27:
756:, it was an extremely small council bringing together the first minister (when one existed), the chancellor, the superintendent of finances, one secretary of state and the ministers of state (counsellors appointed by the king). The council's purview was very large. At the beginning of Louis XIV's reign, the number of members was increased: in addition to the ministers of state, the council included members of the royal family, princes of the royal bloodline ("princes du sang") and dukes with peerage ("duc et pair").
468:. The Grand Conseil became thus a superior court of justice (that the king did not attend) with its own legal and judicial personnel and with a purview over contentious affairs submitted directly to the king (affairs of "justice retenue", or "justice reserved" for the king). This removal of the Grand Conseil from the council apparatus permitted the remaining sections of the council to focus on political and administrative affairs, but the need for further subsections continued.
418:, royal administration was divided between the various sections of the King's Council (roughly 130 people) and a small group of ministers and secretaries of state. The royal governmental councils (see below) were the most important and were presided by the king personally. Despite popular opinion, the king did in fact listen to his counsellors and often adopted the opinion of the majority: according to
807:, and thus dealt with domestic affairs coming under the purview of all four Secretaries of State. Created in 1650, it was originally presided by the Chancellor, but the King began to preside it himself from 1661 on. This council was made up of ten to twelve members: the first minister (when one existed), the crown prince, the chancellor, the ministers of state and the secretaries of state, the
983:
Council acted as a supreme court, pronounced judgements on the various sovereign courts of the realm (including the parlements and the "Grand
Conseil"), and provided final judicial review and interpretation of law (the process of so-called "Ă©vocation), oversight of the judicial corps, and judged disputes on royal offices, church benefices and problems between Catholics and Protestants.
723:
to prevent any interruptions or spies, as the meetings were secret. The meetings took place around an oval table with the king at one end, seated in an armchair; all other members were seated on folding stools (these folding chairs were symbolic of the council's itinerant nature, as the council was held to follow the king wherever he went).
526:" ("Council of Parties", i.e. the party in a legal suit). In theory, the king exercised justice in this council with his regular counsellors, but in fact the council was presided by the chancellor and was furnished with a corps of legal personnel who dealt with Privy Council matters (the five presidents of the
1070:
Meetings of the King's
Council were first planned by ministerial services, and then by the king with his secretaries and ministers. But for a time in the 18th century, agendas and meetings came to be planned in a committee called the "Committee of ministers", consisting of the members of the "Conseil
982:
The main area of jurisdiction of the "Conseil privé" was civil trials between individuals (especially in cases involving the prestigious families and possible conflicts of interest among parlementary judges) and conflicts of judicial or administrative jurisdiction. Like the "Grand
Conseil", the Privy
818:
Under Louis XV, the
Conseil des DĂ©pĂȘches was very active and became, for domestic affairs, the equivalent of the "Conseil d'En-haut" for foreign affairs. The council met every Saturday, and sometimes on Friday, but also came together for additional meetings, some for several days in a row, as was the
744:
Known variously as the "Conseil des affaires", "Conseil d'en haut" ("Upper
Council") or "Conseil d'Ătat" ("State Council"), this was the most important of the royal councils and discussed the most important affairs of state. It was more or less the equivalent of today's Council of Ministers. The name
722:
These councils met in the King's
Apartment, in a room called the "Cabinet du Conseil" (present in all royal residences). Members were informed of meeting times by the king and the cabinet bailiffs, and at the beginning of the session the doors of the cabinet were closed and were guarded from outside,
564:
Despite these divisions into subcouncils, from a judicial point of view these various sections were all aspects of the same
Council, and the decisions of the various sections were all considered to reflect the king's wishes. Even when the king was not in fact present as his councils, there were still
1026:
The Privy
Council met on Mondays in a special room, the "salle du Conseil" which was outside the King's apartment. At Versailles, this room was on the ground floor of the "Old Wing" and gave out on to the Marble Courtyard "(Cour de Marbre") and the Prince's Courtyard. Counsellors sat on armchairs of
759:
From 1661 on, Louis XIV reorganized the council and eliminated the use of regular or open membership to its meetings. Henceforth, no one, not even the crown prince (the "dauphin") could attend without an invitation, and attendance to the council meetings was given on a per-meeting basis with members
726:
The king opened sessions by raising questions or by giving the floor to one of the members. Each member added to the discussion in the ascending order of their rank. Discussions concluded with a vote of the council's opinion (in the same ascending order; the vote was called "aller aux opinions"). In
513:
In the 16th century, with the Grand
Conseil being a completely autonomous court of justice separated from the king's council, the need was seen for certain judicial affairs to be discussed and judged within the council. These special session trials gave rise to a new section of the Council of State
978:
It was first created in 1557. With the "Grand
Conseil" being a completely autonomous court of justice separated from the king's council, the need was seen for certain judicial affairs to be discussed and judged within the king's council, especially those in which the impartiality of the courts was
814:
The council met originally twice a week. Under Louis XIV, the schedule was slowed down, as the king had gotten into the habit of discussing these matters with his one-on-one meetings with his ministers; decisions taken were presented as "arrĂȘts en commandement" even if they had not been officially
509:
and ended as a supreme court for legal disputes concerning royal administration and appeals on decisions from sovereign courts concerning finances and taxation. By the late 17th century, the council's role as adjudicator in administrative disputes was subsumed by the "Conseil d'Ătat privĂ©" and its
916:
In the early 17th century, legal disputes concerning financial matters were overseen by the "Conseil d'Ătat et des finances" (see Judicial and Administrative Councils below), although from 1665 on its financial purview was reduced as the chancellor was gradually excluded from financial decisions.
