Nicolas de L'Hôpital
Nicolas de L'Hôpital de Vitry was a French noble, military leader, and friend of Louis XIII. Made Marshal of France in 1617, he was often called Maréchal de Vitry. His noble title was marquis de Vitry-sur-Seine; he was also seigneur de Nandy, Seine-et-Marne.
Early life
Nicolas de L'Hôpital de Vitry was the elder son of Louis de L'Hôpital and Franćoise de Brichanteau. His younger brother, François de L'Hôpital, marquis du Hallier, also became a marshal of France.Career
Like his father and his other ancestors, Vitry joined the army. Due to Henry IV's personal sympathy for Vitry's father, he let Vitry become a companion of the royal heir, the Dauphin Louis. He quickly gained the child's favour. After the death of his father in 1611, he succeeded him in his position as captain of the 2nd company of the Garde du corps du roi, the royal guard.He played an important role in the assassination of Concino Concini in 1617. It was he who arrested Concini and shot him afterwards.
After this coup d'etat he was put in charge of the armies in the capital, in order to prohibit riots. In the following days, Vitry received Concini's title of marshal and was one of the few persons who had unrestricted entrance to the king's chambers. Later in his life he became also Governor of Provence and Meaux.
In 1635, after decisions he had made in Provence against the will of the king, he was disgraced. In 1637, following an assault on Archbishop Henri de Sourdis, he was imprisoned in the Bastille and pardoned in 1643.
Personal life
His wife was Lucrèce Bouhier de Beaumarchais, widow of Louis de Trémoille and sister-in-law of Charles de La Vieuville. From her first marriage, she was the mother of Maréchal de camp Louis II de La Trémoille.Together, they had three children together. Only one of them was a son and he became an ambassador to Bavaria.