ABSTRACT
In 1577 Arques served under Anjou at the siege of Issoire before joining the court where he was soon noticed by Henry III. In 1567 Jean-Louis and his brother entered the Collège de Navarre, but soon took up military careers. Jean-Louis fought at the siege of La Rochelle where he was introduced to the future Henry III by the duc de Guise. In 1581 Henry decided to marry Épernon to one of the queen's sisters, like Joyeuse. By bringing the archimignons into his family Henry hoped to silence those who complained of their sudden rise to eminence. In 1580 Sir Henry Cobham noted that Henry III devoted more time to ballet than to war. It was in the autumn of 1581 that the most lavish entertainments were laid on at Henry III's court to celebrate the recent wedding of the archimignons, Anne de Joyeuse.
