When Louis XiV died in 1715, his great grandson came to the throne at the age of five. A battle over who should be regent and rule the country until the king was old enough developed between two parties, one led by Philippe, Duc d'Orleans, and the other by Duc de Maine. Although Philippe became regent, the followers of his rival did not remain idle. A young man, Raoul d'Harmental, was committed to kidnap the regent until, by the strange action of fate, Raoul's very life depended upon the man he was to have kidnapped.