Louis Nicolas de Clerville
Encyclopedia
Louis Nicolas de Clerville, aka Chevalier de Clerville, held many military positions during his life in France in 1610-1677. This article begins by referencing his experiences with Pierre-Paul Riquet
and the building of the Canal du Midi
.
During his association with the canal, Clerville worked for Jean-Baptiste Colbert
, minister of finance under the rule of King Louis XIV of France
. He served as Colbert's
commissaire general des fortifications building ports, dry docks, and fortresses. . Clerville verified Riquet's
proposal for the canal
. He served as Colbert's
eyes and ears keeping track of Riquet
efforts.
Clerville originated the ideas for the building a single large dam of the Laudot valley near Saint Ferreol
. When this was accomplished, it became the Bassin de St. Ferréol. He also had the idea for digging the tunnel through the Cammazes
ridge to connect the rigole de la montagne
to the Bassin de St. Ferréol.
Clerville lost his standing with King Louis
in 1673.
Clerville died in 1677.
Pierre-Paul Riquet
Pierre-Paul Riquet was the engineer and canal-builder responsible for the construction of the Canal du Midi.-Background:...
and the building of the Canal du Midi
Canal du Midi
The is a long canal in Southern France . The canal connects the Garonne River to the on the Mediterranean and along with the Canal de Garonne forms the Canal des Deux Mers joining the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. The canal runs from the city of Toulouse down to the Étang de Thau...
.
During his association with the canal, Clerville worked for 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...
, minister of finance under the rule of King Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
. He served as Colbert's
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...
commissaire general des fortifications building ports, dry docks, and fortresses. . Clerville verified Riquet's
Pierre-Paul Riquet
Pierre-Paul Riquet was the engineer and canal-builder responsible for the construction of the Canal du Midi.-Background:...
proposal for the canal
Canal du Midi
The is a long canal in Southern France . The canal connects the Garonne River to the on the Mediterranean and along with the Canal de Garonne forms the Canal des Deux Mers joining the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. The canal runs from the city of Toulouse down to the Étang de Thau...
. He served as Colbert's
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...
eyes and ears keeping track of Riquet
Pierre-Paul Riquet
Pierre-Paul Riquet was the engineer and canal-builder responsible for the construction of the Canal du Midi.-Background:...
efforts.
Clerville originated the ideas for the building a single large dam of the Laudot valley near Saint Ferreol
Saint Ferréol
-People:*Ferréol and Ferjeux , priest and deacon, martyrs and patrons of Besançon* Saint Ferréol of Uzès , bishop of Uzès-France:Saint-Ferréol is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:...
. When this was accomplished, it became the Bassin de St. Ferréol. He also had the idea for digging the tunnel through the Cammazes
Les Cammazes
Les Cammazes is a commune in the Tarn department in southern France.-Demography:-References:*...
ridge to connect the rigole de la montagne
Rigole de la montagne
The rigole de la montagne was an important facet of the Canal du Midi, engineered by Pierre-Paul Riquet in southern France. The canal itself was built during 1666-1681. A critical aspect of the Canal du Midi was the supply of sufficient water to feed the canal. Each boat traversing its length...
to the Bassin de St. Ferréol.
Clerville lost his standing with King Louis
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
in 1673.
Clerville died in 1677.