François de la Chaise facts for kids
François de la Chaise (born August 25, 1624 – died January 20, 1709) was a French Jesuit priest. He was the personal spiritual advisor, or "father confessor," to King Louis XIV.
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Who Was Father de la Chaise?
François de la Chaise was born at the Château of Aix in Aix-la-Fayette, a place in Auvergne, France. His father was Georges d'Aix, and his mother was Renée de Rochefort.
Early Life and Education
His great-uncle, Pierre Coton, was also a confessor to a French king, Henry IV. François de la Chaise joined the Society of Jesus, a Catholic religious order known as the Jesuits. He finished his studies in Lyon, where he later taught philosophy. Many students came from all over France to learn from him.
Advisor to the King
In 1674, Father de la Chaise became the confessor to King Louis XIV. This was thanks to the influence of Camille de Villeroy, who was the Archbishop of Lyon. As the king's confessor, he gave spiritual advice and also helped manage church appointments for the crown.
He worked with Madame de Maintenon to convince the king to end his relationship with Madame de Montespan. It is said that sometimes he would pretend to be sick at Easter. This way, he didn't have to forgive the king for his actions.
When Madame de Montespan's influence faded and Madame de Maintenon became more important, Father de la Chaise's power grew a lot. He was present when King Louis XIV and Madame de Maintenon were secretly married at Versailles.
His Influence and Challenges
Father de la Chaise supported the king during disagreements between Louis XIV and Pope Innocent XI. These arguments were about the power of the French Church. He also used his influence to help the king and the Pope get along better.
He played a big part in the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. This decision took away many rights from Protestants in France. However, he tried to calm the king's strong actions against a religious group called the Jansenists. Even Saint-Simon, who often disagreed with him, praised his kind and honorable nature. Father de la Chaise always cared deeply for Archbishop Fénelon, even when Fénelon's writings were criticized by the Pope.
Despite getting older and weaker, Father de la Chaise continued his duties as the king's confessor until the end of his long life.
His Lasting Legacy
The name of Father de la Chaise became connected to the Jesuit house where he lived. This house was outside Paris at the time. The land near the house also took his name.
In 1804, Napoleon created a cemetery on this land. It is now the famous Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. Its name literally means "The Father la Chaise Cemetery." So, his name lives on in the city of Paris.
Father de la Chaise was also portrayed in the fantasy-adventure film The King's Daughter (2022) by actor William Hurt.
