Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi
Encyclopedia
The Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi was the secretary of state
in France
during the "Ancien Régime" and Bourbon Restoration
in charge of the Département de la Maison du Roi. The exact composition of the ministry and the secretary's duties changed several times over the Early Modern period
, but in general, the Département de la Maison du Roi oversaw four main areas: the "Maison du Roi
", the "Bâtiments du Roi
", the General Affairs of the Clergy, (from 1749 on) Affairs of the RPR
("Religion Prétendue Réformée", i.e. the Huguenots), and the administration of Paris and the provinces. The post later reappeared as the Minister for the Maison du Roi
.
" ("département de la Guerre"), the "Département de la Maison du Roi" was the oldest of the specialized State Ministries, created in 1570 by Charles IX
who reunited -- under the control of Simon Fizes de Sauve -- the "ordinaire des guerres" and the Military Maison du Roi. Both departments were dissociated in 1594: Nicolas de Neufville, seigneur de Villeroy
took over the Departement of Foreign Affairs
and the Department of War, while Martin Ruzé de Beaulieu
took over the Maison du Roi.
In 1661, the departement was expanded to include Religious Affairs. In 1669, Jean-Baptiste Colbert
bought the post from Henri de Guénégaud du Plessis-Belleville, and thus combined under his control the Maison du Roi with the Department of the Navy
and the position of Contrôleur général des finances (chief financial officer of the realm). The Secretary of the Department of the Maison du Roi and Contrôleur général des finances would be linked only until 1699, but the Maison du roi and Religious Affairs would remain linked with Department of the Navy until 1749 (except for a brief separation from 1715-1718).
After the downfall of Maurepas
in 1749, the Department was broken apart: the Department of the Navy was made into its own Department and given to Rouillé
while the Department of the Maison du Roi and of Religious Affairs
was given over to comte de Saint-Florentin
.
The offices of the department were few: only four buildings in 1771, five in 1789. The department's archives are stored in two places: the Grands Augustins and the Louvre
.
" (Household of the King) was the name of the military, domestic and religious entourage around the royal family in France. In essence, the Secretary's oversight was purely formal, as the officers of the "Maison du Roi" were under the direct authority of the Grand Maître of France (Chief Steward of France). Moreover, in practice, the military branch of the Maison du Roi was run by the Minister of War. The "Secrétaire d'État à la Maison du Roi" was however in charge of recruiting officers for the "Maison du Roi", and would receive prospective applications for posts and submit them to the king for his approval.
" (Buildings of the King), run by (at various periods) a superintendent or directeur général of buildings. The service was responsible for the royal residences and for royal patronage of architecture, painting and sculpture. It also ran the Manufacture des Gobelins, the Manufacture de la Savonnerie and the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres
.
The Secretary also oversaw (either directly or through the service of the Bâtiments du Roi) cultural and scientific institutions such as the Bibliothèque du Roi
, the Paris Observatory
, the Jardin des Plantes
, the Collège royal
, French academies
and royal entertainment. He was also in charge of buildings chosen for the États généraux
.
In 1749 the Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi was combined with the Secretary of State for Protestant Affairs
in charge of the overseeing French Protestant affairs, although the two departments remained distinct.
From 1589, and excepting the period 1749-1757, the position was also in charge of the city of Paris
(lighting of streets, cleaning of streets, repression of beggars, oversight in moral affairs, foreigners, censurship of books, surveillance of newspapers and of public entertainment. In this role, he worked in collaboration with the lieutenant général de police and his administration.
family.
Secretary of State (Ancien Régime)
The Secretary of State was the name of several official governmental positions – supervising war, foreign affairs, the navy, the king's household, the clergy, Paris, and Protestant affairs – during the Ancien Régime in France, roughly equivalent to the positions of governmental...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during the "Ancien Régime" and Bourbon Restoration
Bourbon Restoration
The Bourbon Restoration is the name given to the period following the successive events of the French Revolution , the end of the First Republic , and then the forcible end of the First French Empire under Napoleon – when a coalition of European powers restored by arms the monarchy to the...
in charge of the Département de la Maison du Roi. The exact composition of the ministry and the secretary's duties changed several times over the Early Modern period
Early Modern France
Kingdom of France is the early modern period of French history from the end of the 15th century to the end of the 18th century...
