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King Louis XIII enjoyed entertaining and wouldn't think twice about dancing in the ballets he organised. He played a variety of roles, and happily donned a rogue's garb for a ballet during bacchanalian festivities. Once women were allowed to participate, Queen Anne of Austria herself, despite her religious fervour, consented to exhibit her charms in a ballet of wood nymphs from the sacred forest.
Louis II of Bourbon, the fourth Prince of Condé, was born and raised at the chateau in Vallery. His contemporaries compared "this hero born for war, the most illustrious of his race" to Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great. He was appointed commander of the army of Picardie and became known as "Le Grand Condé". Le Grand Condé marked up a series of splendid victories. His triumph at Rocroi would even inspire Corneille when writing "Le Cid".
Two years later, Anne of Austria, the regent, and Mazarin, threw Le Grand Condé and all those who had fuelled the revolt into prison in Vincennes. News of the princes' arrest threw the whole kingdom into cloak-and-dagger mode: there were adventurous escapes, abductions, and Amazonians disguised as men braving every danger to defend the cause of the princes.
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Le Grand Condé 1621 - 1686
These lady rebels, from the most illustrious families in France, were capable of leading an army into battle, of rallying a town, and of signing an act of war or of peace. Conspiracy, exaltation and bravery were in the air. Whilst Duchess Longueville, Condé's sister, was chalking up exploits against the cardinal, Her Majesty the Princess, wife of the very same Condé, stupefied the court with a stroke of audacity no one had believed her capable of: for love of her heroic husband, she rallied the city of Bordeaux against Mazarin. Pressure of this sort led Condé to be released from prison after 13 months in captivity. Mazarin was forced into exile while Condé pursued his prestigious destiny.
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Condé greatly enjoyed all the festivities that took place at court. He was a keen spectator, and often even took part. For the first production of Ercole Amante in 1662, Condé, the king and the queen all took part in a ballet that lasted almost 6 hours.
A few leagues from Vallery stands Vaux le Vicomte… Nicolas Fouquet, superintendent of the kingdom's finances, had steadily increased his own fortune with constant injections from the public coffers until he had become more powerful than the king. His archenemy, Colbert, let it be known that Fouquet's days were num-bered. The superintendent may just as well flee, strike up a rebellion… but he preferred to entertain the king with a new play by Molière. On August 17th, 1661, the princes, led by Le Grand Condé, joined the royal cortege.
Supper had been prepared for some six thousand courtiers and ladies, and comprised exquisite dishes prepared by the illustrious chef Vatel. Enchanting background music drifted across from Lully's 24 violins and a theatre had been erected by one of the water features; the stage was generously adorned with leaves and glowed with over one hundred flaming torches.
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