René Nicolas Charles Augustin de Maupeou facts for kids
René Nicolas Charles Augustin de Maupeou (born February 25, 1714 – died July 29, 1792) was a French lawyer and politician. He became the Chancellor of France, a very important legal position. He is most famous for trying to change France's court system between 1770 and 1774.
At the time, France had powerful regional courts called parlements. Maupeou wanted to reduce their power and make the king's authority stronger. However, when King Louis XV died in 1774, the parlements were brought back, and Maupeou lost his position. His efforts to reform the government showed that a system where kings had absolute power, even if they tried to be fair, was failing in France.
Quick facts for kids
René Nicolas de Maupeou
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Portrait by Pierre Lacour
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| Chancellor of France | |
| In office 16 September 1768 – 1 July 1790 |
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| Preceded by | René Charles de Maupeou |
| First president of the parlement of Paris | |
| In office 12 October 1763 – 15 September 1768 |
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| Preceded by | Mathieu-François Molé |
| Succeeded by | Étienne François d'Aligre |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 February 1714 Montpellier, France |
| Died | 29 July 1792 (aged 78) Le Thuit, France |
| Political party | Bourbon Crown |
| Profession | Statesman, magistrate |
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Contents
Early Life and Career
René Nicolas de Maupeou was born in Montpellier, France. His family had become part of the nobility in the 1500s as noblesse de robe, which meant they were important legal officials. He was the oldest son of René Charles de Maupeou, who was the president of the parlement of Paris from 1743 to 1757.
In 1744, Maupeou married Anne de Roncherolles, a wealthy woman. She was related to Louise d'Épinay, a friend of the famous thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Maupeou started his public career by helping his father. They worked together during disagreements between the parlement and the archbishop of Paris, Christophe de Beaumont.
From 1763 to 1768, Maupeou himself became the president of the parlement. During this time, important cases like the Calas affair (which Voltaire supported) and the trial of the comte de Lally took place. In 1768, he became the Chancellor of France, taking over from his father. His father had held the job for only one day so that René Nicolas could get the important title. After the Duke of Choiseul lost power in December 1770, Maupeou became the king's chief minister.
Efforts to Reform the Courts
Maupeou decided to strengthen the king's power against the parlement. The parlement often blocked important changes, especially those related to taxes or the special rights of wealthy people. They were also trying to take on powers that belonged to the French States-General, a larger assembly.
Maupeou worked with the duc d'Aiguillon and the king's mistress, Madame du Barry. He also made sure that his ally, the Abbé Terray, became the comptroller-general, in charge of finances.
A major conflict started over the trial of the duc d'Aiguillon. He was a former governor of Brittany and was accused of wrongdoing. The parlement showed they were against Aiguillon. To stop them, Maupeou read a royal order from Louis XV that canceled the trial. The parlement protested, but the king held a special meeting called a lit de justice. In this meeting, the king demanded the official records of the trial.
On November 27, 1770, Maupeou announced a new rule called the Édit de règlement et de discipline. This rule stopped different parts of the parlement from working together. It also prevented them from talking to other regional courts. The rule also said that if the parlement went on strike, their property could be taken away. It also made it harder for them to block new royal laws. The judges refused to accept this new rule. So, it was officially registered in another lit de justice at Versailles on December 7. After this, the parlement was temporarily stopped from doing its work.
The "Maupeou Coup"
The judges were given five chances to return to their duties. On the night of January 19, 1771, royal guards called musketeers visited each judge. They asked them to sign whether they would return to work or not. Thirty-eight judges agreed, but when their colleagues were sent away by special royal orders called lettres de cachet, they changed their minds. They were then also sent into exile.
Maupeou then set up the council of state to handle legal cases. He planned to create six new high courts in the provinces and a new parlement in Paris. In this new system, judges would no longer inherit their positions. Instead, they would be paid officials appointed by the king. Another court, the cour des aides, was also closed down. Maupeou wanted to make the legal system the same across the country. Before this, different regions had different court rules.
The famous writer Voltaire actually supported these changes. He liked that the old system of inherited judgeships was being removed. However, many aristocrats and noble families who were part of the legal system saw Maupeou's actions as unfair and tyrannical. Despite their protests, by the end of 1771, Maupeou's new court system was in place. Lawyers, who had resisted at first, began to work in the new courts. Maupeou also tried again to tax the wealthy and privileged groups who had been exempt before.
Fall from Power
Maupeou's reforms did not last long. When King Louis XV died in May 1774, his plan fell apart. The new king, Louis XVI, immediately brought back the old parlements. This led to new arguments between the young king and the judges.
Maupeou and Terray were replaced on August 24, 1774. Maupeou is famously quoted as saying, "I had won for the king a case that has lasted three hundred years. He wishes to lose it again; he is the master of it." This meant he believed he had fixed a long-standing problem for the king, but the king chose to undo his work.
Maupeou lived a quiet life after losing power. He still held the title of Chancellor (though the office was officially ended in 1790) until he died in 1792. He lived long enough to see the old system of government, the ancien régime, completely overthrown by the French Revolution.
Interestingly, some of Maupeou's ideas were later supported by the Revolution. For example, he wanted to separate the legal system from politics. He also wanted to fix the problems of judges inheriting their jobs. While he tried to give Louis XV absolute power, his actions actually weakened the monarchy. By pushing the king's power so strongly, he made people question the idea of a balance between freedom and absolute rule.
Family
René Nicolas de Maupeou had two sons:
- René Ange Augustin de Maupeou (1746–1794), who became a military officer.
- Charles Victor René de Maupeou (1749–1789), who became a maître des requêtes, another legal official.
See also
- Maupeou Family
Images for kids
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Portrait of René Nicolas de Maupeou by Pierre Lacour