, but in general, the Département de la Maison du Roi oversaw four main areas: the "Maison du Roi
Maison du Roi
The Maison du Roi was the name of the military, domestic and religious entourage around the royal family in France during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration; the exact composition and duties of its various divisions changed constantly over the Early Modern period...
", the "Bâtiments du Roi
Bâtiments du Roi
The Bâtiments du Roi was a division of Department of the household of the Kings of France in France under the Ancien Régime. It was responsible for building works at the King's residences in and around Paris.-History:...
", the General Affairs of the Clergy, (from 1749 on) Affairs of the RPR
Secretary of State for Protestant Affairs
The Secretary of State for Protestant Affairs , was the secretary of state in France during the "Ancien Régime" and Bourbon Restoration in charge of overseeing French Protestant affairs...
("Religion Prétendue Réformée", i.e. the Huguenots), and the administration of Paris and the provinces. The post later reappeared as the Minister for the Maison du Roi
Minister for the Maison du Roi
The Minister for the Maison du Roi was a cabinet role under the French monarchy, conferring leadership of the Maison du Roi.- Ancien Régime :...
.
History
Starting in the 16th century and then from the 17th century on, the "Maison du Roi" was overseen by a ministry, the "Département de la Maison du Roi", directed by a secretary of state, the "Secrétaire d'État à la Maison du Roi". Along with the "Department of WarSecretary of State for War (France)
The Secretary of State for War was one of the four or five specialized secretaries of state in France during the Ancien Régime. The position was responsible for the Army and for overseeing French border provinces...
" ("département de la Guerre"), the "Département de la Maison du Roi" was the oldest of the specialized State Ministries, created in 1570 by Charles IX
Charles IX of France
Charles IX was King of France, ruling from 1560 until his death. His reign was dominated by the Wars of Religion. He is best known as king at the time of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.-Childhood:...
who reunited -- under the control of Simon Fizes de Sauve -- the "ordinaire des guerres" and the Military Maison du Roi. Both departments were dissociated in 1594: Nicolas de Neufville, seigneur de Villeroy
Nicolas de Neufville, seigneur de Villeroy
Nicolas de Neufville, seigneur de Villeroy was a secretary of state under four kings of France: Charles IX, Henry III, Henry IV, and Louis XIII. The most distinguished of all sixteenth-century French secretaries, Villeroy rose to prominence during the French Wars of Religion, a period of almost...
took over the Departement of Foreign Affairs
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (France)
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs was one of the four or five specialized secretaries of state in France during the Ancien Régime. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs became a Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1791.-See also:...
and the Department of War, while Martin Ruzé de Beaulieu
Martin Ruzé de Beaulieu
Martin Ruzé de Beaulieu, Lord of Beaulieu of Longjumeau and Chilly was a French politician of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century, who was Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi under Henry III of France, Henry IV of France and Louis XIII.-Biography :He was the son of William Ruzé,...
took over the Maison du Roi.
In 1661, the departement was expanded to include Religious Affairs. In 1669, Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Jean-Baptiste Colbert was a French politician who served as the Minister of Finances of France from 1665 to 1683 under the rule of King Louis XIV. His relentless hard work and thrift made him an esteemed minister. He achieved a reputation for his work of improving the state of French manufacturing...
bought the post from Henri de Guénégaud du Plessis-Belleville, and thus combined under his control the Maison du Roi with the Department of the Navy
Secretary of State of the Navy (France)
The Secretary of State of the Navy was one of the four or five specialized secretaries of state in France during the Ancien Régime. This Secretary of State was responsible for the French navy and for French colonies...
and the position of Contrôleur général des finances (chief financial officer of the realm). The Secretary of the Department of the Maison du Roi and Contrôleur général des finances would be linked only until 1699, but the Maison du roi and Religious Affairs would remain linked with Department of the Navy until 1749 (except for a brief separation from 1715-1718).