537:
The Privy Council acted as a supreme court, pronouncing judgements on the various sovereign courts of the realm (including the parlements and the Grand Conseil), and provided final judicial review and interpretation of law (the request for which was called "Ă©vocation"), oversight of the judicial
1034:
Before coming before a judicial session, affairs were submitted to the council by a maĂźtre des requĂȘtes and studied by a group of state counsellors. Special offices were created according to the matters discussed (there was thus a bureau of ecclesiastical affairs) or the type of judicial action
386:
The most important matters of state were discussed in a smaller council of 6 or fewer members (3 members in 1535, 4 in 1554), while the larger council was consulted for judicial or financial affairs. Francis I was sometimes criticized for relying too heavily on a small number of advisors, while
951:
and ended as a supreme court for legal disputes concerning royal administration and appeals on decisions from sovereign courts concerning finances and taxation. The council had the same members as the "Conseil privé" (see below), but the "contrÎleur général des finances" played a greater role.
200:
The council had only a consultational role: the final decision was always the king's. Although jurists frequently praised (especially in the 16th century) the advantages of consultative government (with the agreement of his counsellors, the king could more easily impose the most severe of his
994:
The king rarely attended the Privy Council. Louis XIV came occasionally at the start of this reign, but Louis XV only attended two meetings (in 1762 and 1766). The king's empty armchair symbolized his presence. The council was presided by the chancellor seated to the right of the royal chair.
925:
The "Conseil royal de commerce" was created in 1664 as an equivalent to the Council of Finances, but it disappeared in 1676, and reappeared in 1730. This council was never fully able to stand out from the other councils and its influence was minor. In 1787, it was reunited with the Council of
946:
The Council of State and Finances ("Conseil d'Ătat et des finances" or "Conseil ordinaire des finances") was created in the beginning of the 17th century with various governmental oversight functions, including over financial matters. The council lost in its prestige during the reign of
1035:
requested (there was a bureau of "cassation" or appeals). In the case of matters concerning the acts of sovereign courts, the council generally began by asking the parlementary prosecutor or judge who had written the lower court decision to first present his reasons before the council.
216:
The council's purview concerned all matters pertaining to government and royal administration, both in times of war and of peace. In his council, the king received ambassadors, signed treaties, appointed administrators and gave them instructions (called, from the 12th century on,
735:
followed the same general rules but frequently interrupted discussion when it seemed to be going in a direction he disagreed with, rather than choose to go against the final opinion of the council. Meetings were typically longer than two hours and could go far longer.
695:
The King's Council also included various commissions and bureaus. In addition to the above administrative institutions, the king was also surrounded by an extensive personal and court retinue (royal family, valets, guards, honorific officers), regrouped under the name
1133:, etc. â exerted a powerful control over state administration in the 17th and 18th century. The title "principal ministre de l'Ă©tat" was however only given six times in this period and Louis XIV himself refused to choose a "prime minister" after the death of Mazarin.
1081:
knew the risk of this committee, and in 1747 he mandated that the committee could not meet without his express permission, and generally to prepare decisions already decided on in council. In this way, meetings of the committee of ministers became far less frequent.
979:
called into question. These special session trials gave rise to a new section of the king's council overseeing contentious issues, which took the name "Conseil privé" ("Privy Council") or "Conseil des parties" ("Council of Parties", i.e. the party in a legal suit).
339:, steadily increased as the technical aspects of the matters studied in the council mandated specialized counsellers. Coming from the lesser nobility or the bourgeoisie, these jurists (whose positions sometimes gave them or their heirs nobility, as the so-called "
490:" ("Council of State"), but lost in its prestige, all the more so given that the king no longer regularly attended its sessions; in his absence the large council was presided by the chancellor. After 1643, the "Conseil des Affairs" was generally known as the "
908:
Until 1715, the council met twice a week. After this date, financial decisions were made by the king in one-on-one meetings with the contrÎleur général des finances, and the council merely rubber-stamped their decisions without much debate. Under the Regent
328:). In the 16th century, those "grands" with administrative or governmental competencies (religious dignitaries, presidents of provincial courts, etc.) were called to the council by a special certificate (or "brevet") and were termed "conseillers Ă brevet".
