Marshal Vauban, Part I: The King’s Engineer

Early in 1651 the provincial nobility of the Morvan and the Nivernais assembled at the Chateau de Vesigneux to pay their respects to the Prince de Conde, who had come to visit his cousin. Already on his way to recognition as a great military commander, this formidable, ambitious prince of the blood was not merely paving a friendly call on a kinsman, however; he was deeply involved in the complicated rebellion called the Fronde, a role seen sympathetically in the countryside, where he was regarded as a patriot opposing the unpopular First Minister, Mazarin, and his visit was part of a recruiting march.