The forty-five guardsmen

About the book

"The forty-five guardsmen" by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet is a historical novel written between 1847 and 1848. Set during the French Wars of Religion in 1585-1586, this final installment of the Valois trilogy follows Diane de Méridor's quest for revenge against the Duke of Anjou for his betrayal of Bussy d'Amboise. As King Henry III struggles to control religious and political chaos dividing France, he recruits forty-five guards from lesser nobility for protection during the War of the Three Henrys. The story weaves historical events with fiction, featuring the beloved character Chicot the Jester.