#GuestPost: J.M. Aucoin of Honor Among Thieves

Don Pedro de Toledo and the Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Mission
By J.M. Aucoin

When I sat down and came up with Honor Among Thieves (Hope & Steel series), I knew I wanted it in the 17^th Century, a historical adventure in the vein of Alexandre Dumas’ Three Musketeers and Arturo Pérez-Reverte’s Captain Alatriste.

I also knew that I wanted it situated in an exciting time, but one not too well known to the modern reader. I found that time in France during the early 17^th Century, a couple of decades before Dumas’ famous Musketeers fought for king and country.

Changing Political Climate

The European political landscape was starting to change. France was recovering from decades of religious civil war and the Low Countries (aka United Providences) constant rebellion was starting to take a heavy toll on Spain’s military and royal coffers.

Henry IV of France was very much in favor of seeing the Dutch and Spanish go at each other’s throats for as long as possible. So much so that he had supplied the United Providences with some money, and allowed a large number of volunteers fight for the Dutch. But the Dutch tired from war almost as much as Spain did. The Low Countries were in shambles from the fighting, and Archduke Albert was prepared for peace with Spain.

But seeing an opportunity to both win the gratitude and friendship of the United Providences and stick it to Spain, Henry decided France would act as the mediator between the two warring parties. He sent President Jeannin as his representative and arranged a defensive alliance with the United Providences.

Meanwhile, the Nuncio and some Jesuits at the French court assured Spain that Henry IV could be persuaded to abandon his protestant, Dutch friends (and possibly even go to war against the Dutch).

You really need to question what these guys at court were on to think this. Not only was Henry not interested in being buddies with Spain, but he was actually toying with the idea of declaring war on them. Henry hated Spain and, more so, hated the Hapsburgs who had done all they could to thwart Henry from ascending to the French throne.

Sure, Henry went from being a Huguenot to a Catholic, back to a Huguenot to back to a Catholic, but those transitions were always about survival and political advancement. With the crown on his head and a recovering military and economy at his back, Henry was in a prime position to enact a little revenge on Spain.

Don Pedro watching (probably awkwardly) as King Henry IV plays with his children

Don Pedro vs. Henry IV

Still, King Phillip III of Spain and his advisors believed in the intelligence that Henry could be swayed. And so Don Pedro de Toledo Osorio y Colonna, fifth Marquis of Villafranca, cousin to Henry’s wife, Queen Marie de Medici, and one of the great lords of Spain, was sent to Paris on a special mission: secure an alliance with France via a double marriage.

Again, you have to wonder what Spain was on to think this would work. If Henry wanted to go battle against Spain, there was not a snow ball chance in hell he was going to let his own flesh and blood mix with Hapsburgs. Not to mention if he accepted the terms, he would’ve been sending his daughter to Madrid as a hostage more so than to be a loving wife.

(I guess the intelligence in “intelligence gathering” was more of a recommendation than a rule back then.)

Right off the bat, “negotiations” started off poorly for Don Pedro. In his first audience with the king, Don Pedro mentioned that Phillip III would gladly negotiate on the basis of the double marriage proposal made to him, to which Henry rebuked: “What proposals?”

Don Pedro even tried flattery and vanity as a way to win Henry IV’s favor. As the king’s servant walked by with the royal sword, Don Pedro bent to a knee and kissed the blade, stating: “I’m a happy man; I hold in my hands, the sword of the bravest king in the world!”

Don Pedro kissing King Henry IV’s ass sword

When flattery failed, Don Pedro turned to good ol’ fashion threats. During a heated argument with Henry, Don Pedro said that France’s friendship with the Dutch may provoke Phillip III to war. Henry, ever the witty fellow, retorted, “Let your master have a care. I should be in the saddle before his foot touched the stirrup.”

Amazingly, Don Pedro attempted to acquire a Franco-Spanish alliance for eight whole months. He got help from his cousin, Queen Marie de Medici, though using her as an ally probably did as much bad as it did good. He also attempted to fan old embers of hate between the Catholics and Protestants, but both sides were exhausted at the thought of new, civil war. He tried every avenue he could think of, but each time he was met with insult or rebuke by Henry.

Henry’s resolve was a mountain, and all the Don Pedro’s bluster wasn’t going to move Henry from his stance.

The Backdrop for Honor Among Thieves

Don Pedro’s mission to secure an alliance with France is the historical backdrop for Honor Among Thieves. His motives and actions are the kindling for what becomes a daring plot for Darion Delerue and Jacquelyna Brocquart. A fictional conspiracy is interwoven with the political intrigue of Don Pedro’s visit, and quickly there becomes more at stake than just alliances.

About Honor Among Thieves
Darion Delerue, former soldier turned highwayman, has only two things of value—the hope in his heart and the steel at his side. After a heist on a royal ambassador goes wrong, Darion is thrown into a political plot to undermine the crown, pitting his old life as an honorable soldier against his new life as a thief and bandit. His actions could send France back into civil war.

Honor Among Thieves is inspired by the high adventure of The Three Musketeers and the gritty swashbuckling of the Captain Alatriste series. J.M. Aucoin weaves a gripping tale of daring sword-play and political intrigue, with superb historical detail of 17^th Century France that’ll have readers wanting to draw their rapiers and fight for glory!

About J.M. Aucoin
Author. Fencer. Sometimes actor. Full-time nerd. J.M. Aucoin is the product of when a five-year-old boy who fell in love with reruns of Guy William’s Zorro grows into a mostly functional adult. He now spends his time writing swashbucklers and historical adventure stories, and has an (un)healthy obsession with The Three Musketeers.

When not writing, he practices historical fencing, crafts historical outfits, and covers the Boston Bruins for the award-winning blog Days of Y’Orr. For more info visit J.M. Aucoin’s website and blog. You can also find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads and YouTube.