Jean de Rieux

Jean or Antoine de Rieux (death in 1594) was a famous Ligueur.

He was the grandson of a Marshal-shoeing Rethondes.

When the castle of Pierrefonds fell to the hands from the League in 1588, this one was entrusted by Antoine de Saint-Chamand, captain of the League, in Rieux, which accepted employment without other remuneration that the permission of living at the expense of the royalists.

It thus formed a troop of mercenaries for razzier the surroundings. He allotted the nobility and took the title of count de Pierrefonds

In March 1591, Henri IV sent against him the Duc of Épernon which, by contempt for such an adversary, neglected the operations and was wounded, which obliged it to raise the seat.

This success carried to its roof the audacity of Rieux: it took Noyon with thousand men. But Henri IV having taken it again in August 1591, it escaped from night and regained Pierrefonds.

The Maréchal of Biron besieged it in its turn without success during 15 days, its artillery powerful appearing of poor effect against the castle.

Named by the League governor of Laon, it prepared in 1593 a ambush against Henri IV in the Forêt of Compiegne, attempt which failed by chance, a peasant having seen the preparations.

It was finally captured by the garrison of Compiegne whereas it returned from Paris where it had attended the General states of 1593. Judged like Regicide, it was hung with Compiegne in March 1594.

One said of him that it “ linked the courage of the soldier, the skill of the captain, the forfantery of the Gascon and the cruelty of the chief of gangsters ”.

Source

Edmond Petrel of Hervilliers, Compiegne, its forests, its neighborhoods. Studies and memories historical and archaeological , Paris, 1869.

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