After the downfall of Maurepas
Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, comte de Maurepas
Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, comte de Maurepas was a French statesman.He was born at Versailles, the son of Jérôme Phélypeaux, secretary of state for the marine and the royal household...
in 1749, the Department was broken apart: the Department of the Navy was made into its own Department and given to Rouillé
Antoine Louis Rouillé
Antoine-Louis Rouillé, comte de Jouy was a French statesman and comte of Jouy-en-Josas.Born in Paris, the son of the diplomat Pierre Rouillé, he was in succession conseiller to the parlement de Paris , maître des requêtes , intendant of commerce , conseiller d'État and finally commissaire to the...
while the Department of the Maison du Roi and of Religious Affairs
was given over to comte de Saint-Florentin
Louis Phélypeaux (1705-1777)
Louis Phélypeaux comte de Saint-Florentin, marquis and duc de La Vrillière , was a French politician.Son of Louis Phélypeaux, marquis de La Vrillière, and Françoise de Mailly-Nesle , he succeeded his father as minister for the "so-called Reformed religion", that is with responsibility for Huguenots...
.
The offices of the department were few: only four buildings in 1771, five in 1789. The department's archives are stored in two places: the Grands Augustins and the Louvre
Palais du Louvre
The Louvre Palace , on the Right Bank of the Seine in Paris, is a former royal palace situated between the Tuileries Gardens and the church of Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois...
.
The Maison du Roi
The "Maison du RoiMaison du Roi
The Maison du Roi was the name of the military, domestic and religious entourage around the royal family in France during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration; the exact composition and duties of its various divisions changed constantly over the Early Modern period...
" (Household of the King) was the name of the military, domestic and religious entourage around the royal family in France. In essence, the Secretary's oversight was purely formal, as the officers of the "Maison du Roi" were under the direct authority of the Grand Maître of France (Chief Steward of France). Moreover, in practice, the military branch of the Maison du Roi was run by the Minister of War. The "Secrétaire d'État à la Maison du Roi" was however in charge of recruiting officers for the "Maison du Roi", and would receive prospective applications for posts and submit them to the king for his approval.
The King's Buildings
The Secrétaire d'État à la Maison du Roi oversaw the "Bâtiments du RoiBâtiments du Roi
The Bâtiments du Roi was a division of Department of the household of the Kings of France in France under the Ancien Régime. It was responsible for building works at the King's residences in and around Paris.-History:...
" (Buildings of the King), run by (at various periods) a superintendent or directeur général of buildings. The service was responsible for the royal residences and for royal patronage of architecture, painting and sculpture. It also ran the Manufacture des Gobelins, the Manufacture de la Savonnerie and the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres
Manufacture nationale de Sèvres
The manufacture nationale de Sèvres is a Frit porcelain porcelain tendre factory at Sèvres, France. Formerly a royal, then an imperial factory, the facility is now run by the Ministry of Culture.-Brief history:...
.
The Secretary also oversaw (either directly or through the service of the Bâtiments du Roi) cultural and scientific institutions such as the Bibliothèque du Roi
Bibliothèque nationale de France
The is the National Library of France, located in Paris. It is intended to be the repository of all that is published in France. The current president of the library is Bruno Racine.-History:...
, the Paris Observatory
Paris Observatory
The Paris Observatory is the foremost astronomical observatory of France, and one of the largest astronomical centres in the world...
, the Jardin des Plantes
Jardin des Plantes
The Jardin des Plantes is the main botanical garden in France. It is one of seven departments of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle. It is situated in the 5ème arrondissement, Paris, on the left bank of the river Seine and covers 28 hectares .- Garden plan :The grounds of the Jardin des...
, the Collège royal
Collège de France
The Collège de France is a higher education and research establishment located in Paris, France, in the 5th arrondissement, or Latin Quarter, across the street from the historical campus of La Sorbonne at the intersection of Rue Saint-Jacques and Rue des Écoles...
, French academies
French art salons and academies
From the seventeenth century to the early part of the twentieth century, artistic production in France was controlled by artistic academies which organized official exhibitions called salons...
and royal entertainment. He was also in charge of buildings chosen for the États généraux
French States-General
In France under the Old Regime, the States-General or Estates-General , was a legislative assembly of the different classes of French subjects. It had a separate assembly for each of the three estates, which were called and dismissed by the king...
.
