# How Anne of Austria Gave One Piece of Advice to Louis XIV, and How M. Fouquet Gave Him Another explained — The Vicomte de Bragelonne

> Chapter companion for The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas.

## What happens

Louis XIV, feeling the weight of his powerless kingship, is visited by his mother Anne of Austria, who advises him to accept Cardinal Mazarin's deathbed gift of forty million livres. However, Superintendent Fouquet, who has just arrived from Vaux in record time, counsels the king to refuse the gift, arguing that a king should not accept presents from subjects. The king is torn between the two conflicting pieces of advice.

## Themes in this chapter

### Power and Ambition

Louis XIV's frustration with his lack of real power and his desire to assert his authority are central, as he grapples with the advice of his mother and Fouquet.

### Court Intrigue and Deception

The chapter illustrates the maneuvering at court, with Anne of Austria and Fouquet each trying to influence the king's decision regarding Mazarin's fortune.

### Greed and Corruption

The debate over accepting Mazarin's forty million livres touches on the moral implications of wealth accumulated through questionable means.

## Character check-ins

### Louis XIV

The young king, frustrated by his lack of real power, receives conflicting advice from his mother and Fouquet regarding Mazarin's bequest.

### Anne of Austria

The queen mother advises her son to accept Mazarin's donation, emphasizing the immense sum and the need to thank the cardinal.

### Nicolas Fouquet

The superintendent of finances arrives from Vaux in an hour and a half, offers the king six fast horses, and advises him to refuse Mazarin's gift on principle.

### Jules Mazarin

Though not present, his severe illness and his deed of gift of forty million livres to the king are the central subjects of the chapter.

## Key lines

> O king!—king by name, and not in fact;—phantom, vain phantom art thou!—inert statue, which has no other power than that of provoking salutations from courtiers...

Louis XIV laments that he is a king in title only, a powerless statue who merely receives bows from courtiers.

_This soliloquy reveals the king's deep frustration with his lack of real authority under Mazarin's shadow._

> Thank him, sire—but do not accept.

Fouquet advises the king to express gratitude to Mazarin but to refuse the monetary gift.

_Fouquet's counsel contrasts sharply with Anne of Austria's urging to accept the fortune, highlighting the political and moral stakes._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/47-how-anne-of-austria-gave-one-piece-of-advice-to-louis-xiv-and-how-m-foquet-gave-him-another
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters