List of Ministers of Louis XIV

Louis XIV marked the history of France with 72 years of reign. The Sun King managed to lead the French monarchy to its peak , thanks to his royal authority. He achieved this through a variety of means, including reforming the government, increasing the power of the monarchy, and developing the French military. At 22, he decided to assume the responsibilities of royal power alone, surrounding himself with ministers to advise him in his decisions . Through this article, I invite you to discover the most famous ministers of Louis XIV .

Cardinal Mazarin

The education of the future Prime Minister of Louis XIV

Jules Mazarin is the most famous statesman of the reign of Louis XIV. He impacted and shaped the youth of Louis XIV, the royal power and succeeded in bringing peace to the Kingdom of France . Despite everything, this illustrious character was not appreciated by his contemporaries.

Born on July 14, 1602 in Italy, Jules Mazarin grew up in the heart of a modest family. His father, Pietro Mazarin, was the steward of the Constable of the Kingdom of Naples. After studying with the Jesuits, the most important of Louis XIV's ministers was sent to Spain, before returning to Rome to study law. After serving as a Captain in the armies of Pope Urban VIII , he is heading towards a career as a diplomat. His ability as a speaker and his intelligence quickly caused a sensation. He was then sent to manage the conflict between France and Spain, and was noticed by the King of France Louis XIII and his minister Cardinal Richelieu . Mazarin is invited to come to France. This is how he entered the scene of French royal power.

Cardinal Mazarin joins the royal circle

As a great seducer, Jules Mazarin quickly attracted the favor of Anne of Austria, wife of Louis XIII and mother of Louis XIV. Appreciated by Cardinal Richelieu, who saw in this young man his successor, Mazarin would quickly rise through the ranks. On the death of Louis XIII's minister, Jules Mazarin then became Cardinal Mazarin . On December 16, 1641, he was named cardinal by the Pope. Appointed Principal Minister of State, he was given the tutelage of Louis XIV. When King Louis XIII died, the young heir was only 4 years old. He is therefore much too young to reign. Cardinal Mazarin, who became one of Louis XIV's ministers , must take charge of the education of the young king and give him all the necessary weapons so that he can assume his functions. He will provide him with policy advice.

La Fondre, uprising against Louis XIV's most famous minister

August 26, 1648 will be a real turning point in the life of the minister of Louis XIV. Eager to assert royal authority , Cardinal Mazarin and Anne of Austria, Queen-Mother and Regent of the Kingdom, will work against the parliamentarians. In particular, they will have Councilor Broussel arrested. The people revolt, and go out into the streets of Paris to set up barricades. This is the beginning of the Parliamentary Fronde , where Mazarin is targeted. To escape these tensions, the royal family and the prime minister of Louis XIV fled Paris to take refuge in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye. After the Parliamentary Fronde, it is the turn of the Fronde des Princes. The two successive revolts will lead to unrest until 1652. This agitation on the part of parliamentarians and princes will push Louis XIV to enforce his royal authority , in particular by putting a whole protocol in place, in order to control the nobles and avoid a new uprising.

Jules Mazarin at the height of royal power

At his majority, Louis XIV keeps his main minister at his side. He lets Cardinal Mazarin work, who becomes more and more powerful. The Minister will restore the kingdom, and will restore the finances. He managed to bring peace with Spain by carrying out the marriage with Marie-Thérèse of Austria. Despite the king's love for his niece Marie Mancini , Mazarin found the first of Louis XIV's wives .

After rising through the ranks of royal power, and having amassed a considerable fortune , Cardinal Mazarin, first of the Ministers of Louis XIV, died on March 9, 1661 at the age of 58.

Jean-Baptiste Colbert

Colbert, a cunning and intelligent child

Colbert is unequivocally the most loyal of Louis XIV's ministers. This devoted man was born on August 29, 1619 in the city of Reims, very close to the cathedral. Coming from a very wealthy family , Jean-Baptiste Colbert is the eldest of a family of 13 children. When his parents decided to move to Paris, the young Jean-Baptiste was ordered to stay in Reims to complete his education with the Jesuits . But his education is cut short when his father, leading a career in banking and business, is ruined. When he was only 16 years old, the future minister of Louis XIV had to stop his education and start working life. He then follows in the footsteps of his father, and is introduced to the world of finance. Jean-Baptiste Colbert becomes a notary’s clerk then assistant prosecutor. He develops real knowledge of accounting by entering the service of a treasurer.

Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Louis XIV's most loyal minister

The most faithful of Louis XIV's ministers rises very quickly in society, and begins to make a small fortune which allows him to obtain the function of ordinary commissioner of wars . Colbert sees his life turned upside down when he enters the service of Michel Le Tellier, Secretary of State for War, and in the service of Louis XIV. Jean-Baptiste Colbert devotes himself fully to his career and is totally devoted to the monarchy. While at the start of his career, the agreement between Colbert and Mazarin was not very cordial , the contempt fades little by little. During the Fronde, the prime minister of Louis XIV had to work closely with Jean-Baptiste Colbert. This collaboration will last over time and give rise to 10 years of association, Colbert will then be financial controller. At the time of his death, Cardinal Mazarin warmly recommends Jean-Baptiste Colbert to King Louis XIV. Now that the Sovereign wishes to govern alone, without a principal minister, he must rely on trustworthy and competent men. Louis XIV appoints Jean-Baptiste Colbert as Superintendent of Finance alongside Nicolas Fouquet. The two ministers will form a hateful relationship. Colbert will develop a great jealousy towards Fouquet. It must be said that the two young men are very different.

Between rivalry and ambition

Colbert is reserved while his rival shows eccentricity. But one point brings them together:ambition. Both wish to rise to the highest rank alongside the king. The two ministers will lead a real battle to dethrone the other . It was without counting on the cunning and intelligence of Colbert. Louis XIV's minister succeeded in ousting his adversary by accusing him of having based his excessive fortune on dishonest manoeuvres. Thanks to eviction, Jean-Baptiste Colbert rises to the rank of Minister of State of Louis XIV. The King will assign him many tasks, including the most personal. Colbert is notably responsible for discreetly organizing the delivery of Louise de la Vallière .

From glory to the fall of the Minister of Louis XIV

Jean-Baptiste Colbert amassed a considerable fortune, and acquired many properties including the Château de Sceaux. A shame coming from the one who accused Nicolas Fouquet of having too much fortune . Despite this, Louis XIV gave his full confidence to one of his most loyal ministers. Colbert is an important figure in the History of soap . His son also becomes Secretary of State for the Navy .

Despite his vast knowledge and his talent, the most illustrious of Louis XIV's ministers did not manage to keep the State at the highest level. He must resort to taxes or loans to bail out the coffers. But it's a waste of time. Colbert falls in the king's esteem. He died on the night of September 5 to 6, 1683 in his Parisian hotel, in terrible pain.

Nicolas Fouquet

Nicolas Fouquet was born in the world of finance

Born on January 27, 1615 in Paris, Nicolas Fouquet grew up in a modest family. He comes from a line of parliamentarians. The future Minister of Louis XIV studied at the Collège de Clermont in Paris. Nicolas Fouquet shows great intelligence and cunning . His ambitious nature will push him to climb the ladder one after the other, going from master of requests, to provincial intendant, to finally join the Parliament of Paris as attorney general . He was only 22 years old then. His ardor will take him to royal power, with King Louis XIV. His qualities as a financier will push Cardinal Mazarin to appoint him Superintendent of Finances in 1653. The Prime Minister of Louis XIV found his successor in Fouquet. But the Sovereign has decided otherwise , and wishes to govern alone. The Ministers of Louis XIV are there only to advise him and help him in his decision-making.

The most cunning of Louis XIV's ministers stirs up jealousy

This is the beginning of his downfall. His appetite for power and fortune fueled the jealousy of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, one of Louis XIV's ministers. The crafty Colbert will succeed in lowering the king's esteem for his Superintendent of Finance. Nicolas Fouquet is accused of having embezzled a colossal fortune for his own success. He aroused many suspicions when he had the Château Vaux-le-Vicomte built. .

On August 17, 1661, while the most famous of Louis XIV's ministers organized a party to unveil his new home, Louis XIV was influenced by his minister Colbert . He then takes a radical decision:to arrest Nicolas Fouquet. 3 weeks later, Nicolas Fouquet was arrested by d'Artagnan, captain of the Musketeers. A long trial ensued, which finally turned out in favor of the Minister . The sentence of the judges is less heavy than that hoped for by Colbert. Nicolas Fouquet is banished from the kingdom, but as a free man. This decision is not to the liking of the Monarch, who uses his right of pardon. Louis XIV decides to imprison his minister for life. The Superintendent of Finance is taken to the Pignerol prison . He died there on March 23, 1680, at the age of 65.

Detailed list of Louis XIV's ministers