The de Chagny Family
Vicomte Raoul de Chagny
His names in different version
Vicomte Raoul de Chagny (Leroux)
Vizconde Raúl de Chagny (First translation, El Fantasa De «La Ópera»)
Vizconde Raúl de Chagny (El Fantasa De «La Ópera», La Ilustración artística)
Viscount Raoul de Chagny (Alexander Teixeira de Mattos)
Ραούλ ντε Σανιύ / Raoúl nte Saný (Greek Translation)
Vicomte Raoul De Chagny (Phantom by Susan Kay)
Viscount Raoul de Chagny (Angel of the Opera by Sam Siciliano)
Vicomte Raoul De Chagny (The Phantom of Manhattanby Frederick Forsyth)
Vicomte Raoul de Chagny (1925 Movies)
Anatole Garron; Inspector Raoul Daubert (Really is the Persian role but is also in love with Christine) (1943 Movie)
Harry Hunter (1962 Movie)
Michael Hartnell Raoul (1983 Movie)
Richard Dutton (1989 Movie)
Raoul de Chagny (ALW Musical)
Count Philippe de Chagny (Yeston & Kopit Musical)
Baron Raoul De Chagny (1998 Movie)
Vicomte Raoul de Chagny (Leroux)
Vizconde Raúl de Chagny (First translation, El Fantasa De «La Ópera»)
Vizconde Raúl de Chagny (El Fantasa De «La Ópera», La Ilustración artística)
Viscount Raoul de Chagny (Alexander Teixeira de Mattos)
Ραούλ ντε Σανιύ / Raoúl nte Saný (Greek Translation)
Vicomte Raoul De Chagny (Phantom by Susan Kay)
Viscount Raoul de Chagny (Angel of the Opera by Sam Siciliano)
Vicomte Raoul De Chagny (The Phantom of Manhattanby Frederick Forsyth)
Vicomte Raoul de Chagny (1925 Movies)
Anatole Garron; Inspector Raoul Daubert (Really is the Persian role but is also in love with Christine) (1943 Movie)
Harry Hunter (1962 Movie)
Michael Hartnell Raoul (1983 Movie)
Richard Dutton (1989 Movie)
Raoul de Chagny (ALW Musical)
Count Philippe de Chagny (Yeston & Kopit Musical)
Baron Raoul De Chagny (1998 Movie)
Raoul de Chagny
"The shyness of the sailor-lad--I was almost saying his innocence-- was remarkable. He seemed to have but just left the women's apron-strings. As a matter of fact, petted as he was by his two sisters and his old aunt, he had retained from this purely feminine education mnnners that were almost candid and stamped with a charm that nothing had yet been able to sully. He was a little over twenty-one years of age and looked eighteen. He had a small, fair mustache, beautiful blue eyes and a complexion like a girl's. Philippe spoiled Raoul. To begin with, he was very proud of him and pleased to foresee a glorious career for his junior in the navy in which one of their ancestors, the famous Chagny de La Roche, had held the rank of admiral."~2 The New Margarita
"The shyness of the sailor-lad--I was almost saying his innocence-- was remarkable. He seemed to have but just left the women's apron-strings. As a matter of fact, petted as he was by his two sisters and his old aunt, he had retained from this purely feminine education mnnners that were almost candid and stamped with a charm that nothing had yet been able to sully. He was a little over twenty-one years of age and looked eighteen. He had a small, fair mustache, beautiful blue eyes and a complexion like a girl's. Philippe spoiled Raoul. To begin with, he was very proud of him and pleased to foresee a glorious career for his junior in the navy in which one of their ancestors, the famous Chagny de La Roche, had held the rank of admiral."~2 The New Margarita
Comte Philippe de Chagny
Philippe Comte de Chagny
Felipe Conde de Chagny (First translation, El Fantasa De «La Ópera»)
"Philippe Georges Marie Comte de Chagny was just forty-one years of age. He was a great aristocrat and a good-looking man, above middle height and with attractive features, in spite of his hard forehead and his rather cold eyes. He was exquisitely polite to the women and a little haughty to the men, who did not always forgive him for his successes in society. He had an excellent heart and an irreproachable conscience. On the death of old Count Philibert, he became the head of one of the oldest and most distinguished families in France, whose arms dated back to the fourteenth century. The Chagnys owned a great deal of property; and, when the old count, who was a widower, died, it was no easy task for Philippe to accept the management of so large an estate. His two sisters and his brother, Raoul, would not hear of a division and waived their claim to their shares, leaving themselves entirely in Philippe's hands, as though the right of primogeniture had never ceased to exist. When the two sisters married, on the same day, they received their portion from their brother, not as a thing rightfully belonging to them, but as a dowry for which they thanked him.~2.The New Margarita
Felipe Conde de Chagny (First translation, El Fantasa De «La Ópera»)
