The Last Musketeer
Through-out the course of history there have been those events orchestrated by man that defined a generation. So it was that in the 18th century saw a generation on two continents become embroiled in revolution. These separate revolutions were the two most singular events during the latter half of the 1700's. A period which altered the course of history. The world in 1781 marked the end of the American Revolution which gave birth to what was to become that great noble experiment of Democracy. But, across the Atlantic seeds of another rebellion were already being sewed. A way of life for the Monarchy and the French Nobility was about to come to a violent tragic end.
The year was 1782, his name was Jockamo, the most faithful Musketeer for Louis XVI arrived back in Paris from America. For the past four years Jockamo served as an aid de camp to Marquis de Lafayette during the latter years of the American Revolution. But, now that the war in America is over it was time to rejoin his regiment of Musketeers back at Versailles. And, so the legend of the Last Musketeer is born.
By the time Jockamo reached Paris he was quickly informed that Louis VXI had disbanded his band of brothers, the Musketeers. It turned out to be a most futile attempt to save the depleting treasury. A move that would also prove fatal a few years latter for the monarchy of France. But, by 1781 with Louis needing as much money as he could get dissolving the Musketeers seemed like a good idea. Poor Louis who couldn't quite grasp the significance that imposing a tax on the higher echelon of nobility would have saved the country from their own revolution in the years to come. Nor the fact that the war in America was proving to be a financial disaster to the monarchy as well. But, nevertheless when the Musketeers were no longer in the Kings service they quietly faded into obscurity. But, not for long.
It was already evening by the time Jockamo finally reached the Hotel de Valois. A place he knew well for this is where he spent many an evening before he left for America some four years earlier. The proprietor Franswa Hagen always took in any Musketeer who happened to come to Paris. "Jockamo what a pleasant surprise. Heard you were back from America. But, we all must be careful now that the King has decreed that anyone harboring a Musketeer is subject to arrest." When Jockamo heard this from Franswa he knew that trouble had already arrived especially for the monarchy. Already on his mind was how to get in touch with Antinio, Bernard and Cherlt, trusted comrades in arms.
As Marie was pouring another glass of wine Jockamo quietly put a note in her apron. He somehow knew she knew where Antinio was and instructed her to give that note to Antinio. It was just after midnight when Jockamo was suddenly awakened by a loud knock. Scrambling to his feet Jockamo reached for the door only to be startled to see Antinio standing in full dress uniform. Sword at the ready. "Quickly get dressed we have to leave immediately." Antinio ordered. Within in minutes they were out the back door of the hotel hopping on two waiting saddled horses. Swiftly riding out of Paris toward Versailles.
Having reached the country side outside Paris the two men could now slow down giving their horses a much needed slower pace. Antinio leaned over toward Jockamo " Rue de Richelieu is planning a coup against the King now that we are no longer supposed to be in the Kings service. We have to get to the King and tell him what Richelieu is up to." "But, why considering it was the King who decreed that we are fugitives now?" questioned Jockamo. As the two rode on the events of the past year were being told by Antinio.
In 1781 before Jockamo returned to Paris the financial world in France was a time of great speculation. The Paris stock exchange a forerunner of Americas Wall Street in 1781 became a feeding frenzy of Capitalism. After a period prior to the American War trading in the Paris Bourse was relatively quiet with modest trading. But when war in America erupted that's when the French capital markets went right through the roof. Makes us today want to start to think with the latest NY stock exchange reports that just maybe a repeat of similar yet very distinct set of circumstances have begun. But, in 1781 the Bourse increased their activity. It was a time that brought the Bourse to the level that trading in government loans and joint stock shares took on the frenetic character of a Boom. Prices fluctuated with such a fever where groups of speculators fought to manipulate values by coordinating their operations and propagandizing the market. A playbook for the 20th century traders. They bought on margin, sold short, and floated insurance companies that functioned as investment trusts. Rival coalitions struggled for control and solicited decrees that released them from unprofitable contracts or deflated prices in some advantageous way.
The Bourse of the early 1780's is a very uncanny resemblance to the way the United States Stock market acted during the 1920's and again in 2008. the Bourse of the 1780's continued to arouse the public at large. Banks and big commercial lending houses were all directly involved. In a crash so many ot these institutions would be wiped out and the fallout of their bankruptcies would shatter the Paris money markets. this in turn would set off a chain reaction to all provincial provinces paralyzing business that would unleash social an political unrest. The last Musketeer must now try to avoid the financial disaster and try to save the monarchy.