986:
Before the late 17th century, the "Conseil privĂ©" was the solely a judicial council, but at that time it took over affairs of administrative disputes from the "Conseil d'Ătat et des finances" (which ceased to exist as such). This new council, called the
545:
Before the late 17th century, the "Conseil privĂ©" was solely a judicial council, but at that time it took over affairs of administrative disputes from the "Conseil d'Ătat et des finances" (which ceased to exist as such). This new council, called the
565:
considered to be presided over by him, and only the closing formula of their decisions changed: the expression "le Roi en son Conseil" was used when the king was not present at the meeting, the expression "le Roi Ă©tant en son Conseil" when he was.
974:
Known variously as the "Conseil privĂ©" or "Conseil d'Ătat privĂ©", or "Conseil des parties", the Privy Council was the main body for decisions on France's judicial system, and as such it was roughly the equivalent of today's Conseil d'Ătat.
568:
The subcouncils of the King's Council can be generally grouped as "governmental councils", "financial councils" and "judicial and administrative councils". With the names and subdivisions of the 17th â 18th century, these subcouncils were:
1022:
of finance. In general however, only the counsellors of state, the maĂźtres des requĂȘtes and (at times) the intendants of finances attended regularly. Meetings were composed of generally 40 or so members, and rarely more than 60 members.
1061:
The "Petite Direction" consisted of roughly ten people and was created to prepare the work of the "Grand Direction" and to reduce its case load by judging the simplest of cases. It met irregularly, and disappeared around 1767.
347:
and royal administration which would – because of their permanence – provide a sense of stability and continuity to the royal council, despite its many reorganizations. These counsellors, called
791:, was generally focused on foreign affairs, naval and military affairs and, during times of war, military operations. At this time, the Council of Messages ("Conseil des DĂ©pĂȘches") took over direction of domestic politics.
283:
close relations to the king, including younger sons, grandsons and princes of the royal bloodline ("prince du sang") from junior branches of the family â these individuals were often suspected of political ambition and of
201:
decisions, or he could have his most unpopular decisions blamed on his counsellors), mainstream legal opinion never held that the king was bound by the decisions of his council. The opposite was however put forward by the
1071:
d'En-haut" or of the "Conseil des DĂ©pĂȘches" meeting without the king. Although there had been antecedents of this committee during the reign of Louis XIV and the Regency, it became a regular institution in 1737 under the
602:("Council of Conscience", concerning religious affairs and episcopal appointments) â composed of the king, the "Principal Ministre de l'Ătat" when there was one and some other cardinals and bishops chosen by the monarch.
245:) and the Provincial Estates. The Parliament of Paris – as indeed all of the sovereign courts of the realm – was itself born out of the King's Council: originally a consultative body of the
279:
the queen (both as queen consort or as queen mother) â the influence of the queen lost direct political control as early as the 13th century, except in periods of regency; thus the queen only exceptionally attended the
434:
Over time, the council began progressively to divide intself into separate subcouncils according to the affairs to be discussed. As early as the 13th century, one can distinguish a small council of a few members â the
1027:
black leather, while the maĂźtres des requĂȘtes remained standing. After each session, the chancellor dined with the counsellors (called "Messieurs du Conseil"). The Privy Council was on vacation from October to the
760:
needing to be reinvited to attend any subsequent meetings. The most frequent members of the council were the secretaries of state. In the beginning, Louis XIV admitted only three members regularly to the council (
745:"Conseil d'en haut" by which it was known from 1643 on (replacing the "Conseil des Affaires" of the 16th century) came from the fact that the council met in the "Cabinet of Council" on the second floor of the
938:, and the king himself rarely attended their meetings, although all acts of these councils were considered to derive from him and the chancellor was considered the "king's mouthpiece" ("la bouche du Roi").
794:
The council was held on Sundays and Wednesdays, but additional meetings were frequent, especially in times of war. In all, the council met on an average 120 to 130 times a year, and more in some years.
1098:
the administrative apparatus of the court and its councils was expanded and the proportion of the "noblesse de robe" increased, culminating in the following positions during the 17th century:
482:, a secretary of commandments and several other close confidants â to deal with political and diplomatic issues, including war. The remaining large council (of 50â60 members) took the name of
913:
and then under Louis XV, the council met every Tuesday. From around 1728â1730, its rhythm slowed to less than once a week, and during the years 1730â1740, it met only once every two weeks.
227:). The council also served as a supreme court and rendered royal justice on those matters that the king reserved for himself (so-called "justice retenue") or decided to discuss personally.