"Philippe Georges Marie Comte de Chagny was just forty-one years of age. He was a great aristocrat and a good-looking man, above middle height and with attractive features, in spite of his hard forehead and his rather cold eyes. He was exquisitely polite to the women and a little haughty to the men, who did not always forgive him for his successes in society. He had an excellent heart and an irreproachable conscience. On the death of old Count Philibert, he became the head of one of the oldest and most distinguished families in France, whose arms dated back to the fourteenth century. The Chagnys owned a great deal of property; and, when the old count, who was a widower, died, it was no easy task for Philippe to accept the management of so large an estate. His two sisters and his brother, Raoul, would not hear of a division and waived their claim to their shares, leaving themselves entirely in Philippe's hands, as though the right of primogeniture had never ceased to exist. When the two sisters married, on the same day, they received their portion from their brother, not as a thing rightfully belonging to them, but as a dowry for which they thanked him.~2.The New Margarita
Originally published in POTO Magazine 2000 Millenium issue
Philippe, the Count de Chagny, knew the path down to the lair. How could he do this? Is it perhaps that he might have been related to Erik, even providing food and clothing so that he could survive? (Betts)
Gaston Leroux is very sly about this. He never comes out and says "Count Philippe descended the labyrinth of tunnels and arrived at the edge of the lake." What he does show us is that the Persian (supposedly the person who knows Erik best) is only able to find the house on the lake after secretly following Erik most of the way. Even then, when he tries to guide Raoul, he loses his way and the two of them end up in the torture chamber. Count Philippe, on the other hand, ends up at the dock the place where the Phantom himself takes the boat to his home. Once there, he rings the doorbell. Please see the following excerpts
Erik and Christine are in the house by the underground lake:
Chapter 23 - Paragraph 17 Suddenly the silence on the other side was broken by the ringing of an electric bell. There was a scrambling sound opposite and then the thundering voice of Erik: "Someone's ringing! Please come in!!" A mirthless snicker. "Who's come to disturb us now? Wait a moment for me here; I'm going to tell the siren to open the door. (Leroux)
This scene is referred to again at the end of the book when Erik goes to visit the Persian. In that excerpt, the Persian shouts:
Chapter 27 - paragraph 25: "Murderer of Count Philippe, what have you done with his brother and Christine Daae?"
At that fearsome outburst, Erik faltered, speechless for a moment, then groped his way toward an armchair into which he collapsed with a deep sigh. Once there, he began to speak in choppy phrases and single words, each expelled with an effort.
"Daroga, don't speak to me of Count Philippe. He was dead... already... when I left my house. He was dead... already... when the siren sang. It was an accident... a sad... a... painfully sad... accident... He had fallen clumsily and simply and naturally into the lake...!" (Leroux)
This is all Leroux gives us on how Count Philippe found his way to the lake but it's enough. He did find his way. It was this that first caused Betts to consider the possibility that Erik and Philippe might be related. And Betts, being a genealogist, knew what she needed to do to learn more.
I turned to the French section of the Family History Library, and found two books published by the French Heraldry and Gentry historians called Noblesse de France, one published in 1971 and the other in 1975-76. In it was the courtship de Changy (spelling was changed slightly: "gn" is actually "ng"). Francois de Carpentier was the original Count de Changy... And he had a son named Eric! (Betts)
This means that there was an Eric de Changy. Next Betts looked through the de Changy family tree in the Noblesse de France for other members of the family whose names appeared in the novel. She found three more: Philippe, Raoul, and Mme. de la Martiniere, with spelling slightly changed in Leroux's Chapter 2:
Chapter 2 - Paragraph 16: The Comtesse de Chagny, nee de Moerogis de La Martyniere, had died in giving birth to Raoul, who was born twenty years after his elder brother . . . (Leroux)
Finally, Betts noticed another point of interest in the actual de Changy family tree:
(Insert family tree scan here From POTO Meg.)