Religious Affairs
The Secrétaire d'État à la Maison du Roi was in charge of religious benefices. He oversaw the conduct of bishops, the elections of abbys and of the heads of French religious orders. He was in charge of relations between the government and the clergy.In 1749 the Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi was combined with the Secretary of State for Protestant Affairs
Secretary of State for Protestant Affairs
The Secretary of State for Protestant Affairs , was the secretary of state in France during the "Ancien Régime" and Bourbon Restoration in charge of overseeing French Protestant affairs...
in charge of the overseeing French Protestant affairs, although the two departments remained distinct.
Administration of Paris and the provinces
The Secrétaire d'État à la Maison du Roi was also in charge of the policing and general administration of French provinces (at first those with provincial estates or "pays d'état", and eventually over all other internal provinces), except for border regions (which were supervised by the Department of War).From 1589, and excepting the period 1749-1757, the position was also in charge of the city of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(lighting of streets, cleaning of streets, repression of beggars, oversight in moral affairs, foreigners, censurship of books, surveillance of newspapers and of public entertainment. In this role, he worked in collaboration with the lieutenant général de police and his administration.
Secretaries of State of the "Maison du Roi"
The Department of the "Maison du Roi" was dominated, from 1690 to 1775, by the PhélypeauxPhélypeaux
Phélypeaux is the name of a French family from Blésois region . Its two principal branches were those of the lords of Herbault, La Vrillière, and Saint Florentin, and of the counts of Pontchartrain and Maurepas...
family.
- 1570-1579 : Simon Fizes de Sauve
- 1588-1613 : Martin Ruzé de BeaulieuMartin Ruzé de BeaulieuMartin Ruzé de Beaulieu, Lord of Beaulieu of Longjumeau and Chilly was a French politician of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century, who was Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi under Henry III of France, Henry IV of France and Louis XIII.-Biography :He was the son of William Ruzé,...
- 1606-1638 : Antoine de LoménieAntoine de LoménieAntoine de Lomenie, lord of La Ville-aux-Clerics was a Secretary of the Navy under Louis XIII of 7 November 1613 to 10 August 1615, and Ambassador Extraordinary of France to England....
- 1615-1643 : Henri-Auguste de Loménie, comte de BrienneHenri-Auguste de Loménie, comte de BrienneHenri-Auguste de Loménie, , Count of Brienne, Seigneur de La Ville-aux-Clercs was a French politician. He was secretary of state for the navy from 1615 to February 1643, and then secretary of state for foreign affairs from 1643 to 1663 under Mazarin during the minority of Louis XIV...
- 1643-1669 : Henry de GuénegaudHenry de GuénegaudHenri du Plessis-Guénégaud, Lord of the Plessis-Belleville, Marquis de La Garnache was a French scholar who was Secretary of State of the royal household, and Naval Minister.-Family:...
- 1669-1683 : Jean-Baptiste ColbertJean-Baptiste ColbertJean-Baptiste Colbert was a French politician who served as the Minister of Finances of France from 1665 to 1683 under the rule of King Louis XIV. His relentless hard work and thrift made him an esteemed minister. He achieved a reputation for his work of improving the state of French manufacturing...
(1619-1683), who was also Contrôleur général des finances, Secrétaire d'État à la Marine, Surintendant des bâtiments, arts et manufactures. - 1672-1690 : Jean-Baptiste Colbert, marquis de SeignelayJean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de SeignelayJean-Baptiste Antoine Colbert, Marquis de Seignelay was a French politician. He was the eldest son of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, nephew of Charles Colbert de Croissy and cousin of Jean-Baptiste Colbert de Torcy....
- 1690-1699 : Louis Phélypeaux (1643-1727)Louis Phélypeaux (1643-1727)Louis Phélypeaux , marquis de Phélypeaux , comte de Maurepas , comte de Pontchartrain , known as the chancellor de Pontchartrain, was a French politician....
, comte de Pontchartrain, who was also Contrôleur général des finances and Secrétaire d'État à la Marine. - 1699-1715 : Jérôme PhélypeauxJérôme PhélypeauxJérôme Phélypeaux , comte de Pontchartrain, was a French politician, son of Louis Phélypeaux.He served as a councillor to the parlement of Paris from 1692, and served with his father as Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi and Navy Minster from 1699 onwards...
