![]() ![]() The siege was largely a failure-indeed, it wasn’t until 1654 (around the time when the final act of Cyrano is set) that France succeeded in conquering Arras. In 1640, France attempted to invade the Spanish province of Arras, and for more than a year, French soldiers tried to starve out Spanish troops in their fortresses. At times, France invaded Spanish territory in an effort to expand its borders. During the reign of Louis XIII, France clashed with its neighbor, Spain, in a series of battles throughout the 1630s and 40s. His most trusted advisor-and, supposedly, the “Grey eminence” of the French court-was Cardinal Richelieu, whose name is synonymous with power and prestige in Cyrano. Louis was widely regarded as a weak and ineffectual king, more interested in decadent parties than nation building. ![]() ![]() The majority of the play is set in 1640, when Louis XIII was King of France. It’s important to understand some French history when reading Cyrano. ![]()
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