538:
corps, and judged disputes on royal offices, church benefices and problems between Catholics and Protestants. In this way, the Conseil privé was roughly the predecessor of the present-day
657:("Privy Council" or "Council of State", concerning the judicial system, officially instituted in 1557) â the largest of the royal councils, composed of the chancellor, the dukes with
1282:
With the civil wars of the early modern period, the king increasing turned to more tractable and subservient emissaries, and this was the reason for the growth of the provincial
145:), and this principle was maintained by his successors; the closing formula of royal acts "le roi en son conseil" expressed this deliberative aspect. Even during the period of
288:
The feudal aristocracy would maintain great control over the king's council up until the 14th and 15th centuries. The most important positions in the court were those of the
707:
abandoned several of the above administrative structures, most notably the Secretaries of State, which were replaced by councils. This system of government, called the
955:
The council began to fall out of use in 1665 and it disappeared entirely between 1680 and 1690. With the chancellor removed from the direction of financial affairs,
963:
decided in the collegial atmosphere at the Control General and in the "Conseil des finances", thus dispensing of debates in the "Conseil d'Ătat et des finances".
991:", was divided into three sections which met separately: the "Conseil des parties", the "Grande direction des finances" and the "Petite direction des finances."
550:", was divided into three sections which met separately: the "Conseil des parties", the "Grande direction des finances" and the "Petite direction des finances."
592:("Council of Messages", concerning notices and administrative reports from the provinces) â composed of the king, the chancellor, the secretaries of state, the
895:
The council was made up of the king, the "chef du conseil des finances" (an honorary, but well-paid, post), the crown prince, occasionally the chancellor, the
1058:
The "Grande Direction" was the direct successor to the "Conseil de direction des finances" (supra), but had a minor role and only met 6 to 12 times a year.
233:
In addition to the King's Council, the consultative governing of the country also depended on other intermittent and permanent institutions, such as the
383:
the total number of councillors increased to roughly 70 individuals (the old nobility was proportionally more important than in the previous century).
1368:
998:
The council was the largest of the royal councils, and was composed of the chancellor, princes of the royal bloodline ("princes du sang"), dukes with
885:
1279:(who represented "the presence of the king in his province"), positions which had long been held by only the highest ranked families in the realm.
1273:
served only a judicial function. The main source of royal administrative power in the provinces in the 16th and early 17th centuries fell to the
1168:
844:. The council was kept after 1723 and met on Thursdays. Very busy until 1730, this council saw its influence decrease with the rise to power of
966:
By the late 17th century, the council's role as adjudicator in administrative disputes was subsumed by the "Conseil d'Ătat privĂ©" (see below).
803:
The "Conseil des DĂ©pĂȘches" ("Council of Messages") oversaw the notices and administrative reports from the provinces sent by the governors and
582:("High Council", concerning the most important matters of state) â composed of the king, the crown prince (the "dauphin"), the chancellor, the
56:
1244:
166:") and administrative professionals â replaced the feudal clientele system. The exact divisions and names of these councils varied over time.
823:
parlementaire under Louis XV. In this way, the council met fifty times a year, and more than seventy times a year during periods of crisis.
848:, and the council disappeared finally in 1733. Presided by the king, it brought together the first minister (when one existed) and several
1187:(the king's royal entourage and personal military guard), who also oversaw the clergy, the affairs of Paris and the non-border provinces.
719:
Governmental councils were always presided by the King in person. Decisions made in these councils were called "arrĂȘts en commandement".
1130:
343:" or chancellor nobles) helped in preparing and putting into legal form the king's decisions. They formed the early elements of a true
1303:
1190:
934:
The divisions of the King's Council concerning contentious legal, administrative and judicial affairs were generally presided by the
249:, later (in the thirteenth century) endowed with judicial functions, the Parliament was separated from the King's Council in 1254.
193:), but only in the 12th century did this deliberation take the form of a specific institution called the King's Court (Latin: the "
884:
The Council of Finances' purview was large; it dealt with the royal budget, taxation, industry, commerce, money, contracts to the
137:
One of the established principles of the French monarchy was that the king could not act without the advice of his council. Under
1184:
1179:
616:("Royal Council of Finances") â composed of the king, the "chef du conseil des finances" (an honorary post), the chancellor, the
897:
510:
financial oversight was largely taken over by the later "Conseil royal des finances" and by the Controller-General of Finances.
403:
families in their council. In periods of crisis, the number of members of the Council tended to increase: 100 councillors under
257:
The composition of the King's Council changed constantly over the centuries and according to the needs and desires of the king.
367:
In their attempts at greater efficiency, the kings tried to reduce the number of counsellors or to convoke "reduced councils".
1106:
289:
1158:
959:
was able to replace the maĂźtres des requĂȘtes in the council by his own intendants of finances, and financial decisions were
419:
230:
Council meetings, initially irregular, took on a regular schedule which became daily from the middle of the 15th century.