(1674-1747), comte de Pontchartrain, who was also Secrétaire d'État à la Marine - 1715-1718 : Louis Phélypeaux (1672-1725)Louis Phélypeaux (1672-1725)Louis Phélypeaux , marquis de La Vrillière, was a French politician.He succeeded his father Balthazar Phélypeaux as minister for the "so-called Reformed religion", that is with responsibility for Huguenots in 1700...
, marquis de La Vrillière - 1718-1749 : Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, comte de MaurepasJean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, comte de MaurepasJean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, comte de Maurepas was a French statesman.He was born at Versailles, the son of Jérôme Phélypeaux, secretary of state for the marine and the royal household...
(1701-1781), who was also Secrétaire d'État à la Marine (1723-1749) - 1749-1775 : Louis Phélypeaux (1705-1777)Louis Phélypeaux (1705-1777)Louis Phélypeaux comte de Saint-Florentin, marquis and duc de La Vrillière , was a French politician.Son of Louis Phélypeaux, marquis de La Vrillière, and Françoise de Mailly-Nesle , he succeeded his father as minister for the "so-called Reformed religion", that is with responsibility for Huguenots...
, marquis then duc de La Vrillière, comte de Saint-Florentin - 1775-1776 : Guillaume-Chrétien de Lamoignon de MalesherbesGuillaume-Chrétien de Lamoignon de MalesherbesGuillaume-Chrétien de Lamoignon de Malesherbes , often referred to as Malesherbes or Lamoignon-Malesherbes, was a French statesman, minister, and afterwards counsel for the defence of Louis XVI.-Biography:...
- 1776-1783 : Antoine-Jean Amelot de ChaillouAntoine-Jean Amelot de ChaillouAntoine-Jean Amelot de Chaillou was a French politician....
- 1783-1787 : Louis Auguste Le Tonnelier de BreteuilLouis Auguste Le Tonnelier de BreteuilLouis Charles Auguste le Tonnelier, baron de Breteuil, baron de Preuilly was a French aristocrat, diplomat, statesman and politician...
- 1788-1789 : Pierre-Charles Laurent de Villedeuil
- 1789-1791 : François-Emmanuel Guignard, comte de Saint-PriestFrançois-Emmanuel Guignard, comte de Saint-PriestFrançois-Emmanuel Guignard, comte de Saint-Priest , was a French politician and diplomat during the Ancien Régime and French Revolution.-Early career:...
See also
- Great Officers of the Crown of FranceGreat Officers of the Crown of FranceThe Great Officers of the Crown of France, known as the Grand Dignitaries of the Empire during the French Empire, were the most important officers of state of the royal court in France during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration. They were appointed by the French monarch, with all but the...
- Secretary of State (Ancien Régime)Secretary of State (Ancien Régime)The Secretary of State was the name of several official governmental positions – supervising war, foreign affairs, the navy, the king's household, the clergy, Paris, and Protestant affairs – during the Ancien Régime in France, roughly equivalent to the positions of governmental...
- French nobilityFrench nobilityThe French nobility was the privileged order of France in the Middle Ages and the Early Modern periods.In the political system of the Estates General, the nobility made up the Second Estate...
- Early Modern FranceEarly Modern FranceKingdom of France is the early modern period of French history from the end of the 15th century to the end of the 18th century...
- Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (France)Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (France)The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs was one of the four or five specialized secretaries of state in France during the Ancien Régime. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs became a Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1791.-See also:...
- Secretary of State for War (France)Secretary of State for War (France)The Secretary of State for War was one of the four or five specialized secretaries of state in France during the Ancien Régime. The position was responsible for the Army and for overseeing French border provinces...
- Secretary of State of the Navy (France)Secretary of State of the Navy (France)The Secretary of State of the Navy was one of the four or five specialized secretaries of state in France during the Ancien Régime. This Secretary of State was responsible for the French navy and for French colonies...
- Secretary of State for Protestant AffairsSecretary of State for Protestant AffairsThe Secretary of State for Protestant Affairs , was the secretary of state in France during the "Ancien Régime" and Bourbon Restoration in charge of overseeing French Protestant affairs...
- Ancien Régime in FranceAncien Régime in FranceThe Ancien Régime refers primarily to the aristocratic, social and political system established in France from the 15th century to the 18th century under the late Valois and Bourbon dynasties...