[The family] had residences in Paris as well as Fleury-sur-Andelle, which is in Rouen where the novel states Erik was born. (Betts)
Indeed, in Leroux's epilogue we get: "According to the Persian's account, Erik was born in a small town near Rouen..."
Here's a chart comparing the historical names with the names in Leroux's novel:
Ref: Leatha Ann Betts (http://www.phantomoftheopera.ro/a_existat_erik.php)
Philippe, the Count de Chagny, knew the path down to the lair. How could he do this? Is it perhaps that he might have been related to Erik, even providing food and clothing so that he could survive? (Betts)
Gaston Leroux is very sly about this. He never comes out and says "Count Philippe descended the labyrinth of tunnels and arrived at the edge of the lake." What he does show us is that the Persian (supposedly the person who knows Erik best) is only able to find the house on the lake after secretly following Erik most of the way. Even then, when he tries to guide Raoul, he loses his way and the two of them end up in the torture chamber. Count Philippe, on the other hand, ends up at the dock the place where the Phantom himself takes the boat to his home. Once there, he rings the doorbell. Please see the following excerpts
Erik and Christine are in the house by the underground lake:
Chapter 23 - Paragraph 17 Suddenly the silence on the other side was broken by the ringing of an electric bell. There was a scrambling sound opposite and then the thundering voice of Erik: "Someone's ringing! Please come in!!" A mirthless snicker. "Who's come to disturb us now? Wait a moment for me here; I'm going to tell the siren to open the door. (Leroux)
This scene is referred to again at the end of the book when Erik goes to visit the Persian. In that excerpt, the Persian shouts:
Chapter 27 - paragraph 25: "Murderer of Count Philippe, what have you done with his brother and Christine Daae?"
At that fearsome outburst, Erik faltered, speechless for a moment, then groped his way toward an armchair into which he collapsed with a deep sigh. Once there, he began to speak in choppy phrases and single words, each expelled with an effort.
"Daroga, don't speak to me of Count Philippe. He was dead... already... when I left my house. He was dead... already... when the siren sang. It was an accident... a sad... a... painfully sad... accident... He had fallen clumsily and simply and naturally into the lake...!" (Leroux)
This is all Leroux gives us on how Count Philippe found his way to the lake but it's enough. He did find his way. It was this that first caused Betts to consider the possibility that Erik and Philippe might be related. And Betts, being a genealogist, knew what she needed to do to learn more.
I turned to the French section of the Family History Library, and found two books published by the French Heraldry and Gentry historians called Noblesse de France, one published in 1971 and the other in 1975-76. In it was the courtship de Changy (spelling was changed slightly: "gn" is actually "ng"). Francois de Carpentier was the original Count de Changy... And he had a son named Eric! (Betts)
This means that there was an Eric de Changy. Next Betts looked through the de Changy family tree in the Noblesse de France for other members of the family whose names appeared in the novel. She found three more: Philippe, Raoul, and Mme. de la Martiniere, with spelling slightly changed in Leroux's Chapter 2:
Chapter 2 - Paragraph 16: The Comtesse de Chagny, nee de Moerogis de La Martyniere, had died in giving birth to Raoul, who was born twenty years after his elder brother . . . (Leroux)
Finally, Betts noticed another point of interest in the actual de Changy family tree:
(Insert family tree scan here From POTO Meg.)
[The family] had residences in Paris as well as Fleury-sur-Andelle, which is in Rouen where the novel states Erik was born. (Betts)
Indeed, in Leroux's epilogue we get: "According to the Persian's account, Erik was born in a small town near Rouen..."
Here's a chart comparing the historical names with the names in Leroux's novel:
Ref: Leatha Ann Betts (http://www.phantomoftheopera.ro/a_existat_erik.php)
Chagny Family
The de Chagny were a very real family. It is believed the de Changy added the Carpentier later on in honor of François de Carpentier who later became the 1st Count de Changy. The Carpentier de Changy family, has been part of the Belgian nobility since 1892. Obviously the Leroux spelling of Chagny (gn) was changed from Changy (ng) or somewhere along the lines the spelling was changed in the family heritage. Either was it's the right family. The family house of residence is in Paris as well as Fleury-sur-Andelle, which is in fact in Rouen.