160:
went through a long evolution, as a truly administrative apparatus â relying on old nobility, newer chancellor nobility ("
1173:
1055:. The "Grand Direction" was overseen by the chancellor and the "Petite Direction" by the "chef du conseil des finances".
462:
in 1498, removed this body from the king's council and established it as an autonomous court with the institutional name
1337:
1102:
78:
49:
223:
1047:) took over the purview of the "Conseil d'Ătat et des finances" on fiscal legal disputes. They were composed of
910:
832:
704:
1142:
877:. Before 1661, fiscal matters were treated in the "Conseil de direction des finances", created in 1615, under
1363:
187:, etc.) before making important decisions (in the early Middle Ages, this entourage was sometimes called the
124:
designed to prepare his decisions and to advise him. It should not be confused with the role and title of a "
557:" was created to deal with notices and administrative reports from the provinces sent by the governors and
1269:
in the Middle Ages, but this declined in the early modern period, and by the end of the 18th century, the
146:
870:
1126:
1072:
845:
141:, it was put forward that the king made decisions only after "good and careful deliberation" (French:
1151:
1052:
539:
531:
39:
1289:
1204:
1013:
672:
359:
210:
43:
35:
746:
643:â by the late 17th century, its functions were largely taken over by the three following sections.
1373:
811:. Other councillors of state or maĂźtres des requĂȘtes attended according to the issues discussed.
408:
392:
1198:
1048:
1007:
666:
349:
1210:
455:
372:
60:
1122:
956:
769:
454:, a subcouncil appeared to handle particularly contentious judicial affairs. An ordinance by
451:
234:
202:
1219:
534:
who brought affairs before the court, lawyers and prosecutors who represented the parties).
1136:
1095:
948:
935:
878:
506:
479:
404:
400:
313:
297:
1294:. Intendants attached to a province had jurisdiction over finances, justice and policing.
379:
the king's council was dominated by members of twenty or so noble or rich families. Under
8:
1250:
1028:
866:
849:
777:
753:
728:
471:
459:
423:
380:
376:
368:
353:
336:
325:
317:
305:
293:
157:
138:
1236:
1162:
1114:
1091:
1078:
784:
773:
732:
388:
321:
1333:
999:
761:
658:
415:
309:
301:
131:
395:
and their sons found themselves frequently unable to negotiate between the opposing
1118:
765:
497:
Beginning in 1560, a separate council was created to handle financial affairs: the
340:
162:
121:
1228:
874:
505:". The "Conseil d'Ătat et des finances" lost in its prestige during the reign of
242:
153:" ("as such is our pleasure") applied to royal decisions made with consultation.
116:, is a general term for the administrative and governmental apparatus around the
104:
1165:
but of great importance after 1588, generally 4 in number, but occasionally 5:
396:
179:
The kings of France traditionally always sought the advice of their entourage (
117:
1075:. These committees were held every Monday until the death of Cardinal Fleury.
1357:
697:
519:
464:
344:
189:
422:(whose distrust of Louis XIV makes this statement all the more believable),
1346:
Jean-Louis Harouel, Jean Barbey, Ăric Bournazel, Jacqueline Thibaut-Payen,
296:(chief military officer of the realm; position eliminated in 1627) and the
267:
the "grands" â the most powerful members of the church and of the nobility.
1031:. It held roughly 40 to 45 sessions per year and issued 350 to 400 acts.
494:" ("Upper Council"), due to its rooms on the second floor of Versailles.
264:
the crown prince (the "dauphin") â if he was of age to attend the council
194:
1320:
Les institutions françaises de la monarchie française à l'époque moderne
840:
836:
708:
1286:
under Louis XIII and Louis XIV. Indendants were chosen from among the
1283:
1019:
902:
804:
678:
558:
527:
238:
501:"; around 1600 this council was reunited with the state council as "
1275:
206:
1110:
1261:
1259:
Royal administration in the provinces had been the role of the
1002:("ducs et pairs"), the ministers and secretaries of state, the
889:
820:
332:
184:
180:
1139:(also called the "garde des Scéaux", or "Keeper of the Seals")
831:
The "Conseil de Conscience" was created in 1720 by the Regent
731:
very rarely went against the majority opinion of the council.
1348:
Histoire des institutions de l'Ă©poque franque Ă la RĂ©volution
443:â and a much larger council which came thus to be called the
869:
in September 1661 to help the king oversee the functions of
1193:(combined with the secretary of the Maison du Roi in 1749).
1038:
892:
was set, and financial and taxation disputes were judged.
620:
and two of his counsellors, and the intendants of finance.
596:, and other councillors according to the issues discussed.
586:, and the secretary of state in charge of foreign affairs.
1350:, Paris, PUF, coll. Droit fondamental, 7th edition, 1996.
300:. Certain kings were unable to reduce their importance (
969:
929:
426:
only went against the advice of his council six times.
1332:, Paris, Le livre de poche, coll. Références, 1993.
