Simon Arnauld de Pomponne

Simon Arnauld , lord (1660) then marquis (1682) of Pomponne was born with Paris in November 1618 and died in Fontainebleau on September 26th 1699. He was ambassador, Secretary of State of the Foreign affairs and minister of state under Louis XIV.

Youth of Robin close to Port-Royal

Wire of Robert Arnauld d' Andilly, central figure of the reign of Louis XIII, Simon Arnauld belong to the famous family of Arnauld, pillars of the diffusion of the Jansénisme in France. He is the nephew of Antoine Arnauld says the Grand Arnauld and of two of the largest abbesses of Port-Royal, the mothers Angélique and Agnès. He is high in this religious atmosphere per Martin de Barcos, the proper nephew of Saint-Cyran before continuing his studies with the college of Lisieux. After attendhaving attended the invaluable living rooms much, it becomes in 1642 intendant of the fortified town of Casal (Montferrat) (1642 - 1647). Protected by Tellier, Secretary of State of the war, it fulfills then several missions of intendant of army, in particular in Paris during the Fronde and in Catalogne (1648 - 1651). However, his/her father withdrew himself with Port-Royal where it became Solitaire, obtaining that Simon sees himself transferring the pensions that it touched and is named to advise State (1644). His/her brother having left the world, it becomes the elder one of his family.

Difficulty in finding a place at the court

Thanks to its good knowledge of Italy of North, he sees himself entrusting in 1654 a diplomatic mission to Mantoue, first steps in the world of the Foreign affairs. This mission succeeds and is concluded by a treaty from alliance but jansénisme of its family catches up with it when it tries to obtain the load of chancellor of Mister (1659): with more than 40 years, Simon Arnauld still does not have a place fixe.
He then tries to approach Fouquet. He marries a cousin of the woman of the superintendent, Catherine Ladvocat (1660) but is victim of the disgrace of Fouquet in 1661.
He is then sent in exile to Verdun (1662-1665), while preserving strong bonds with the court and of the guards who obtain his recall as of the end of the lawsuit of the superintendent (1665). It is of Verdun that it receives the famous letters of Madam de Sévigné, true newspaper of the lawsuit.

Between being able and disgrace

As of the end of the year 1665, it is named extraordinary Ambassadeur in Sweden (Dec. 1665), then with the United Provinces (1669). The king shows himself very content with this flexible and pleasant man who skilfully knew to make trail the negotiations and thus allow to prepare the Guerre of Holland. In 1671, he is the craftsman of alliance with Sweden (treated signed shortly after by Courtin), which separates this country from the Triple Alliance. He is then recalled in France, to succeed Hugues de Lionne like Secretary of State of the Foreign affairs. He becomes as of his return Minister of state. Man alone, it is in hillock with the influence of Louvois. Two styles, two visions of the foreign relations and the war clash: Pomponne is favorable to a compromise, is shown more flexible and would certainly have accepted the proposals made by the Dutchmen in 1673 with the Congrès of Cologne. It however negotiates the Traité of Nimègue in 1678, which puts an end to the Guerre of Holland.

Its insulation, will of Louis XIV to carry out policy more aggressive (in particular the policy of the Meetings which was appropriate better for Colbert de Croissy), perhaps also the stiffening to which one assists towards jansénisme bring its disgrace the November 18th 1679. It is replaced by Colbert de Croissy, brother of Jean-Baptiste Colbert. It however preserves the friendship of the king who gives a regiment to his oldest son, an abbey with the junior or sets up his field of Pomponne in marquisat. During all these years, it is withdrawn with Pomponne while preserving bonds with his many friends at the court. In 1691, after the death of Louvois, Pomponne is again Minister of state. The king arranges the reconciliation of Colbert with Pomponne, thanks to the marriage of Catherine-Happiness Arnauld, girl of Pomponne, with Torcy, wire of Colbert de Croissy. When this last dies in its turn, Louis XIV entrusts to Pomponne the formation Torcy: it is a true bicephalous direction which deals with the Foreign affairs, Pomponne bringing back the foreign affairs while Torcy writes the diplomatic correspondence (1696 - 1699). It is finally named superintendent of the stations (1697) before dying in almost 81 years, in 1699: it is buried in the church Saint-Merry of Paris.
It left the memory of a skilful diplomat and a man of great uprightness.

Sources

Simon Arnauld de Pomponne, Memories , Paris, 1860,2 vol.
Simon Arnauld de Pomponne, Relation of my embassy in Holland , ED. H.H. Rowen, Utrecht, 1955.

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