André-Hercule de Fleury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence André-Hercule de Fleury |
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| Cardinal, Bishop Emeritus of Fréjus | |
Cardinal de Fleury, official portrait by Hyacinthe Rigaud, Château de Versailles
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| Archdiocese | Aix |
| Diocese | Fréjus |
| Enthroned | 18 May 1698 |
| Reign ended | 3 May 1715 |
| Predecessor | Louis d'Aquin |
| Successor | Pierre de Castellane |
| Other posts | Cardinal-priest; no title assigned |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1679 |
| Consecration | 22 November 1698 by Louis Antoine de Noailles |
| Created Cardinal | 11 September 1726 |
| Rank | Cardinal-priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 June 1653 Lodève, Languedoc-Roussillon, France |
| Died | 29 January 1743 (aged 89) Issy-les-Moulineaux, Île-de-France, France |
| Nationality | French |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Signature |  |
André-Hercule de Fleury (born June 22 or 26, 1653 – died January 29, 1743) was an important French cardinal. He served as the main minister for King Louis XV of France. He played a big role in guiding France for many years.
Contents
Life and Early Career
Fleury was born in Lodève, France. His family was noble, and his father collected taxes. As a child, he went to Paris for his education. He studied philosophy and classic subjects, as well as theology, with the Jesuits.
He later became a priest. Through the help of Cardinal Bonzi, he became an almoner (a chaplain) for Queen Maria Theresa, wife of King Louis XIV. After her death, he served King Louis XIV himself.
In 1698, Fleury was made bishop of Fréjus. He spent seventeen years in this role. However, he eventually decided he wanted a position at the royal court in Paris.
Becoming a Royal Tutor
In May 1715, just a few months before King Louis XIV died, Fleury became the tutor for Louis's great-grandson and heir, the young Louis XV. Even though Fleury seemed not to seek power, he gained a strong influence over the young prince. Louis XV trusted and loved him very much, and this bond lasted throughout their lives.
When the regent, Philippe d'Orléans, died in 1723, Louis XV was old enough to rule on his own. Fleury, who was already 70 years old, did not immediately take power. Instead, he suggested that Louis Henri, Duke of Bourbon, be made the first minister.
Fleury was present at all meetings between King Louis XV and the Duke of Bourbon. When the Duke tried to make decisions without Fleury, Fleury left the court. King Louis XV then made the Duke of Bourbon bring Fleury back. On June 11, 1726, Fleury took control of the government. He arranged for the Duke of Bourbon and his mistress to be sent away from court.
Fleury never officially took the title of "first minister." However, when he became a cardinal in 1726, it showed that he was the most important person in the government.
Improving France's Finances
Before Fleury took charge, France's money situation was very bad. A Scottish economist named John Law had introduced new financial ideas. These included a national bank and paper money. But people became too confident and invested too much. This led to a financial "bubble" that burst after 1720. France's money problems were as bad as they had been when Louis XIV died.
Fleury was calm and careful. He brought these qualities to how he managed the country's money. In 1726, he set a stable value for the French currency. He also made sure that the government regularly paid interest on its debts. This helped France's credit. By 1738-1739, France even had extra money, instead of the usual debt.
Fleury's strict money management was carried out by Philibert Orry, who was in charge of finances. Fleury also improved France's roads by making peasants do forced labor. This made some people unhappy, but it helped the country's infrastructure. During his seventeen years in power, France became stronger and more prosperous. The country recovered after the many wars of Louis XIV and the spending of the regent.
Challenges and Foreign Affairs
Fleury faced challenges at home. He was strict with a religious group called the Jansenists. He supported a rule from Pope Clement XI that many French bishops did not like. He even put priests in prison who refused to accept it. When the Parlement of Paris (a high court) opposed him, he sent many of its members away from Paris.
In foreign affairs, Fleury wanted to keep peace. He worked with Sir Robert Walpole of Britain, and these two old rivals avoided war during Fleury's time in power. Fleury also dealt with Freemasons in France who supported the Stuart family. He urged Pope Clement XII to forbid Catholics from becoming Freemasons in 1738.
Fleury reluctantly supported Spain's queen, Elizabeth Farnese, in Italy. He helped ensure that her son, Don Carlos, would inherit some Italian lands. Fleury also played a clever game with the Corsican revolutionaries. He secretly sent weapons to the island while telling the Genoese (who ruled Corsica) that France supported them. This eventually led to France taking control of Corsica in 1768.
Later Years and War
Fleury's careful spending meant that France's army and navy were not fully ready for war. In 1733, France was forced into a war. Court opinion pushed him to support Louis XV's father-in-law, Stanislaus Leszczynski, for the Polish crown. This was against the candidate supported by Russia and Austria. A French military mission to Gdańsk ended badly.
Fleury's advisor, Germain Louis Chauvelin, pushed for stronger actions. Fleury formed an alliance with the Spanish Bourbons and sent armies against the Austrians. France won battles in Germany and Italy. This led to a good peace treaty in Vienna (1735-1738).
France had agreed to support Maria Theresa as ruler of Austria. But when the Austrian ruler Charles VI died in 1740, Fleury found an excuse to break his promise. This was because the king's advisors now wanted war. After some defeats in the War of the Austrian Succession, Fleury wrote a secret letter to an Austrian general. The general published it, and Fleury denied writing it. Fleury died in Issy-les-Moulineaux on January 29, 1743. This was just a few days after French troops left Prague.
Fleury added many valuable old manuscripts to the royal library. He was also a member of several important French academies, including the Académie Française.
After Fleury's death, France and Britain began fighting more at sea. This led to a war in March 1744. This war ended the peaceful period that Fleury had worked so hard to maintain.
Quotes
- "Richelieu made France strong through tough measures, Mazarin cleaned it up, and Fleury made it careful with its money." (d'Argenson)
Images for kids
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The duc d'Orléans' Council with Cardinal Fleury
See also
In Spanish: André Hercule de Fleury para niños
