M. de Toiras

M. de Toiras, a commander serving King Louis XIII, plays a decisive role in the opening military campaign of the siege of La Rochelle. When the Duke of Buckingham arrives unexpectedly off the Isle of Re with ninety vessels and nearly twenty thousand men, Toiras commands the king's forces on the island. He is surprised by the English landing but, after a bloody conflict, manages to withdraw his garrison into the citadel of St. Martin, where he holds out against the English siege. He also throws a hundred men into the smaller fort of La Pree, creating a secondary defensive position. His resistance forces Buckingham to commit to a prolonged siege of the island, buying time for the French crown to organize its response. The battle costs the life of the Baron de Chantal, who leaves an orphaned daughter of eighteen months—the future Madame de Sevigne. Toiras's successful defense of St. Martin, despite being besieged, becomes a critical factor in the eventual English defeat. Later, as the siege of La Rochelle continues, Toiras provides intelligence to the French command, informing them that the English camp is preparing for a fresh assault, which prompts the king to order a decisive action that ultimately drives the English from the Isle of Re.