252:
1247:
of Paris (in charge of public order in the capital)
941:
1355:
901:and (generally) two of his counsellors, and the
888:, etc. In this council, the overall size of the
865:The "Conseil royal des finances" was created by
835:to oversee implementation of the clauses of the
48:but its sources remain unclear because it lacks
1105:: ministers and secretaries of state â such as
514:overseeing legal disputes, which took the name
221:), elaborated on the laws of the realm (called
134:in the French legal system at the same period.
1113:(who was also governor of several provinces),
661:, the ministers and secretaries of state, the
156:The administration of the French state in the
772:), and later increased this to five members.
1287:
1011:
670:
357:
125:
93:
1085:
989:Conseil d'Ătat privĂ©, finances et direction
727:the end, the king made the final decision.
548:Conseil d'Ătat privĂ©, finances et direction
335:(or "légistes"), generally educated by the
1304:Fundamental laws of the Kingdom of France
1191:Secretary of State for Protestant Affairs
1065:
739:
79:Learn how and when to remove this message
1330:L'Ancien Régime. Institutions et société
826:
714:
213:in the second half of the 16th century.
1309:
1185:Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi
1039:Grande and Petite Direction of Finances
478:â a small informal group reuniting the
1369:Political history of the Ancien RĂ©gime
1356:
1169:Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
920:
860:
798:
703:At the death of Louis XIV, the Regent
316:), while others were more successful (
260:Medieval councils generally included:
855:
852:and bishops, but no other ministers.
356:on, were aided in their tasks by the
290:Great Officers of the Crown of France
103:
1176:, also oversaw the border provinces.
970:Conseil privé or Conseil des parties
930:Judicial and administrative councils
630:Judicial and Administrative Councils
20:
1241:Directeur général of fortifications
1233:Superintendent of the postal system
787:, the council, commonly called the
371:had a council of 12 members. Under
13:
407:, during the worst moments of the
331:Over the centuries, the number of
14:
1385:
429:
253:Composition of the King's Council
873:after the removal from power of
25:
1216:Intendants of commerce (4 or 5)
1147:contrÎleur général des finances
1043:These two regular commissions (
1004:contrÎleur général des finances
898:contrÎleur général des finances
809:contrÎleur général des finances
780:increased it to eight members.
663:contrÎleur général des finances
618:contrÎleur général des finances
594:contrÎleur général des finances
584:contrÎleur général des finances
1237:Directeur général of buildings
1180:Secretary of State of the Navy
1143:Controller-General of Finances
942:Conseil d'Ătat et des finances
776:increased it to 7 members and
641:Conseil ordinaire des Finances
637:Conseil d'Ătat et des Finances
503:Conseil d'Ătat et des finances
1:
690:Petite Direction des Finances
685:Grande Direction des Finances
271:Medieval councils frequently
151:car tel est notre bon plaisir
1245:Lieutenant General of Police
911:Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
833:Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
749:next to the king's chamber.
711:, lasted from 1715 to 1718.
705:Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
7:
1297:
458:in 1497, and reaffirmed by
169:
10:
1390:
1174:Secretary of State for War
871:Superintendent of Finances
614:Conseil royal des finances
143:bonne et mûre délibération
1152:surintendant des finances
624:Conseil royal de commerce
486:" ("Regular Council") or
205:of 1355â1358, and by the
1086:Administrative personnel
815:deliberated in council.
34:This article includes a
174:
63:more precise citations.
1288:
1211:Intendants of finances
1149:, formerly called the
1066:Committee of ministers
1045:commissions ordinaires
1012:
740:Upper or State Council
671:
439:("narrow council") or
358:
142:
126:
94:
1161:: created in 1547 by
1123:Jean-Baptiste Colbert
1029:feast of Saint Martin
827:Council of Conscience
770:Jean-Baptiste Colbert
747:ChĂąteau of Versailles
715:Governmental Councils
600:Conseil de Conscience
573:Governmental Councils
516:"Conseil d'Ătat privĂ©
499:"Conseil des finances
112:), also known as the
105:[kÉÌsÉjdyÊwa]
101:French pronunciation:
1364:Government of France
1310:References and notes
1199:Councillors of state
1159:Secretaries of State
1137:Chancellor of France
1053:maĂźtres des requĂȘtes
1008:councillors of state
936:Chancellor of France
783:During the reign of
752:Before the reign of
667:councillors of state
651:Conseil des parties'
590:Conseil des dĂ©pĂȘches
555:Conseil des DĂ©pĂȘches
532:maĂźtres des requĂȘtes
524:"Conseil des parties
476:Conseil des Affaires
393:Catherine de' Medici
1322:, Paris, PUF, 1999.
