the coach, even if his enemy is not strong, but capturing a duke and a prince is enough for Villar to get a room in Versailles.

There is a reason why Viscount Turenne valued Villar so much. He has been in a daze for many years. Even if the king has always cared about his marriage, he politely dedicates all his energy to the army and God. No wife, no children - not even illegitimate children. In this era, apprentices, students, and disciples can almost be regarded as heirs. If someone wants to leave their property to a student, just like leaving it to a son, no one will object.

   In the same way, students will serve their teachers as they would their fathers. Their relationship will always be very close, guarantee each other, and even support each other with their lives.

Viscount Turenne entrusted Villar to the king, hoping that Villar could stand out in front of the king, but Villar was thinking about his old teacher and gave up such a precious opportunity to return to Amsterdam. Because of this, Thirre Viscount Na decided to make him the commander-in-chief of the Amsterdam Navy. This was a risky move. Fortunately, Villar did not let his teacher down. If it is said that destroying the fleet with mixed personnel and different minds is not difficult, it is possible to Capturing the most important Duke of York is a great credit.

   After all, this duke will definitely be in the safest place...

Viscount Turenne was discussing with Villar with a smile on whether to report the good news to His Majesty the King first, or to send the Duke of York directly to the King, when his attendant came to announce that a man who had arrived from Paris overnight had arrived. Your lord is waiting to meet Viscount Turenne.

At this time, Viscount Turenne hadn't changed into the clothes from last night, and his expression was a little haggard, and he smelled of wine and perfume. What are you here for?" He decided to change his clothes first.

   "It's Mr. Marquis Crakey," said the attendant.

Viscount Turenne and Villar looked at each other, and their expressions changed: "Let him come to see me." Viscount Turenne said, dragging the vase beside him, poured some water on the handkerchief, and wiped it hard. Wipe your face.

The Marquis of Kreki is also an old man. He came from a military family and was loyal to the king, but during the Fouquet incident, he foolishly misestimated the king's disgust for Fouquet, so that there was a long period of time. Time was not used, and later he managed to bribe Madame Lavalier, the then royal wife, to recover, but the king sent him to Rome as an ambassador.

It was also because of this aggressive and aggressive Marquis that he had a conflict with the Pope's son and nephew in Rome and almost killed him, which almost led to another "Avignon" incident. In retrospect, perhaps the Church of Rome has always been The covetousness and dissatisfaction of Louis XIV is because there is more fear than hatred.

After Mr. Craigie returned from Rome, he finally obtained the understanding of the king, and he performed well in the subsequent battles. Therefore, this time, the king was on his expedition, and he was accompanied by him - but the attendant said that he was From Paris... "Isn't His Majesty the King in Italy?" Viscount Turenne's heart couldn't help but lift.

When he saw Craigie, his heart sank again. Marquis Craigie was no longer his usual splendor, dressed in black, and even took off feathers and diamond ornaments from his hat. Viscount Turenne, who was old and awake all night, was even paler. Viscount Turenne reached out and grabbed Villar beside him, so as not to fall down after hearing some bad news. Fortunately, the Marquis of Kreki was not here. What gimmicks were playing at that time, "Viscount Turenne," he said: "His Majesty asked me to tell you..." He paused a little: "The Queen Mother of France, Anne of Austria, was unfortunate the week before the Feast of All Saints. Passed away."

Viscount Turenne hadn't heard the dreaded name--in such news, he almost showed joy--let alone Louis XIV was in his prime, in this age, even with wizards, death was still like a breeze, and it could be at any moment. Come, and for them, the Queen Mother is undoubtedly the one who will not bring much influence among all the royal family members.

   He forcibly suppressed his emotions, "May she rest in peace." Then he asked anxiously, "So has His Majesty the King returned to Paris?"

"Your Majesty is very sad," said the Marquis of Kreki. "The king was at war with the Ottoman Turks when the Queen Mother felt unwell, so she insisted that the news be kept from the king, and when the war was settled, she was terminally ill, fortunately It was His Majesty who saw her for the last time, her children and grandchildren were all around her, the Archbishop of Paris gave her a death-death ceremony, and now she should have been seated among saints and angels."

   "That's for sure," said Viscount Turenne, "that she was a chaste and kind lady."

"His Majesty has sent messengers to each of his generals, and at this critical time he does not ask you to rush back to Paris to attend the funeral of the Queen Mother." In fact, the war was not so urgent, but Louis XIV was worried about Thierry At the age of Viscount Nat, returning to Paris in a hurry, and then returning to Amsterdam after the funeral, the long journey and the rush of time were an extremely heavy burden on his health. He really didn't want to hold the Queen Mother's funeral again. Viscount Turenne's funeral, so he simply did not allow Viscount Turenne to return to Paris because of the war.

But then he had to worry that someone in Versailles would think that the Viscount Turenne had lost the king's favor, and thus make something up, so he decided - "You, and the Duke of Luxembourg, General Vauban, Marshal Schumberg, His Majesty the King has left them on the ground," said the Marquis of Crake. "You can send an envoy to attend the Queen Mother's funeral on your behalf, and the same goes for others."

We already know what kind of person the Viscount Turenne was. He understood the king's intention as soon as he heard it. He was moved and sad. He looked at Villars: "It seems that you should go back to Paris once. Now, with the Duke of York."

  Marquis Crake glanced at the young man beside the Viscount in surprise, "When was the battle?"

   "Just last night." Viscount Turenne patted Villar on the shoulder: "I think I should at least mourn for Her Royal Highness the Queen Mother for one day. Let Villar tell you."

