Michel de Marillac
Encyclopedia
Michel de Marillac was a French jurist and counsellor at the court of Louis XIII of France
, one of the leading dévots
. His uncle was Charles de Marillac
, Archbishop of Vienne
and a member of the king's council, the Conseil du Roi
. A member of the circle of Marie de' Medici
, he was arrested after the Queen Mother's flight in 1631 and died in prison.
Michel de Marillac was Minister of Justice in 1626. He was appointed Superintendent of Finances
on 27 August 1624, with Jean Bochart. His advice to Cardinal Richelieu advocated conservative policies abroad and limited involvement in northern Italy during the War of the Mantuan Succession
, while France was occupied with suppressing Huguenots at home and countering Habsburg
influence in the drawn-out Bourbon-Habsburg wars that were not resolved until 1659. His main concern was encouraging economic growth, as a balance to the threats posed by popular unrest in France and the resistance to new forms of taxation to support the war. His key proposals reforming the legal administration were embodied in the Code Michau, published in 1629, which synthesised in 430 article headings texts adopted by the États-général
of 1614 and the Assemblies of Notables, 1617–26, embracing every aspect of government.
Marillac was entrusted with the position of Keeper of the Seals
(garde des sceaux, a Chancellor without the title), after Chancellor d'Aligre was disgraced, in June 1626, compromised by his fidelity to Gaston d'Orléans
.
He gained increasing influence with Marie de' Medici
. After the Day of the Dupes
, 11 November 1630, Richelieu had Marillac tried by a court of hand-picked judges; he died in captivity in 1632.
Marillac's brother, who had served as a general of the French army in Italy during the War of the Mantuan Succession
, was beheaded that same year. Michel was the guardian of Louis' natural daughter Louise de Marillac
, who became a nun, was a follower of Saint Vincent de Paul
, with whom she founded the Daughters of Charity on 29 November 1633.
Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1610 to 1643.Louis was only eight years old when he succeeded his father. His mother, Marie de Medici, acted as regent during Louis' minority...
, one of the leading dévots
Dévots
Dévots was the name given in France in the first half of the 17th century to a party following a Catholic policy of opposition to the Protestants inside France, and alliance with the Catholic Austrian empire abroad....
. His uncle was Charles de Marillac
Charles de Marillac
Charles de Marillac was a French prelate and diplomat.-Career:De Marillac was, by the age of twenty-two, an advocate in parliament in Paris...
, Archbishop of Vienne
Vienne
Vienne is the northernmost département of the Poitou-Charentes region of France, named after the river Vienne.- Viennese history :Vienne is one of the original 83 departments, established on March 4, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Poitou,...
and a member of the king's council, the Conseil du Roi
Conseil du Roi
The Conseil du Roi or King's Council is a general term for the administrative and governmental apparatus around the king of France during the Ancien Régime designed to prepare his decisions and give him advice...
. A member of the circle of Marie de' Medici
Marie de' Medici
Marie de Médicis , Italian Maria de' Medici, was queen consort of France, as the second wife of King Henry IV of France, of the House of Bourbon. She herself was a member of the wealthy and powerful House of Medici...
, he was arrested after the Queen Mother's flight in 1631 and died in prison.
Michel de Marillac was Minister of Justice in 1626. He was appointed Superintendent of Finances
Superintendent of Finances
The Superintendent of Finances was the name of the minister in charge of finances in France from 1561 to 1661. The position was abolished in 1661 with the downfall of Nicolas Fouquet, and a new position was created, the Controller-General of Finances....
on 27 August 1624, with Jean Bochart. His advice to Cardinal Richelieu advocated conservative policies abroad and limited involvement in northern Italy during the War of the Mantuan Succession
War of the Mantuan Succession
The War of the Mantuan Succession was a peripheral part of the Thirty Years' War. Its casus belli was the extinction of the direct male line of the House of Gonzaga in December 1627. Brothers Francesco IV , Ferdinando and Vincenzo II , the last three dukes of Gonzaga, had all died leaving no...
, while France was occupied with suppressing Huguenots at home and countering Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
influence in the drawn-out Bourbon-Habsburg wars that were not resolved until 1659. His main concern was encouraging economic growth, as a balance to the threats posed by popular unrest in France and the resistance to new forms of taxation to support the war. His key proposals reforming the legal administration were embodied in the Code Michau, published in 1629, which synthesised in 430 article headings texts adopted by the États-général
French States-General
In France under the Old Regime, the States-General or Estates-General , was a legislative assembly of the different classes of French subjects. It had a separate assembly for each of the three estates, which were called and dismissed by the king...
of 1614 and the Assemblies of Notables, 1617–26, embracing every aspect of government.
Marillac was entrusted with the position of Keeper of the Seals
Keeper of the seals
The title Keeper of the Seals or equivalent is used in several contexts, denoting the person entitled to keep and authorize use of the Great Seal of a given country. The title may or may not be linked to a particular cabinet or ministerial office.- Canada :...
(garde des sceaux, a Chancellor without the title), after Chancellor d'Aligre was disgraced, in June 1626, compromised by his fidelity to Gaston d'Orléans
Gaston, Duke of Orléans
Gaston of France, , also known as Gaston d'Orléans, was the third son of King Henry IV of France and his wife Marie de Medici. As a son of the king, he was born a Fils de France. He later acquired the title Duke of Orléans, by which he was generally known during his adulthood...
.
He gained increasing influence with Marie de' Medici
Marie de' Medici
Marie de Médicis , Italian Maria de' Medici, was queen consort of France, as the second wife of King Henry IV of France, of the House of Bourbon. She herself was a member of the wealthy and powerful House of Medici...
. After the Day of the Dupes
Day of the Dupes
Day of the Dupes is the name given to the day in November of 1630 on which the enemies of Cardinal Richelieu mistakenly believed that they had succeeded in persuading Louis XIII, King of France, to dismiss Richelieu from power...
, 11 November 1630, Richelieu had Marillac tried by a court of hand-picked judges; he died in captivity in 1632.
Marillac's brother, who had served as a general of the French army in Italy during the War of the Mantuan Succession
War of the Mantuan Succession
The War of the Mantuan Succession was a peripheral part of the Thirty Years' War. Its casus belli was the extinction of the direct male line of the House of Gonzaga in December 1627. Brothers Francesco IV , Ferdinando and Vincenzo II , the last three dukes of Gonzaga, had all died leaving no...
, was beheaded that same year. Michel was the guardian of Louis' natural daughter Louise de Marillac
Louise de Marillac
Saint Louise de Marillac was the co-founder, with St. Vincent de Paul, of the Daughters of Charity. She is venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.-Early life:...
, who became a nun, was a follower of Saint Vincent de Paul
Vincent de Paul
Vincent de Paul was a priest of the Catholic Church who became dedicated to serving the poor. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. He was canonized in 1737....
, with whom she founded the Daughters of Charity on 29 November 1633.