The year was 1782, his name was Jockamo, the most faithful Musketeer for Louis XVI arrived back in Paris from America. For the past four years Jockamo served as an aid de camp to Marquis de Lafayette during the latter years of the American Revolution. But, now that the war in America is over it was time to rejoin his regiment of Musketeers back at Versailles. And, so the legend of the Last Musketeer is born.
By the time Jockamo reached Paris he was quickly informed that Louis VXI had disbanded his band of brothers, the Musketeers. It turned out to be a most futile attempt to save the depleting treasury. A move that would also prove fatal a few years latter for the monarchy of France. But, by 1781 with Louis needing as much money as he could get dissolving the Musketeers seemed like a good idea. Poor Louis who couldn't quite grasp the significance that imposing a tax on the higher echelon of nobility would have saved the country from their own revolution in the years to come. Nor the fact that the war in America was proving to be a financial disaster to the monarchy as well. But, nevertheless when the Musketeers were no longer in the Kings service they quietly faded into obscurity. But, not for long.
It was already evening by the time Jockamo finally reached the Hotel de Valois. A place he knew well for this is where he spent many an evening before he left for America some four years earlier. The proprietor Franswa Hagen always took in any Musketeer who happened to come to Paris. "Jockamo what a pleasant surprise. Heard you were back from America. But, we all must be careful now that the King has decreed that anyone harboring a Musketeer is subject to arrest." When Jockamo heard this from Franswa he knew that trouble had already arrived especially for the monarchy. Already on his mind was how to get in touch with Antinio, Bernard and Cherlt, trusted comrades in arms.
As Marie was pouring another glass of wine Jockamo quietly put a note in her apron. He somehow knew she knew where Antinio was and instructed her to give that note to Antinio. It was just after midnight when Jockamo was suddenly awakened by a loud knock. Scrambling to his feet Jockamo reached for the door only to be startled to see Antinio standing in full dress uniform. Sword at the ready. "Quickly get dressed we have to leave immediately." Antinio ordered. Within in minutes they were out the back door of the hotel hopping on two waiting saddled horses. Swiftly riding out of Paris toward Versailles.
Having reached the country side outside Paris the two men could now slow down giving their horses a much needed slower pace. Antinio leaned over toward Jockamo " Rue de Richelieu is planning a coup against the King now that we are no longer supposed to be in the Kings service. We have to get to the King and tell him what Richelieu is up to." "But, why considering it was the King who decreed that we are fugitives now?" questioned Jockamo. As the two rode on the events of the past year were being told by Antinio.
In 1781 before Jockamo returned to Paris the financial world in France was a time of great speculation. The Paris stock exchange a forerunner of Americas Wall Street in 1781 became a feeding frenzy of Capitalism. After a period prior to the American War trading in the Paris Bourse was relatively quiet with modest trading. But when war in America erupted that's when the French capital markets went right through the roof. Makes us today want to start to think with the latest NY stock exchange reports that just maybe a repeat of similar yet very distinct set of circumstances have begun. But, in 1781 the Bourse increased their activity. It was a time that brought the Bourse to the level that trading in government loans and joint stock shares took on the frenetic character of a Boom. Prices fluctuated with such a fever where groups of speculators fought to manipulate values by coordinating their operations and propagandizing the market. A playbook for the 20th century traders. They bought on margin, sold short, and floated insurance companies that functioned as investment trusts. Rival coalitions struggled for control and solicited decrees that released them from unprofitable contracts or deflated prices in some advantageous way.
The Bourse of the early 1780's is a very uncanny resemblance to the way the United States Stock market acted during the 1920's and again in 2008. the Bourse of the 1780's continued to arouse the public at large. Banks and big commercial lending houses were all directly involved. In a crash so many ot these institutions would be wiped out and the fallout of their bankruptcies would shatter the Paris money markets. this in turn would set off a chain reaction to all provincial provinces paralyzing business that would unleash social an political unrest. The last Musketeer must now try to avoid the financial disaster and try to save the monarchy.
70-79, M