Speaking of Chateau, another Chateau that is nearby and worth a visit is Vaux le Vicomte. It was ordered by Fouque, superintendent des Finances, some sort of grand Finance Dean for Louis XIII, then Louis XIV. The richest guy in France and probably the most intelligent at the time. He had great taste too. His Chateau was magnificent and offered the most sumptuous sight to newcomers. He was a very generous man and threw out parties after parties – in fact, there is a little bit of a Fouque in every MBA participant. We identify strongly with parties in 17th century chateaux. Fouque’s chateau benefited from the star designers of his time: Le Brun for the painting, Le Notre for the gardens, etc… A gem of architecture.

Louis XIV was raised by an Evil Cardinal in a rigorous discipline. He was forced to walk around in rags, he was vertically challenged (a problem for someone who wishes to be the greatest king of all times) – and wasn’t quite as bright as the Cardinal. He was once invited to Mr Fouque’s house, who wasn’t noble but who had gained immunity through the purchase of this Finance charge, which cost some 1 million local currency of the time. (Louis D’Or?)

Louis XIV arrived from his house (not Versailles yet), quite a way away from Vaux le Vicomte – full of dust, swearing at everybody, tired and with a hurting back. He was welcome by a perfumed and elegantly dressed Fouque, walked around fresh and delicate fountain offering sublime sculptures of water and was left to rest under the gentle shade of friendly square-cut trees. The King would never forget such an outrageous infringement of his superior position in the social hierarchy. A sudden jealously devoured his will.

Fouque became – so I heard – the victim of the most tragic coalition of all times and remained loyal to his King.

The King pretended he needed this 1 m local currency to buy something. Fouque sold his charge, thus losing his immunity to help the King. Shortly after, he was sent to prison. He had no rights: no family visit, no books, no paper, no pen, no music, no visit at all in fact, the most dreary food diet, no time outside. Remember that we are talking Nobel Prize type person. He spent 18 years in this cell.

Meanwhile, Louis XIV realized that Le Brun, Le Notre I tutti quanti were finding themselves unemployed and decided to give them work. He built Versailles with the objective to surpass Vaux Le Vicomte.

Several lobbying attempts failed. One succeeded in having him at least released and able to see his family. On the day of his planned release, he died. Accident? Coincidence? Or Murder?

Some say that Fouque knew all the King’s intimate secrets, such as the possibility of a twin brother (The Iron Mask, emprisoned in the Chateau d’If, the Alcatraz equivalent of Marseilles Bay) – Fouque defended himself during his trial and he mentioned none of that. He knew all the national secrets. He talked about none of that.

Faithful to his Kind - until the end.