Counter Token - Claude Gouffier ND

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Coat of arms of Claude Gouffier

Script: Latin

Lettering: C · GOVFFIER · CONTE · DE · CARVAS · ET · DE · MAVLEV · R ✚

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Claude Gouffier was granted knighthood in 1533, and in 1546 created Marquis of Boissy and Caravaz.
 Claude Gouffier was a French nobleman, knight and book collector. He was the model for the "Marquis de Carabas" from the story Puss in Boots by Charles Perrault.
 He served at the Battle of Pavia, where he was one of the knights taken prisoner along with Francis I after the disastrous defeat of the French army. He was eventually released but was captured again during a later French campaign in Italy by Ferrante Gonzaga in 1536. He was ransomed two years later by Francis for the huge sum of 6000 gold crowns in 1538.
 Gouffier's official title was Grand Écuyer de France, or Master of the King's Stables, to Henri II, although his life's main vocation seems to have been the collection of books and unusual objects.
 He was the knight of the Order of Saint Michael. As it can be seen on this jeton, the coat of arms of Gouffier is adorned with Collar of the Order (small image of Saint Michael slaying a dragon).