Charles François de Broglie, Marquis of Ruffec
An 18th-century French nobleman whose life as a soldier and diplomat was ultimately overshadowed by his secret, reckless plotting against his own king.
1719–1781 (age 62)·French soldier and diplomat·Birthday: August 19
Biography
Charles François de Broglie, Marquis of Ruffec, was born into one of France's most distinguished military families. He followed tradition, serving as a colonel in the War of the Austrian Succession and later as a diplomat, representing Louis XV's interests. His historical significance, however, stems from a shadowy side mission. In the 1750s, while ambassador to Poland, he became the king's secret agent in the "Secret du Roi," a clandestine foreign policy operation. His most infamous act was engineering the failed "Conspiration de Ruffec" in 1758, a bizarre and treasonous plot to kidnap or assassinate King Louis XV himself, possibly to influence the succession. The plot was discovered, and de Broglie spent years imprisoned in the Bastille. Though eventually released, his name became synonymous with dangerous, labyrinthine court intrigue in the final decades of the Bourbon monarchy.
#1 When Charles Was Born
The biggest hits of 1719
Charles's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1719Born
1724Started school
1732Became a teenager
1735Could drive
1737Could vote
1740Turned 21
1749Turned 30
1759Turned 40
1769Turned 50
1779Turned 60
1781Died at 62
Key Achievements
- Served as a French colonel during the War of the Austrian Succession, upholding his family's military tradition.
- Acted as a key operative in King Louis XV's clandestine diplomatic network, the "Secret du Roi."
- Held the position of French ambassador to Poland in the mid-18th century.
- His arrest and imprisonment for the "Conspiration de Ruffec" exposed deep secret divisions within the French court.
Did You Know?
He was the younger brother of the more famous Marshal Victor-François, 2nd Duke de Broglie.
The conspiracy named after him aimed to potentially replace Louis XV with a different prince of the blood.
After his release from the Bastille, he was exiled to his estates but was not executed.
His secret correspondence as part of the "Secret du Roi" provides historians with insights into 18th-century covert diplomacy.
“The king's secret is a burden that bends the spine.”
