Intendant facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

An intendant (pronounced like "in-TEN-dant") was, and sometimes still is, a public official. This role was very important in countries like France, Spain, and Portugal, and also in their former colonies in Latin America. The intendancy system was a way of organizing government that started in France. It helped the king have more control over different regions.

During the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714), the French royal family (the House of Bourbon) took control of the Spanish throne. They then brought this French-style intendancy system to Spain and Portugal. From there, it spread across the world through the Spanish Empire and Portuguese Empire. Regions were divided into smaller areas, and each was managed by an intendant. Today, the title is still used in Spain and some parts of Spanish America for certain government jobs.

Intendants in France

Intendants were special royal civil servants in France during the time of the Old Regime, which was before the French Revolution. The French kings wanted more control over their country. So, they created the role of intendant. These officials were chosen by the king and given specific tasks. They were not allowed to buy their positions, which was common for other government jobs back then. This made them very loyal to the king.

Intendants were sent to different provinces (regions) to make sure the king's rules were followed. They were in charge of three main areas:

Finances: Managing money and taxes.
Policing: Keeping law and order.
Justice: Making sure laws were fair and followed.

Their jobs were usually for a limited time. This helped them stay fair and not become too attached to one province. A law from 1629, called the Code Michau, said their job was "to find out about all crimes, bad actions, and money problems caused by our officials and other things that help our service and the peace of our people."

In the 1600s and 1700s, intendants were often chosen from a group called the noblesse de robe, who were nobles because of their jobs, not their family history. They were usually young when they started. For example, Charles Alexandre de Calonne became an intendant at 32, and Turgot at 34.

Because intendants were a symbol of the king's strong control, many people didn't like them. Some nobles felt intendants were taking away their power. Others, who wanted a less powerful king, wanted intendants to be removed. Even Jacques Necker, a finance minister, said they were not good at their jobs because they were young and wanted to climb the social ladder. In 1789, people wrote complaints (called cahiers de doléances) saying intendants were too strict with taxes, which made life hard for ordinary people.

The word intendant was also used for other important roles in the government, like:

Intendants of finance
Intendants of commerce
Intendants of the sovereign council

Similarly, intendant général was a title for officials working with the War and Navy Secretaries.

How the System Developed in France

French kings started sending special agents to the provinces as early as the 1400s. These agents would check on royal and administrative matters and take action if needed. They were chosen from important government groups like the Council of State. Their missions were always for a specific task and lasted only a short time.

There were also agents sent to the army to manage supplies, keep order, and handle money. They watched over accountants, suppliers, and generals. They also attended war meetings and military courts. These types of agents were seen in places like Corsica in 1553 and Limoges in 1596.

When Henry IV became king in 1589, he wanted to reduce the power of provincial governors. These governors, who were usually from powerful noble families, had become too independent during earlier civil wars. The intendants, whose title appeared around 1620, became a good way for the king to control the regions more effectively.

Under King Louis XIII's minister, Cardinal Richelieu, France joined the Thirty Years' War in 1635. At this time, intendants became a permanent part of the French government. They were no longer just inspectors; they became full-time administrators. During a civil uprising called the Fronde in 1648, people demanded that intendants be removed. They were, but later brought back, especially in border areas.

When Louis XIV was king (1643–1715), the Marquis of Louvois, his War Secretary, made the provincial intendants even more powerful. They helped Louis improve the French army, including a system where soldiers could be promoted based on skill. After 1680, intendants in France had a permanent job in a specific region called a "généralité." Their full title was "intendant of justice, police, and finances, commissioners sent to the généralités of the kingdom to carry out the king's orders."

The role of intendant continued until the French Revolution in 1789. After that, the title was still used for military officers who managed money and supplies in the army.

What Intendants Did in France

The intendant was chosen and could be removed by the king. They reported to the Controller-General of Finances. In their "généralité" (their region), they had a small team of secretaries. In the 1700s, the "généralité" was divided into smaller "subdelegations." Each subdelegation had a "subdelegate" chosen by the intendant. Even with this help, the intendant had a very large area to manage with a small staff.

Famous French Intendants

Some well-known intendants included:

Charles Alexandre de Calonne: Later became a finance minister.
Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot: Also became a finance minister.
Louis-Urbain-Aubert de Tourny

Intendants in New France

The French colony in North America, New France (which is now part of Canada, mainly Quebec), also had a senior official called an intendant. This person was responsible to the French King. The first intendant of New France was Jean Talon in 1665. The last one was François Bigot, who was in charge when the British took over Quebec during the French and Indian War.

Intendants in Spain and its Empire

Intendants were brought to Spain and the Spanish Empire in the 1700s during the Bourbon Reforms. These reforms were started by the new Bourbon royal family to make government more efficient. They also wanted to improve the economy, trade, and tax collection in their new lands.

An intendente was in charge of a Spanish administrative unit called an intendencia. This unit could include one or more provinces. The intendente was chosen directly by the king. Their job was to:

Oversee the treasury (royal money).
Collect taxes.
Stop corruption.
Encourage farming and economic growth.

Intendants had a lot of power over money matters. This gave them influence in almost all government, church, and military issues. The Bourbon kings wanted intendentes to keep an eye on other local officials. Many of these officials had gotten their jobs by buying them or inheriting them. This was similar to how intendants worked in France a century earlier.

