François Auguste de Thou

François-Auguste de Thou (24 August 1604 - 12 September 1642) was a French magistrate.

Nicolas Rigault, guard of the Library of the King, assumed that office with his arrest.

His misguided mediation between Anne of Austria and Marie de Rohan was pardoned, but he fell in the conspiracy between Spain and Cinq-Mars, a favorite of king Louis XIII.

For not revealing what he knew of the conspiracy, his silence was taken as proof of guilt and he was beheaded at Lyon on the same day as Cinq-Mars on Richelieu's orders.

A famous 19th century historical painting The State Barge of Cardinal Richelieu on the Rhône by Paul Delaroche shows Cardinal Richelieu in a gorgeous barge, preceding the boat carrying De Thou and Cinq-Mars to their execution.

The Execution of Cinq-Mars and de Thou.
The State Barge of Cardinal Richelieu on the Rhône by Paul Delaroche , 1829