Claude Bouthillier

See also: Bouthillier (homonymy)

Claude Bouthillier (1581 - March 13rd 1652), Sieur of Fouilletourte, count de Chavigny, lawyer and French statesman. Father of Leon Bouthillier (1608-1652), count de Chavigny.

In 1613, he becomes adviser with the Parlement of Paris then in 1619, adviser of State and secretary of the queen-mother Marie de Médicis.

The relations of his/her father, Denis Bouthillier, with the cardinal Richelieu enable him to become Secretary of State in 1629. It was able to remain in good term as well with the queen as with the cardinal in spite of their competition.

In 1630, it takes share with the negotiations at the time of the Traité of Ratisbon.

It is him which presents Mazarin to Richelieu.

In 1632, it becomes Surintendant of finances in company of Claude de Bullion and plays also a great diplomatic part (department of the Businesses of Germany in company of the Père Joseph). He is then the only occupant of these two stations.

With 1633 with 1640, it is charged by Richelieu with secret missions in Germany which will lead to the entry of France in the Guerre Thirty Year old. It negotiates in particular alliance with Gustave-Adolphe

Its tact and its uprightness confer a single position of influence at the kneaded court of jealousy and intrigues to him. He with the confidence of the king, is the confidant of Richelieu, the friend of Marie de Médicis, and through his/her son, Leon Bouthillier, become in 1635 chancellor of Gaston of Orleans, he has also a capacity of influence on the prince. He becomes an incomparable mediator and its personal influence, related to its double cassette with finances and the foreign politics of France, makes of him the most powerful man of the kingdom after Richelieu.

In 1643, Richelieu made of him the executor of its last wills and Louis XIII the fact member of the council of regency which would have to control after its death.

But the recommendations of the king were not followed by Anne of Austria and Bouthillier is obliged to withdraw and give up its post of superintendent of finances in June 1643 to the profit of Nicolas de Bailleul. He dies in Paris the March 13rd 1652.

Homonyms

Leon Bouthillier (1608-1652) secretary of foreign affairs
Sebastien Bouthilier (1582-1625) ecclesiastical, brother of Claude Bouthillier
Charles-Leon Bouthillier (1743-1818), soldier and deputy with the State-Generals of 1789
Marie-Constantin-Louis-Leon Bouthillier (1774-1829), soldier and prefect.

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