1290:maĂźtre des requĂȘtes
1251:Archbishop of Paris
1205:MaĂźtre des requĂȘtes
1049:consellors of state
1014:maĂźtre des requĂȘtes
921:Council of Commerce
861:Council of Finances
799:Council of Messages
673:maĂźtre des requĂȘtes
360:maĂźtre des requĂȘtes
337:université de Paris
158:early modern period
1318:Bernard Barbiche,
1220:Ministers of State
1127:Cardinal de Fleury
1073:Cardinal de Fleury
856:Financial councils
846:Cardinal de Fleury
607:Financial Councils
484:"Conseil ordinaire
352:from the reign of
350:conseillers d'Ătat
149:, the expression "
36:list of references
1328:François Bluche,
762:Michel le Tellier
580:Conseil d'en haut
492:Conseil d'en haut
416:French Revolution
414:From 1661 to the
147:French absolutism
132:public prosecutor
89:
88:
81:
1381:
1345:
1327:
1317:
1293:
1017:
819:case during the
766:Hugues de Lionne
676:
553:From 1630, the "
409:Wars of Religion
363:
341:noblesse de robe
292:, headed by the
243:appellate courts
163:noblesse de robe
129:
107:
102:
97:
84:
77:
73:
70:
64:
59:this article by
50:inline citations
29:
28:
21:
1389:
1388:
1384:
1383:
1382:
1380:
1379:
1378:
1354:
1353:
1343:
1325:
1315:
1312:
1300:
1255:Royal confessor
1229:Farmers-General
1088:
1068:
1041:
972:
944:
932:
923:
886:Farmers General
875:Nicolas Fouquet
863:
858:
829:
801:
742:
717:
488:"Conseil d'Ătat
432:
255:
211:Catholic League
177:
172:
110:King's Council'
100:
85:
74:
68:
65:
54:
40:related reading
30:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1387:
1377:
1376:
1374:Privy councils
1371:
1366:
1352:
1351:
1341:
1323:
1311:
1308:
1307:
1306:
1299:
1296:
1257:
1256:
1253:
1248:
1242:
1239:
1234:
1231:
1226:
1223:
1217:
1214:
1208:
1207:(generally 80)
1202:
1201:(generally 30)
1196:
1195:
1194:
1188:
1182:
1177:
1171:
1156:
1140:
1134:
1103:First Minister
1087:
1084:
1067:
1064:
1040:
1037:
971:
968:
943:
940:
931:
928:
922:
919:
862:
859:
857:
854:
828:
825:
800:
797:
789:Conseil d'Ătat
741:
738:
716:
713:
693:
692:
687:
682:
655:Conseil d'Ătat
644:
627:
626:
621:
604:
603:
597:
587:
540:Conseil d'Ătat
530:of Paris, the
522:of State") or
441:Conseil secret
437:Conseil Ă©troit
431:
430:Royal Councils
428:
286:
285:
281:
269:
268:
265:
254:
251:
235:States General
203:States General
176:
173:
171:
168:
127:Conseil du Roi
118:King of France
95:Conseil du Roi
87:
86:
44:external links
33:
31:
24:
16:King's Council
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1386:
1375:
1372:
1370:
1367:
1365:
1362:
1361:
1359:
1349:
1342:
1339:
1338:2-253-06423-8
1335:
1331:
1324:
1321:
1314:
1313:
1305:
1302:
1301:
1295:
1292:
1291:
1285:
1280:
1278:
1277:
1272:
1268:
1267:sénéchaussées
1264:
1263:
1254:
1252:
1249:
1246:
1243:
1240:
1238:
1235:
1232:
1230:
1227:
1224:
1221:
1218:
1215:
1212:
1209:
1206:
1203:
1200:
1197:
1192:
1189:
1186:
1183:
1181:
1178:
1175:
1172:
1170:
1167:
1166:
1164:
1160:
1157:
1154:
1153:
1148:
1144:
1141:
1138:
1135:
1132:
1128:
1124:
1120:
1116:
1112:
1108:
1104:
1101:
1100:
1099:
1097:
1093:
1083:
1080:
1076:
1074:
1063:
1059:
1056:
1054:
1050:
1046:
1036:
1032:
1030:
1024:
1021:
1016:
1015:
1009:
1005:
1001:
996:
992:
990:
984:
980:
976:
967:
964:
962:
958:
953:
950:
939:
937:
927:
918:
914:
912:
906:
904:
900:
899:
893:
891:
887:
882:
880:
876:
872:
868:
853:
851:
847:
843:
842:
838:
834:
824:
822:
816:
812:
810:
806:
796:
792:
790:
786:
781:
779:
775:
771:
767:
763:
757:
755:
750:
748:
737:
734:
730:
724:
720:
712:
710:
706:
701:
699:
698:Maison du Roi
691:
688:
686:
683:
680:
675:
674:
668:
664:
660:
656:
652:
648:
647:Conseil privé
