Rene Janvier

René Janvier (1741-) was a servant working at the Chateau de Versailles during the 1760's. He was brother to Josée de Caux (1739-1765) and uncle to her children (Sébastien de Caux, and Annette de Caux) who he raised after his sister and brother-in-law's death.

Early Life
Rene and his sister Josee both left their family's home near the French border at their parents request to find jobs when Rene was 20. They both were able to receive jobs working in the Palace of Versailles.

Life at Versailles
Shortly after Josee married a minor official in the Royal Guard, David de Caux. Josee and David moved away from the palace to raise their family after they had a son named Sebastien. Josee was pregnant with Annette when David went to serve in India and was killed in the line of duty.

When Josee heard of David's death she went into such grief that she gave birth to Annette prematurely. Josee was killed by the blood loss and Rene took in her children to raise.

Unable to pay for his sister's home, he took in his nephew and niece to live with him in this servant's quarters in the palace, paying a female servant to care for the two while he works. Allegedly poisoned a high noble, then overcharged the man for the cure, in order to get money when it was tight.

The Christmas Eve Ball of 1765
Due to his skill at identifying and acquiring plants, mostly good sometimes toxic, he got his hands on hemlock in order to help Lucille and Celine Durand to kill King Louis XV during the Christmas Eve Ball of 1765. Rene was able to buy the hemlock for a livre from an unsuspecting maid who had no idea it was hemlock.

Children
Adopted, biological children of Josee de Caux (nee Janvier) and David de Caux
 * Sebastien de Caux (1762-)
 * Annette de Caux (1765-)