From the Novel
Erik [born in a town near Rouen] (died at 52)
Vicomte Raoul de Chagny (12 when his father died)
Comte Philippe de Chagny (Philippe-Georges-Marie) (died at 41)
Raoul has another borther (No name mentioned)
Sister (No name mentioned)
Aunt, widow of a sailor, who lived in Brest (No name mentioned)
Count Philibert (Father of Raoul and Philippe)
The Comtesse of Chagny, Madame de La Martynière, birth name Moerogis de la Martynière (Mother of Raoul and Philippe, died giving birth to Raoul, borth 20 year after Philippe)
Chagny de La Roche, famouse rank of admiral
Carpentier de (210)
Soissanais de Carpentier & Mme Maurice de Carpentier (Mme. Chagny) (died while giving birth to Raoul)
- Hubert de Carpentier (François's Brother)
- Geneviève (François's sister) (Mme)
- Anoine de Carpentier (François's Brother) (married)
- Raoul de Carpentier (never became count but gentry) (François's Brother uncle to Eric) (died)
- Matynière, Countess de Chagny, Moerogis de la Matynière? Mme. de la Martiniere, ?
The real de Changy records as of 1975
Changy (Carpentier de) (240)
François de Carpentier 1859 (the original Count de Changy, according POTO) [with François this is where the hybrid of Carpentier de Changy comes from] (married)
- Mireille de Carpentier (François's daughter) (Viscountess)
- Eric de Carpentier 1838 (inherits Count title) (François's only son) [married Josiane de Halloy de Waulsort
(Eric's children) (none inherit count title interesting)
- Axel
- Sibyll
-Antoine
- Chantel de Carpentier de Changy (François's daughter) (Madame)
Louis René de Carpentier (inherit Count title pased to children) (Eric's cousin)
- Henry (Eric's second cousin) (married)
- Arnaud (Eric's second cousin) (married)
- Vanina (Eric's second cousin) (Baroness)
- Elizabeth (Eric's second cousin) Married Gérard Machet de la Martinière (Comtess de Chagny from Leroux)
Michael de Carpentier (inherits Count title, passed to children) (Eric's cousin)
- Philippe de Carpentier 1842 married Nicole de Montrichard (Eric's second cousin) (becomes next Count)
- Nicolas
- Grégoire
- Inès (Eric's second cousin) (Baroness)
- Hubert (Eric's second cousin) (Carrie Hernándes suggests Leroux might have swaped Hubert's name with Raoul)
From the Novel
Erik [born in a town near Rouen] (died at 52)
Vicomte Raoul de Chagny (12 when his father died)
Comte Philippe de Chagny (Philippe-Georges-Marie) (died at 41)
Raoul has another borther (No name mentioned)
Sister (No name mentioned)
Aunt, widow of a sailor, who lived in Brest (No name mentioned)
Count Philibert (Father of Raoul and Philippe)
The Comtesse of Chagny, Madame de La Martynière, birth name Moerogis de la Martynière (Mother of Raoul and Philippe, died giving birth to Raoul, borth 20 year after Philippe)
Chagny de La Roche, famouse rank of admiral
Carpentier de (210)
Soissanais de Carpentier & Mme Maurice de Carpentier (Mme. Chagny) (died while giving birth to Raoul)
- Hubert de Carpentier (François's Brother)
- Geneviève (François's sister) (Mme)
- Anoine de Carpentier (François's Brother) (married)
- Raoul de Carpentier (never became count but gentry) (François's Brother uncle to Eric) (died)
- Matynière, Countess de Chagny, Moerogis de la Matynière? Mme. de la Martiniere, ?
