Charles de La Vieuville (15829 January 1653) first styled Marquis of La Vieuville but later created 1st Duke of La Vieuville Histoire Génealogique et Chronologique de la Maison Royale de France- Père Anselme-Vol. VIII-3rd edition-Paris-Compagnie des Libraires associés-1733 was an important French noble and Superintendent of Finances of France from 1623 to 1624A. Lloyd Moote: "Louis XIII, the Just", chap. 6 and 7 and once again from 1651 to 1653 .Royal Collection Trust
Biography
He descended from the dynasty of the seigneurs of La Vieuville and was the son of Robert de La Vieuville and Catherine d'O.Geneanet Being a grandnephew to François d'O, finance minister of both Henry III and Henry IV, he had good connections at court.A. Lloyd Moote: "Louis XIII, the Just", p. 107
He started his career being Captain of the Garde Écossaise,A. Lloyd Moote: "Louis XIII, the Just", p. 107 where he quickly rose to favour of the King, so that already in 1619 he became a knight of the King's orders.Royal Collection Trust
As the year 1623 passed, the King (who always sought an effective model of governance) found virtually all his major advisors (like Brûlart and Puysieux) and his previous superintendent, Henri de Schomberg, ineffective. This resulted partly because of an inclination towards Spain, the deadly enemy of France, by some of the ministers, as well as the inability of the military man Schomberg of governing the finances.A. Lloyd Moote: "Louis XIII, the Just", pp. 107–108
This vacuum of power was filled by La Vieuville, the trusted captain of the King's guards. During the years he was superintendent, and because he was the King's only advisor, he had a very important role at the French court. His views went quite well with Louis XIII's ‘’bon français’’ (good Frenchman) views. He advised the King to side with the Dutch and had the idea to interfere directly in the Bündner Wirren.A. Lloyd Moote: "Louis XIII, the Just", p. 135 Yet he didn't prove to fulfill quite what Louis XIII expected and Louis XIII became very disappointed with him. La Vieuville had grown very arrogant and incompetent and members of his family were very corrupt.A. Lloyd Moote: "Louis XIII, the Just", p. 114
Another factor was that Cardinal Richelieu who had just entered the Royal Council, had previously published various pamphlets and spread several rumours against his rival La Vieuville, in order to become the King's advisor himself.A. Lloyd Moote: "Louis XIII, the Just", p. 109 Finally, he should have been executed, yet he fled from France to the Spanish Netherlands.Royal Collection Trust Later in Louis XIII's reign he was pardoned and returned to France, eventually becoming superintendent once more during Louis XIV's early reign.Royal Collection Trust
Family and issue
La Vieuville married Marie Bouhier de Beaumarchais in 1611. Marie was the daughter of Vincent Bouhier, seigneur de Beaumarchais and held the titles of dame de Nogent-l'Artaud and baronne de Saint-Martin de Blois. She had a sister, Lucrèce, who was married to Nicolas de L'Hôpital.
La Vieuville had all his 13 children with Marie: Vincent; in service of Charles I of England; died in 1643 at the Battle of Newbury Charles II, duc de La Vieuville Charles-François, died 6 days old Henri, Knight of the Order of Malta, Maréchal des Armées et Camps du Roi, Abbot of Savigny (died in 1652) François-Henri, Abbot of Savigny (as successor of his brother), from 1660: Bishop of Rennes (died in 1675) Françoise de Paule, died in Flanders in 1635 Louise, religious Carmelite nun, died at her convent in Paris Lucrèce-Françoise, married Ambroise-François, duc de Bournonville and Peer of France Marie, died in Brussels Marie, died at a young age, entered the Minims Dorothée, died young, entered the Mimins as well Marie, abesse of Notre-Dame de Meaux Henriette, religious, died at La Ferté-Milon
Cultural depictions
In the 1630s, La Vieuville was portrayed by the famous Flemish artist Anthony van Dyck La Vieuville's important role during the early reign of Louis XIII was portrayed by A. Lloyd Moote in his biography "Louis XIII, the Just"A. Lloyd Moote: "Louis XIII, the Just", ch. 5, 6 + 7
References
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