I came at this Siege via many different angles when writing my novel – Weave a Garland of My Vows
This was the first of a five part series, indie published in 2014 and a total bomb blast for me. It’s made me a fortune of about £40 in 8 years.
Whatever.
George Villiers was brilliant character to write. To me he was Marie de Rohan’s counterpart. Two sides of one coin. Friends and cohorts but never lovers. She saw right through him….and vice versa.
After Marie (the protagonist) Wat Montagu was my all time favourite person to write. He was Villiers’ spy, friend, punching bag and a man who fell in love at first sight of Marie de Rohan. He’d’ve died for her and almost did (more than once.)
Wat was in France when the Siege of La Rochelle happened. He watched Richelieu commanding the French army and felt torn.
Whilst Marie (French) was nominally Catholic, her uncles were Huguenots or Protestant, like Wat. And she did whatever she had to do when in France or England. No worries either way.
Eventually Wat left England and became a Catholic priest in France. Richelieu’s influence, brilliance, razor-sharp mind had obliterated all of his younger self. England, Marie, his family, Protestantism – none of that mattered to him anymore. Although he still supported and tried to help Henriette Marie after the execution of Charles I Stuart and her exile from England under Cromwell.
People are so effing complex.
That’s why I’m a writer :o)