Philippe de Courcillon, 1st Marquis of Dangeau, was born at the Château de Dangeau (Eure-et-Loir) on September 21, 1638, an exact contemporary of the future King LOUIS XIV.
He died in Paris on September 9, 1720. He was a French soldier, diplomat, and memoirist known for his wit and conversational skills.
Colonel in the King's Regiment, he accompanied him as aide-de-camp on all his military campaigns.
A patron of literary figures, he was closely associated with Nicolas Boileau (1636-1711).
He is best known to posterity for his voluminous "JOURNAL," in which he described daily life at the court of Versailles—with which he was familiar... and one of the King's few friends—from 1684 to 1720.
The excerpts presented here, on the last days of Louis XIV, are from his pamphlet "Mémoire," written for this occasion.
Buried in Church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris.
"Tuesday, August 27, 1715
Around 10 a.m., the king's leg was bandaged, several lancets were inserted and incisions made down to the bone.... it was found that the gangrene had spread to this point, there was no longer any reason to doubt thatfrom within and that no cure could be found. Madame de Maintenon was alone in the room, kneeling at the foot of the bed. While his Majesty was being dressed, he begged her to leave and never return because her presence moved him too deeply. The king told him that since there was no longer any cure, he asked at least to be allowed to die a happy and peaceful death.
His Majesty brought the little Dauphin into his room, and after embracing him, he said to him: Darling, you are going to be a great king, but all your happiness will depend on being submissive to God and on the care you take to relieve your people. For this, you must avoid making war as much as you can. Do not follow the bad example I have given you; for this reason, I have often undertaken war too lightly and supported it out of vanity... Do not imitate me, but be a peaceful prince and let your main application be to relieve your subjects....
He said to Madame de Ventadour, I have many thanks to give you for the care with which you are raising this child and for the tender friendship you have for him. I beg you to continue it for him, and I urge him to give you every possible token of his gratitude.
Afterwards, he kissed the Dauphin twice more and, bursting into tears, gave him his blessing. The Little Prince, led by the Duchess of Ventadour, his governess, came out crying, and this tender spectacle brought tears to our eyes.
Then, he spoke aloud to all of us, his officers.... he said to us: Gentlemen, I am pleased with your services. You have served me faithfully and with a desire to please me. I am sorry I could not have rewarded you better than I did. Recent times have not permitted it. I leave you with regret.
Serve the Dauphin with the same affection you served me. He is a five-year-old child who can endure many hardships, as I remember experiencing many in my youth. I am leaving, but the State will always remain: be faithful to it, and let your example be one for all my other subjects. Be all united and in agreement: this is the Union and strength of a State.
Follow the orders my nephew gives you. He will govern the kingdom. I hope he will do it well. I also hope that you will do your duty and remember me sometimes... At these last words, we all burst into tears, and nothing can express the sobs, the affliction, and the despair of all that we were.....
One must have witnessed the last moments of this great king to believe the heroic Christian steadfastness with which he endured the approach of a death he knew was imminent and inevitable....
Heroic, not like those ancient soldiers who affected to brave death, but with a natural and simple manner..., speaking to each person only about the things that were appropriate to speak to them, and with a precise elegance that he possessed throughout his life and which seems to have increased even more in his final moments. Finally, however great he was during the glorious course of a 72-year reign, he showed himself to be even greater in his death. His good spirit and his steadfastness did not abandon him for a moment, speaking with gentleness and kindness to all to whom he was willing....
The marks he gave are those of a true Christian, a true hero, and a heroic King...
He said that evening to Madame de Maintenon: I have always heard that it is difficult to die... for me, who am on the verge of this moment, so fearful to men, I do not find it difficult. There is certainly no example of a man having contemplated death for a long time with such composure and firmness. 1st Sunday, September 1, 1715, the king died this morning at 8:15:30, and he gave up his soul without any effort, like a candle going out...
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