I have a MC faced with a difficult decision and would like some opinions (preferably from people who know something about the ancien regime of around 1660)) what you think the smartest move would be.
Francois is a bishop of a titular See, noblesse de robe, and close friends with a member of the Montmorency (Laval branch) family, the confessor of Louis XIV (father Bagot) and knows Madame la Duchesse d'Aiguillon well.
He received permission from the Propaganda Fide in Rome to establish a seminary for the training of an indigenous clergy in Tonkin and southern China in 1659.
He writes a pamphlet in which he describes the mission as a act of patriotism and calls for financial support. He gets this from de Compagnie de Saint-Sacrement, the aforementioned Madame d'Aiguillon, Anne of Austria and the King.
Together with this mission a commercial company is established (Compagnie de Chine) and a commercial vessel is built in the Netherlands to transport the missionaries and to be used as a merchant vessel. When the Propaganda Fide hears of this, they are furious and so is Cardinal Mazarin, at that time the most powerful man in France. Cardinal Mazarin forbids the Compagnie de Chine (and apparently also the Compagnie de Saint-Sacrement).
On the night of 18/19 December 1660 the ship (ready to set sail, no one aboard yet) founders in a storm on the North Sea.
Francois receives the message from a courier. Who should he inform first? Mazarin or Louis XIV?
Thanks in advance!
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2008: Lapis Lazuli (historical fiction)
One minute of bad writing is better than one hour of good thinking - Harry Mulisch
12,106 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2008 - 19 03
Hmm, I'm not a complete expert, but what if he informed them at the same "meeting"? Mazarin had more power before Louis took the reigns, but it would probably make sense for them to be told together.
If not possible, I'd say Mazarin. ^^ I know there are plenty of movies about the Sun King, even if not in English, they might show political meetings that involve even more than Louis and Mazarin.
Good luck! Have fun, too.