The real de Changy records as of 1975
Changy (Carpentier de) (240)
François de Carpentier 1859 (the original Count de Changy, according POTO) [with François this is where the hybrid of Carpentier de Changy comes from] (married)
- Mireille de Carpentier (François's daughter) (Viscountess)
- Eric de Carpentier 1838 (inherits Count title) (François's only son) [married Josiane de Halloy de Waulsort
(Eric's children) (none inherit count title interesting)
- Axel
- Sibyll
-Antoine
- Chantel de Carpentier de Changy (François's daughter) (Madame)
Louis René de Carpentier (inherit Count title pased to children) (Eric's cousin)
- Henry (Eric's second cousin) (married)
- Arnaud (Eric's second cousin) (married)
- Vanina (Eric's second cousin) (Baroness)
- Elizabeth (Eric's second cousin) Married Gérard Machet de la Martinière (Comtess de Chagny from Leroux)
Michael de Carpentier (inherits Count title, passed to children) (Eric's cousin)
- Philippe de Carpentier 1842 married Nicole de Montrichard (Eric's second cousin) (becomes next Count)
- Nicolas
- Grégoire
- Inès (Eric's second cousin) (Baroness)
- Hubert (Eric's second cousin) (Carrie Hernándes suggests Leroux might have swaped Hubert's name with Raoul)
[Noblesse de France. Vol. 1, (1971) 1975 p 210-311, hard to find records the Church of Latter Day Saints has a copy on micofilm]
The Real de Changy records as of today Link
Carpentier de Changy
o François Charles Carpentier de Changy Comte Born Champvert, France 1791-1837 Paris 46 & 1817 Jeanne Amélie de Chazal de Chamarel 1801-1876
- Eugène François Pierre Carpentier de Changy 1819-1889 &1846 Anne Marie Félicie de Melotte d'Envoz 1821-1878
François Carpentier de Changy 1847-1928 &1873 Marguerite Boulard de Vaucelles 1853-1931
Henry Marie François Carpentier de Changy 1876-1915 &1910 Louise Marie Anne Le Gendre d'Onsenbray 1888-1963
o François Marie Charles Carpentier de Changy 1911 &1935 Denise Juliette Hubertine de Meeûs 1910-1993
- Mireille Carpentier de Changy & Gilles du Cos de La Hitte 1935-2005
- Eric Carpentier de Changy & Josiane de Halloy de Waulsort
- Axel Carpentier de Changy
- Sibylle Carpentier de Changy & Christian Roy de Lachaise
- Antoine Carpentier de Changy & Célina Antomarchi-Lamé
- Chantal Carpentier de Changy & Jacques-Hubert Rollet
- Nadine Carpentier de Changy & Jean de Vergnette de La Motte
- Régine Carpentier de Changy & Carpentier de Changy & Henri Gaignault
o Louis René Eugène Carpentier de Changy 1913-2004 &1936 Anne Marie Jeanne du Roy de Blicquy 1907-1983
- Henry Edouard Louis Carpentier de Changy & Marie-Solange Eléonore Greindl
- Anne-Louise Carpentier de Changy & Albert Desclée de Maredsous
- Henry (Eric's second cousin) (married)Florence Carpentier de Changy & Philippe Grelon
- Valérie Carpentier de Changy & Sébastien Lion
- Marie Carpentier de Changy & Hugues Vanoye
- Arnaud Carpentier de Changy & Anne Chegaray
- Alexandre Carpentier de Changy
- Edouard Carpentier de Changy
- Eléonore Carpentier de Changy & Gonzague de Villars
- Vanina Carpentier de Changy & Henri de Baulny
- Elisabeth Carpentier de Changy & Gérard Machet de La Martiniere
- Bruno Carpentier de Changy & Virginie Eloy
o Michel Carpentier de Changy 1915 &1941 Marie-Odile Bourgeois 1923
Carpentier de Changy (comte/count, écuyer/squire)
Family of French origin, maintained as a nobility in France in 1669, confirmation in France of the title of count transmissible to male primogeniture in 1865, admitted into the Belgian nobility in 1892, 1940 and 1957. Concessions of the title of count transmissible to the male primogeniture in 1892, 1934, 1940, 1962 and 1966.
