François-Michel le Tellier, Marquis de Louvois
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François-Michel le Tellier Marquis of Louvois |
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| Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi | |
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In office 6 September 1683 – 15 July 1691 |
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| Monarch | Louis XIV |
| Preceded by | Jean-Baptiste Colbert |
| Succeeded by | Édouard Colbert de Villacerf |
| Secretary of State of War | |
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In office 24 February 1662 – 15 July 1691 |
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| Monarch | Louis XIV |
| Preceded by | Michel Le Tellier |
| Succeeded by | Louis François Marie Le Tellier |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
January 18, 1641 Paris, France |
| Died | July 16, 1691 (aged 50) Versailles, France |
| Spouse(s) | Anne de Souvré (m. 1662; his d. 1691) |
| Children | Michel-François Madeleine Charlotte Louis-Nicolas Louis François Camille Marguerite |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
François Michel Le Tellier, Marquis de Louvois (18 January 1641 – 16 July 1691) was the French Secretary of State for War for a significant part of the reign of Louis XIV. Louvois and his father, Michel le Tellier, would increase the French Army to 400,000 soldiers, an army that would fight four wars between 1667 and 1713. He is commonly referred to as "Louvois".
Louvois was born in Paris on 18 January 1641, to Michel Le Tellier, and Elisabeth Turpin. Louvois received instructions from his father in the management of state affairs. The young man won the king's confidence, and in 1666 he succeeded his father as war minister.
His talents were perceived by Turenne in the War of Devolution (1667–68), who gave him instruction in the art of providing armies. After the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, Louvois devoted himself to organising the French army. The years between 1668 and 1672, says Camille Rousset, "were years of preparation, when Lionne was labouring with all his might to find allies, Colbert to find money, and Louvois soldiers for Louis".
The Man in the Iron Mask, whose name was given as Eustache Dauger, is first mentioned in a letter written by Louvois, dated 19 July 1669.
The work of Louvois in these years is bound up with the historical development of the French army and of armies in general. Here need only be mentioned Louvois's reorganization of the military orders of merit, his foundation of the Hôtel des Invalides, and the almost forcible enrollment of the nobility and gentry of France, in which Louvois carried out part of Louis's measures for curbing the spirit of independence by service in the army or at court.
The success of his measures is to be seen in the victories of the Franco-Dutch War of 1672–78. After the Peace of Nijmegen Louvois was high in favour, his father had been made chancellor, and the influence of Colbert was waning. The ten years of peace between 1678 and 1688 were distinguished in French history by the rise of Madame de Maintenon, the capture of Strasbourg and the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, in all of which Louvois bore a prominent part. The surprise of Strasbourg in 1681 in time of peace was not only planned but executed by Louvois and Monclar. A saving clause in the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, which provided for some liberty of conscience, if not of worship, Louvois sharply annulled with the phrase "Sa majesté veut qu'on fasse sentir les dernières rigueurs a ceux qui ne voudront pas se faire de sa religion" ("His Majesty wishes the worst harshness on those who do not partake of his religion").
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Wikipedia