Moliere was the famous french playwright and actor Jean-Baptiste Poquelin. He is regarded as one of the greatest comedians in literature.

Madame de Sevigne refers to Marie de Rabutin-Chantal whose letters to family & friends were applauded for their content and became widely circulated during her life. She happened to be a close friend of Fouquet’s.

La Rochefoucauld refers to Francois de La Rochefoucauld, another writer of noble descent who’s letters were celebrated. He was a close friend of Madame de Sevigne.

La Fontaine was the most famous French writer of fables Jean de La Fontaine. He was not of noble decent and actually did not reach the pinnacle of his fame until a few years after Fouquet’s death.

It is said that part of the Vaux-le-Vicomte was actually constructed to honor Louis XIV

Although there isn’t a great deal of proof that Fouquet suspected he had fallen out of favor, it is believed that Fouquet did throw the party with intentions of proving to Louis XIV his usefulness by bringing together so many powerful nobles, artists, and thinkers of the time, after being snubbed for the Chief Minister position.

By the time Louis XIV took full reign of his kingdom, he had spent years being ruling through the help of chief advisers and other members of nobility, prompting him to famously declare he would be his own chief minister after Mazarin’s death.

Many historians suggest Fouquet was the richest man in 17th-century France. With this fortune he built a compound rivaling the King’s palace

Although considered a great patron to the arts, Fouquet had a tendency of only supporting those artists who were useful to him. This culminated in the building of his magnificent chateau Vaux-le-Vicomete

“finance minister” actually refers to the Superintendent of Finance, a post created in 1561 by King Charles IX in order to exert more control over the boards of finances. The position was changed many times between 1561 and its abolishment in 1661 as far as the number of superintendents and their control over finances went.

King Louis XIV(14) was born in 1638 and was arguably the most famous of France’s kings, serving for 72 years. Louis XIV was known to be a great patron of the arts and industry but ultimately strengthened the French institutions which later led to the French Revolution.

Like many monarchs of the time, Louis XIV strongly believed in the divine right of kings.

Fouquet was born in Paris, France in 1615 and served the king from 1653-1661 when he was sent to prison to live out his life until death in 1680