Leatha Ann Betts's proof (Carpentier de Changy)
Ref. here http://www.angelfire.com/musicals/phantomphacts/eric.html
My proof http://gw0.geneanet.org/bengos?lang=fr&m=N&v=Carpentier%20de%20Changy
Ref. here http://www.angelfire.com/musicals/phantomphacts/eric.html
My proof http://gw0.geneanet.org/bengos?lang=fr&m=N&v=Carpentier%20de%20Changy
Originally published in POTO Magazine 2000 Millenium issue
Philippe, the Count de Chagny, knew the path down to the lair. How could he do this? Is it perhaps that he might have been related to Erik, even providing food and clothing so that he could survive? (Betts)
Gaston Leroux is very sly about this. He never comes out and says "Count Philippe descended the labyrinth of tunnels and arrived at the edge of the lake." What he does show us is that the Persian (supposedly the person who knows Erik best) is only able to find the house on the lake after secretly following Erik most of the way. Even then, when he tries to guide Raoul, he loses his way and the two of them end up in the torture chamber. Count Philippe, on the other hand, ends up at the dock the place where the Phantom himself takes the boat to his home. Once there, he rings the doorbell. Please see the following excerpts
Erik and Christine are in the house by the underground lake:
Chapter 23 - Paragraph 17 Suddenly the silence on the other side was broken by the ringing of an electric bell. There was a scrambling sound opposite and then the thundering voice of Erik: "Someone's ringing! Please come in!!" A mirthless snicker. "Who's come to disturb us now? Wait a moment for me here; I'm going to tell the siren to open the door. (Leroux)
This scene is referred to again at the end of the book when Erik goes to visit the Persian. In that excerpt, the Persian shouts:
Chapter 27 - paragraph 25: "Murderer of Count Philippe, what have you done with his brother and Christine Daae?"
At that fearsome outburst, Erik faltered, speechless for a moment, then groped his way toward an armchair into which he collapsed with a deep sigh. Once there, he began to speak in choppy phrases and single words, each expelled with an effort.
"Daroga, don't speak to me of Count Philippe. He was dead... already... when I left my house. He was dead... already... when the siren sang. It was an accident... a sad... a... painfully sad... accident... He had fallen clumsily and simply and naturally into the lake...!" (Leroux)
This is all Leroux gives us on how Count Philippe found his way to the lake but it's enough. He did find his way. It was this that first caused Betts to consider the possibility that Erik and Philippe might be related. And Betts, being a genealogist, knew what she needed to do to learn more.
I turned to the French section of the Family History Library, and found two books published by the French Heraldry and Gentry historians called Noblesse de France, one published in 1971 and the other in 1975-76. In it was the countship de Changy (spelling was changed slightly: "gn" is actually "ng"). Francois de Carpentier was the original Count de Changy... And he had a son named Eric! (Betts)
This means that there was an Eric de Changy. Next Betts looked through the de Changy family tree in the Noblesse de France for other members of the family whose names appeared in the novel. She found three more: Philippe, Raoul, and Mme. de la Martiniere, with spelling slightly changed in Leroux's Chapter 2:
Chapter 2 - Paragraph 16: The Comtesse de Chagny, nee de Moerogis de La Martyniere, had died in giving birth to Raoul, who was born twenty years after his elder brother . . . (Leroux)
Finally, Betts noticed another point of interest in the actual de Changy family tree:
(Insert family tree scan here From POTO Meg.)
[The family] had residences in Paris as well as Fleury-sur-Andelle, which is in Rouen where the novel states Erik was born (just outside actually). (Betts)
Indeed, in Leroux's epilogue we get: "According to the Persian's account, Erik was born in a small town near Rouen..."
Here's a chart comparing the historical names with the names in Leroux's novel:
Philippe, the Count de Chagny, knew the path down to the lair. How could he do this? Is it perhaps that he might have been related to Erik, even providing food and clothing so that he could survive? (Betts)
Gaston Leroux is very sly about this. He never comes out and says "Count Philippe descended the labyrinth of tunnels and arrived at the edge of the lake." What he does show us is that the Persian (supposedly the person who knows Erik best) is only able to find the house on the lake after secretly following Erik most of the way. Even then, when he tries to guide Raoul, he loses his way and the two of them end up in the torture chamber. Count Philippe, on the other hand, ends up at the dock the place where the Phantom himself takes the boat to his home. Once there, he rings the doorbell. Please see the following excerpts
Erik and Christine are in the house by the underground lake:
Chapter 23 - Paragraph 17 Suddenly the silence on the other side was broken by the ringing of an electric bell. There was a scrambling sound opposite and then the thundering voice of Erik: "Someone's ringing! Please come in!!" A mirthless snicker. "Who's come to disturb us now? Wait a moment for me here; I'm going to tell the siren to open the door. (Leroux)
This scene is referred to again at the end of the book when Erik goes to visit the Persian. In that excerpt, the Persian shouts:
Chapter 27 - paragraph 25: "Murderer of Count Philippe, what have you done with his brother and Christine Daae?"
