The Massacre of the Duc de Brissac

Louis Hercule Timoléon de Cossé-Brissac had long played a prominent role at the court of Versailles when the 1780's came to a close. His loyalty to the crown remained even after the 6th October 1789. When the National Assembly decreed that the ci-devant king was to have a so-called "Constitutional Guard", it fell to the Duc de Brissac to led the guard - a task he took on willingly. His loyalty was aptly illustrated by his answer to why he chose to take on such a dangerous position: "I do it because I owe it to the king's ancestors and mine".

However, the National Assembly grew increasingly paranoid at the thought of the king having an armed guard at his side. Soon, they became convinced that it was only a matter of time before the guard would pose a threat to the new regime. Thus, it was disbanded. 

That was not the end of the matter for the Duc de Brissac. Louis XVI had attempted to warn his loyal courtier but in vain. Once again, the courage and loyalty of the Duc de Brissac shone through. He responded to Louis XVI's advise to flee with:

"Sire, if I flee they will call me guilty and you will be thought an accomplice; my flight would be an accusation against you and I would rather die!"

He was charged with treason; the claim was that he had encouraged the guardsmen to abandon the National Assembly and join the king's cause. Louis Hercule was to be sent to Orléans where he would face his "trial". Once at Orléans, he was imprisoned in Minimes where he was interrogated. 

Louis Hercule Timoléon de Cossé-Brissac

The Duc did not lose his nerve behind bars. He set up games for his fellow prisoners to distract them from their dire circumstances. Nevertheless, he was not unaware of the position he was in. When the royal family were transported to the Temple he thought it necessary to rewrite his will - apparently, he knew the outcome of his upcoming trial. 

By September he was to be transported to Versailles. On the 9th September 1792, the wagon with 54 prisoners arrived at the former royal village. The Duc de Brissac stood upright in the third wagon with his blue sash fastened across his chest.  When the convoy came to a halt it was met by a group from Paris which has been described with the sinister term "assassins". According to some, they immediately asked who the Duc de Brissac were. Once he was pointed out they attacked - Louis Hercule was dragged down from the cart. He could not properly defend himself as his hands were shackled. Nevertheless, he managed to hold off his assailants for quite some time before he was cut down by a sword.

His attackers did not leave his body in peace. Instead, his ears and head were cut off and put on spike. From there they marched to the Château de Louveciennes where the mistress of Louis Hercule lived. She was particularly well known by the contemporary world as Madame du Barry. His head was then taken off the spike and thrown through her windows. As for the rest of his body, sources vary on what happened. Some claim that the limbs of those massacred were stuck on the fences of Louveciennes. 

Now, the remains of the Duc de Brissac are buried in the Cemetery Saint-Louis at Versailles.