645:
642:
638:
635:
634:
633:
631:
625:
622:
619:
615:
612:
611:
610:
608:
601:
598:
595:
591:
588:
585:
581:
578:
577:
576:
574:
570:
566:
562:
560:
556:
551:
549:
543:
541:
535:
533:
529:
525:
521:
520:Privy Council
517:
511:
508:
504:
500:
495:
493:
489:
485:
481:
477:
473:
469:
467:
466:
465:Grand Conseil
461:
457:
453:
448:
446:
445:Grand Conseil
442:
438:
427:
425:
421:
417:
412:
410:
406:
402:
398:
394:
390:
384:
382:
378:
374:
370:
365:
362:
361:
355:
351:
346:
345:civil service
342:
338:
334:
329:
327:
323:
319:
315:
311:
307:
303:
299:
295:
291:
282:
278:
277:
276:
274:
266:
263:
262:
261:
258:
250:
248:
244:
240:
236:
231:
228:
226:
225:
220:
214:
212:
208:
204:
198:
196:
192:
191:
186:
182:
167:
165:
164:
159:
154:
152:
148:
144:
140:
135:
133:
130:", a type of
128:
123:
122:Ancien RĂ©gime
119:
115:
114:Royal Council
111:
106:
98:
96:
83:
80:
72:
69:February 2015
62:
58:
52:
51:
45:
41:
37:
32:
23:
22:
19:
1347:
1329:
1319:
1281:
1274:
1270:
1266:
1260:
1258:
1150:
1146:
1089:
1077:
1069:
1060:
1057:
1044:
1042:
1033:
1025:
1003:
997:
993:
988:
985:
981:
977:
973:
965:
960:
954:
945:
933:
924:
915:
907:
905:of finance.
896:
894:
883:
864:
839:
830:
817:
813:
808:
802:
793:
788:
782:
758:
751:
743:
725:
721:
718:
702:
694:
689:
684:
662:
654:
650:
646:
640:
636:
629:
628:
623:
617:
613:
606:
605:
599:
593:
589:
583:
579:
572:
571:
567:
563:
554:
552:
547:
544:
536:
523:
515:
512:
502:
498:
496:
491:
487:
483:
475:
470:
463:
456:Charles VIII
449:
444:
440:
436:
433:
413:
385:
373:Charles VIII
366:
330:
287:
272:
270:
259:
256:
246:
232:
229:
222:
218:
215:
199:
188:
178:
161:
155:
150:
136:
113:
109:
92:
90:
75:
66:
55:Please help
47:
18:
1344:(in French)
1326:(in French)
1316:(in French)
1276:gouverneurs
681:of finance.
452:Charles VII
420:Saint-Simon
401:Montmorency
247:Curia Regis
224:ordonnances
209:and by the
195:Curia Regis
120:during the
61:introducing
1358:Categories
1284:intendants
1271:bailliages
1262:bailliages
1225:Treasurers
1222:(variable)
1096:Louis XIII
1020:intendants
949:Louis XIII
926:Finances.
903:intendants
879:Louis XIII
841:Unigenitus
837:papal bull
805:intendants
709:Polysynody
679:intendants
559:intendants
507:Louis XIII
480:chancellor
474:created a
405:Charles IX
314:Charles VI
298:chancellor
294:connétable
239:Parlements
219:mandements
1115:Richelieu
1010:, the 80
1006:, the 30
867:Louis XIV
850:cardinals
778:Louis XVI
754:Louis XIV
729:Louis XIV
669:, the 80
665:, the 30
528:Parlement
472:Francis I
460:Louis XII
424:Louis XIV
381:Francis I
377:Louis XII
369:Charles V
354:Henry III
326:Francis I
318:Charles V
306:Philip VI
284:plotting.
207:Huguenots
139:Charles V
1298:See also
1163:Henry II
1092:Henry IV
1079:Louis XV
1018:and the
961:de facto
785:Louis XV
774:Louis XV
733:Louis XV
677:and the
389:Henry II
322:Louis XI
280:council.
273:excluded
170:Overview
1119:Mazarin
1111:Concini
1000:peerage
957:Colbert
659:peerage
333:jurists
310:John II
302:Louis X
241:(local
190:familia
185:clerics
181:vassals
57:improve
1336:
1131:Turgot
1090:Under
890:taille
821:Fronde
450:Under
237:, the
1107:Sully
397:Guise
42:, or
1334:ISBN
1265:and
1094:and
1051:and
518:" ("
399:and
375:and
197:").
175:Role
91:The
1213:(6)
700:".
653:or
649:or
639:or
108:; '
1360::
1155:).
1129:,
1125:,
1121:,
1117:,
1109:,
881:.
768:,
764:,
632::
609::
575::
561:.
542:.
447:.
411:.
391:,
364:.
324:,
320:,
312:,
308:,
304:,
275::
183:,
46:,
38:,
1340:.
1145:(
987:"
696:"
546:"
99:(
82:)
76:(
71:)
67:(
53:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.