At that fearsome outburst, Erik faltered, speechless for a moment, then groped his way toward an armchair into which he collapsed with a deep sigh. Once there, he began to speak in choppy phrases and single words, each expelled with an effort.
"Daroga, don't speak to me of Count Philippe. He was dead... already... when I left my house. He was dead... already... when the siren sang. It was an accident... a sad... a... painfully sad... accident... He had fallen clumsily and simply and naturally into the lake...!" (Leroux)
This is all Leroux gives us on how Count Philippe found his way to the lake but it's enough. He did find his way. It was this that first caused Betts to consider the possibility that Erik and Philippe might be related. And Betts, being a genealogist, knew what she needed to do to learn more.
I turned to the French section of the Family History Library, and found two books published by the French Heraldry and Gentry historians called Noblesse de France, one published in 1971 and the other in 1975-76. In it was the countship de Changy (spelling was changed slightly: "gn" is actually "ng"). Francois de Carpentier was the original Count de Changy... And he had a son named Eric! (Betts)
This means that there was an Eric de Changy. Next Betts looked through the de Changy family tree in the Noblesse de France for other members of the family whose names appeared in the novel. She found three more: Philippe, Raoul, and Mme. de la Martiniere, with spelling slightly changed in Leroux's Chapter 2:
Chapter 2 - Paragraph 16: The Comtesse de Chagny, nee de Moerogis de La Martyniere, had died in giving birth to Raoul, who was born twenty years after his elder brother . . . (Leroux)
Finally, Betts noticed another point of interest in the actual de Changy family tree:
(Insert family tree scan here From POTO Meg.)
[The family] had residences in Paris as well as Fleury-sur-Andelle, which is in Rouen where the novel states Erik was born (just outside actually). (Betts)
Indeed, in Leroux's epilogue we get: "According to the Persian's account, Erik was born in a small town near Rouen..."
Here's a chart comparing the historical names with the names in Leroux's novel:
Novel
|
Historical
|
Raoul de Chagny younger brother to Count Philippe de Changy
|
Raoul de Carpentier (1st Count de Changy)
|
Erik's Parents where said to have live in a town just outside of Rouen. They are never given by name in the novel.
|
François de Carpentier (2nd Count de Changy after Raoul's death) had a house Paris 15° as well as Fleurey-sur-Andelle, Rouen.
|
Erik born in a town just outside Rouen to a mother who feared him and a father who was an architect according to Daroga
|
Eric de Carpentier (Count de Changy): François's only son
|
Comte Philippe de Chagny becomes count after fatehr dies at the opening of the book
|
Philippe de Carpentier (Count de Changy)
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Ref. POTO Magazine Millenium Edition Carrie Hernándes, Leatha Ann Betts...89; Noblesse de France. Vol. 1, 1975. p. 210 (Carpentier) 240 (Changy)-311; a huge thank you to Carrie Hernándes for starting my research, Oscar Coomans de Brachène & Georges de Hemptinne, État présent de la noblesse Belge, Annuaire de 1972, seconde partie, Can - Col, Collection "ETAT PRESENT" a. s. b. l., 1972.
Spelling of Chagny
Gaston writes the Chagny family name with "gn", but historical documents write it as Changy. We know through Carrie Hernándes, and Leatha Ann Betts research that a family did exists that is way to close historically to not be the right family (huge thank you to both who got me started on all my research way back in the early 90's). but the spelling was "ng" It is possible they changed the spelling later on or Gaston himself changed the spelling to try and conceal the real family. Either way it should be noted that.
Is should also be noted that there is a French commune called Chagny also spelled Changy (for some reason) is located in the department of Saône-et-Loire in the region Bourgogne-Franche-Comté although I have doubts that lent anything to the characters.