The Marquis of Craki looked at Villar again, and he gave a slightly sad smile, "It looks like a great victory, my good general," he gave Villar a condescending nod. : "Tell me in detail, I think His Majesty needs such good news to soothe his painful heart."

  ———

  Anne of Austria, daughter of Philip III, sister of Philip IV, was still the princess of Spain and Portugal at that time, and her status need not go into details. But she, like all women at that time, was just a tool and an ornament in front of her father and husband. If, as a princess, she had long accepted that there would be no love but only responsibilities in her marriage, then the emptiness and torment after nearly 30 years of marriage was not something she could imagine.

She was born in 1601 and married Louis XIII in 15 years, so when was their firstborn child, Louis XIV, born - 38 years, that is, for a full twenty-three years, she suffered from Under the heavy pressure of both France and Spain, although it is known that Louis XIII preferred to hunt and gamble with his attendants rather than with his wife, all the accusations were thrown at her as if she were the Virgin Mary, No man can give birth to a son like that.

In the end it was Cardinal Richelieu who forced Louis XIII to return to the Queen, who had Louis in 38. Even so, another disgusting voice came from the Duke of Gaston and his supporters - they thought this child It was born of a fornication between the queen and her lover.

   Bishop Richelieu asked the queen to give birth to another one - the later brother Philip.

Although the queen mother loves these two children deeply, but to talk about the past things - the indifference of the mother's family, the vigilance of the husband, the jokes of the ministers, the cruelty of the Bishop Richelieu... There is no trace on her heart, then It was a big mistake. The tenderness that once belonged to the girl had been worn out in the first few years, and all that was left for her was an unwilling blood-why? Why should she be tortured like this!

In this mood, while she was loving Louis and Philip, she also had a secret, bad idea - she must admit that she transferred her frustrations to these two children - although they will in the future. A king, and a duke, but at this time, they were undoubtedly at her mercy. This kind of emotion allowed her to accept Mazarin's suggestion to teach Philip to be a "daughter", and she could also support Philip to become the "king regent" when Louis was seriously injured.

   But she...she regretted it...

  The room was dimly lit. Cardinal Elarius, who came back from Rome, listened to the Queen Mother's confession. After a moment of silence, he whispered to the Queen Mother: "Don't you have anything else to say?"

The queen mother knew that what he reminded her was her mind, but she didn't want to tell him, the **** behind him, if this matter would make her go to hell, she would go to hell, anyway, she has been in **** for the past eighty years. In the second half, I have been satisfied and have no regrets.

   "Then I let His Majesty in." Elatrix said.

  The Queen Mother nodded slightly, Elatrix walked out, and a few seconds later, Louis walked in.

The Queen Mother    could barely see him, but she could imagine what a solemn and glorious saint he was! Sometimes she wondered how her unfortunate and painful marriage with Louis XIII could bear such a perfect fruit, she would say, even Alexander, or Solomon, was not as good as her son!

  Louis was beside her bed and held her hand.

As we all know, old people of this age, even if their eyes are dim, their backs are hunched, they are always drowsy, but as long as they keep it up, their time seems to be endless, but as long as they fall or catch a cold, it is like A decrepit tree is given a slight push and they snap off instantly and never get up again.

At first, the Queen Mother was just coughing and dizzy, but within a few days, she suddenly had a fever and difficulty breathing, and later developed sores, convulsions and fainting - then Philip was going to give the king to the king. Her Majesty sent the letter, but was stopped by the Queen Mother - the Queen Mother had expected this, she persuaded the Duke of Vendôme, Philip and other male members of the Bourbon family, as well as the Queen and other noble women such as the Duchess of Montpensier. , she did not allow them to tell the king until the war in Italy was over.

   But at that time, the news of Versailles had already reached Louis XIV's ears-although the Queen Mother stopped it, the king's eyes and ears could always detect clues.

   When Louis XIV stepped into the Palace of Versailles, the Queen Mother had already been rubbed with oil.

   "Where's Philip..." The Queen Mother whispered.

   "I'll let him in right away." Because he didn't know what the Queen Mother was going to say, Louis was the first to come in. Soon, Philip also ran in and took his mother's other hand.

The Queen Mother knew she should apologise to Louis and Philip separately, but she was worried that she was going to die if she couldn't finish it - she lay on the soft goose down pillow, her eyes rolled to one side, to Louis, then to Philip , her choice was correct, because she found that she could only make extremely weak breath sounds next.

She had to stare at Philip hard. Before she died, her sense of smell, hearing, and vision would be greatly diminished, as if all the remaining power had been gathered in her mind. Holding Philip's hand - in fact Philip could only see that her lips were moving slightly and her fingers were only flicking slightly. He raised his head and met Louis's eyes, but suddenly leaned down like a consonant and approached the king. The Queen Mother's face.

"I have never blamed you," said Philip; "I know your heart, mother, no, I have never resented you, I know..." If his brother was not Louis XIV, but Charles II, King The queen mother's behavior is love, not wrong. The person who came to accuse this mother just saw him as a survivor.

   "Me too," Louis squeezed the Queen Mother's hand in turn: "For France, for Mother, and for Spain."

  He paused, "Mother, are you proud of us?" His question made Philip look surprised, "We took back Spain for you."

  The Queen Mother laughed.

Philip burst into tears, and Louis also had sore eyes. He stared at the Queen Mother without blinking. He had seen death, and death always brought people fear and sadness, but the Queen Mother's face finally froze in comfort and sorrow. Happy on.

   Anne of Austria is dead.

   (end of this chapter)