environment and climate | January 17, 2026

Who Tortured Philippe De Clermont? – Celebrity

Philippe de Clermont (1831–1921) was a French organic chemist. He was known for the synthesis of the first organophosphate cholinesterase inhibitor ( tetraethyl pyrophosphate, TEPP). He worked in Adolphe Wurtz ‘s laboratory in Paris. Recherches sur les composés octyliques (1870).

The reputation of Philippe de Clermont very much precedes him in A Discovery of Witches. He’s a superstar in this world, the vampire who established the Knights of Lazarus and the Congregation, and the patriarch of France’s ruling vamp family.

Philippe de Clermont is a vampire in the world of the All Souls Trilogy. He was the husband of Ysabeau de Clermont and father of Matthew Clairmont. He is described as looking like a Greek god.

He is the second and the eldest living child of Philippe and therefore the current head of the de Clermont family. Baldwin was sired during the Roman Empire, placing his birth about 2,000 years ago.

What was Philippe fond of?

Background. Philippe was fond of war, women and wine. He ruled over Sept-Tours and to some extent behind the scenes in several countries over many years. He started the Order of Lazarus, participated in the Congregation when it was established during the Crusades, and did not stop the covenant from being established.

In A Discovery of Witches Season 2 before Diana and Matthew’s wedding, Philippe takes both to the temple of The Goddess Diana/Artemis the Greek goddess of the Hunt. Often called The Goddess by Witches, she is worshiped with her three aspects being Maiden, Mother and Crone each providing and being the source of a different type of Magic. At the temple, Philippe being so ancient, wise and powerful is shown to possess the ability to summon the goddess despite not being a Witch with wind whipping around the temple as he chants in English and Ancient Greek for the Goddess to bless Diana and watch over her through her journey. Philippe is the only Non-Witch shown with the ability to use magic.

He takes his son hunting and over time Matthew behaves guarded and tense around everyone in Sept-Tours. Philippe tells Diana that one day she will leave Matthew. She doesn’t understand at first but realizes he means with her death, and Matthew will be so devastated that he will follow her with his death. Philippe tells Diana that she can find Matthew in the church in the village. There Matthew admits to Diana that he was the one that killed Philippe when he begged for it after being tortured by the Nazis. One day, Diana finds Philippe and Matthew sword fighting in the hay barn. Philippe is besting Matthe w and causing his son’s blood rage to come out. Suddenly, Philippe reveals that he knows that Matthew has been behaving so removed because he feels guilt for killing someone. Philippe realizes that Matthew kills him in the future and tells his son that he forgives him. Matthew is overcome with emotion. He and his father can once again be close before he and Diana must return to London.

Matthew brings Diana with him to Sept-Tours, since he cannot safely leave her in London and he cannot keep her a secret from his father. Matthew is terrified to see his father again, knowing that his father is dead in the future and it has been decades since he last saw him.

Philippe tells Diana that she can find Matthew in the church in the village. There Matthew admits to Diana that he was the one that killed Philippe when he begged for it after being tortured by the Nazis. One day, Diana finds Philippe and Matthew sword fighting in the hay barn.

Philippe is already aware that both she and Matthew are from the future. He is surprised when he hears that Diana has been to Sept-Tours in the future and that his wife, Ysabeau, gave Diana her ring. It is then that he realizes that he is not alive in their present and does not wish to know when or how he dies.

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