Piedmont

Piedmont, a region in northwestern Italy, appears in the novel's epilogue as the final destination for Planchet, d'Artagnan's faithful lackey. It is the place where Planchet's service is formally recognized and rewarded, closing his character arc from a nervous Picard servant to a soldier of rank.

Planchet's Reward and New Career

After the execution of Milady and the resolution of the main plot, the epilogue records the fates of the four friends and their servants. Planchet, who had proven his bravery and resourcefulness during the perilous journey to England and the subsequent intrigues, receives a tangible reward for his loyalty. The Comte de Rochefort, once an enemy but now reconciled with d'Artagnan, uses his influence to obtain for Planchet the rank of sergeant in the Piedmont regiment. This promotion elevates Planchet from a domestic servant to a non-commissioned officer in a military unit, a significant step up in the social hierarchy of the 17th century.

Significance of the Appointment

The assignment to the Piedmont regiment is a fitting conclusion for Planchet. Throughout the novel, he demonstrates a growing capacity for courage and initiative, from his initial fearfulness to his decisive actions in the ambush at Amiens and his successful solo mission to deliver a letter to Lord de Winter in London. The sergeant's rank in a foreign regiment acknowledges his proven mettle and provides him with a secure, honorable future, separate from his master's household. It also serves as a final, minor act of goodwill from Rochefort, solidifying the general peace that follows the defeat of the cardinal's most dangerous agent.