Nicholas de la Motte
French Officer of the Royal Gendarmery of France
About Nicholas de la Motte
Lived 1755 – 1831 (aged 76). Nicholas de la Motte was a French gendarme, adventurer and con artist.
Nicholas de la Motte (Bar-sur-Aube 29 July 1755 – Paris 6 November 1831), born Marc Antoine-Nicolas de la Motte, was a French adventurer known for his part as a swindler in the affair of the diamond necklace. He was the husband of Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Remy, whom he married on 6 June 1780.
He claimed to be a nobleman and gave himself the title of Comte (Count). However, his claim to nobility was dubious.
At the time of his marriage, he was known only as an officer of the gendarmes. Through his wife's influence on her paramour, the Cardinal de Rohan, he later obtained a commission as the Count of Artois's bodyguard.
La Motte died in November 1831 in Paris, France, forty five years after the affair at the age of 76.
La Motte is a supporting antagonist to Jeanne Valois in the 1972 manga the Rose of Versailles and its 1979 anime adaptation.
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Important facts
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Nicholas de la Motte?
French Officer of the Royal Gendarmery of France
When was Nicholas de la Motte born?
Nicholas de la Motte was born on 29 July 1755 in Bar-sur-Aube.
When did Nicholas de la Motte die?
Nicholas de la Motte died on 6 November 1831 in Paris.
What was Nicholas de la Motte's occupation?
Nicholas de la Motte was a gendarme, adventurer and con artist.
What nationality was Nicholas de la Motte?
Nicholas de la Motte was French.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Nicholas de la Motte
· DBpedia: Nicholas de la Motte
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Nicholas de la Motte. https://biography.guide/nicholas-de-la-motte/
MLA: "Nicholas de la Motte." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/nicholas-de-la-motte/.
Chicago: "Nicholas de la Motte." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/nicholas-de-la-motte/.
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