Throughout the 1700s, the Bourbons changed the powers of the intendants in Spain and overseas. So, their duties varied depending on the area and the time.

The first intendencias were set up in Spain after 1711, during the War of the Spanish Succession. This was suggested by Jean Orry, who was sent by the French King Louis XIV to help his grandson Philip V set up his new government. These early intendants managed the army's money and the finances of newly conquered lands. After the war, they became permanent.

After the Seven Years' War, an intendancy was created in Cuba in 1764. The Cuban intendant managed the army's money and the royal treasury. Later, more intendancies were set up in places like Louisiana (1764).

In 1786, many intendencias were created in New Spain (Mexico). These changes helped organize the existing regions into central, southern, and northern divisions.

In 1776, an intendancy was set up for all of Venezuela. Several more were created in the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata in 1783. Most intendants overseas were helped by officials called subdelegados. These officials replaced older local leaders. At first, the intendant was a different person from the viceroy (the king's main representative). But because of conflicts, the two jobs were often given to the same person.

More intendancies were established in places like Peru, the Philippines, Puerto Rico (1784), and Chile (1786).

Intendants in Portugal

In Portugal, the title "intendant" (intendente in Portuguese) has mostly been used for police roles.

From 1760 to 1832, the head of the Police of the Kingdom of Portugal was called the "Intendant General of the Police of the Court and of the Kingdom." A similar title, "Intendant General of the Public Security," was used from 1928 to 1932 for the head of the Portuguese Civil Police.

Intendants Today

Portugal

Rank insignia of an intendant of the Portuguese Public Security Police.

Today, "intendant" is a rank for officers in the Public Security Police in Portugal. It is similar to the military rank of lieutenant-colonel. A "sub-intendant" is like a major, and a "superintendent" is like a colonel.

The rank badge for an intendant is a dark blue shoulder patch with two crossed horsewhips inside a laurel wreath and two special "PSP stars." Each PSP star is a six-pointed silver star with the letters "SP" in the middle. A sub-intendant's badge is similar but has only one PSP star.

Spain

In the Spanish armed forces today, an "Intendant" is a Colonel in the Supply Branch of the Navy, Army, or Air Force. The title is also used in some parts of the government, like the Catalan Police (Mossos d'Esquadra) or in some regions of Spain.

Argentina

In Argentina, intendente refers to city mayors. These are the heads of government for cities or "municipalities." This meaning is different from how the word is used in other countries. Spanish-speaking media outside Argentina usually call Argentine city mayors alcaldes, which is the more common Spanish word for mayor.

Chile

Chile is divided into 16 regions. Between 1976 and 2021, each region was led by an intendant. This person was chosen by the president.

Cuba

In Cuba, the role of intendant was created by the Constitution in 2019. The intendant leads the Administrative Councils, which work under the Municipal Assemblies of People's Power (like town halls). Their job is strictly executive and administrative. The highest local authority is the President of the Municipal Assembly (the mayor). This person chooses and can remove the intendant, with the agreement of the majority of the local council members.

Paraguay

Paraguay is divided into 17 "departments." Each department is led by a "departmental governor." These departments are divided into 261 "districts." Each district is led by a "municipal intendant." These intendants are chosen by the people in elections and serve for five years.

Uruguay

Uruguay is divided into 19 "departments." The executive power (the main governing body) of each department is called the intendencia. It is led by a "departmental intendant." These intendants are chosen by the people in elections and serve for five years.

Intendants in Other Places

Japan

A daikan was an intendant or magistrate in historical Japan. The office he held was called the Daikansho. The daikan was in charge of many government tasks, including building roads and bridges, collecting taxes, and handling legal matters.

Russia and Soviet Union

The position of intendant was part of the Russian army from 1812 to 1868. These intendants were responsible for supplies, money, and other needs in the field. After 1935, when new ranks were created in the Soviet military, "intendant" was brought back as a rank for officers in charge of administration and supplies.

For example, a "technician-intendant second class" was like a lieutenant, and an "intendant first class" was like a colonel. Higher ranks included "brigindendant" (brigade intendant) and "armintendant" (army intendant).

In 1940, the Soviet Army changed its rank system to be more like other European armies. New general ranks were introduced for intendant officers. By 1942, the lower "intendant" ranks were removed, and officers received new titles like "lieutenant of the intendant service" or "colonel of the administrative service."

Scotland

In Scotland, "intendant" is an old title meaning "supervisor" or "curator." The main officer of the City of Glasgow Police was called an Intendant when the police force was created in 1800.

United States

For a long time, the chief official of Charleston, South Carolina was called the Intendant of the City, which was similar to a mayor. The title Intendant was also used in other towns in the Lowcountry region. In these places, the intendant was helped by "wardens." This system might have come from earlier church administration during colonial times.

Other Uses of the Term

The term "intendant" is also often used today in many theaters and opera houses in Europe. Here, it means the same as general director. This is a person in a management role who usually controls all parts of the company.

In the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, "Intendant" was a title in the mirror universe. The mirror universe version of Kira Nerys held the position of Intendant of Bajor.