François-Michel le Tellier, Marquis de Louvois 1641 – 1691

Biography

François-Michel le Tellier, Marquis de Louvois, was born on January 18, 1641, in Paris into a family of considerable influence and administrative prominence. Over the course of his life, he would rise to become one of the most significant figures in the government of Louis XIV, serving as Secretary of State for War. His position placed him at the heart of French military administration during a formative period of the kingdom’s development.

Throughout his career, Louvois wielded substantial authority over France’s military affairs, shaping policies and strategies that affected the nation’s defense and international standing. His tenure as Secretary of State reflected both the trust placed in him by the monarchy and the importance Louis XIV assigned to military administration during his reign.

On July 16, 1691, Louvois died in Versailles, struck down by a sudden stroke at the age of fifty. His death marked the end of a career that had profoundly influenced French governance and military organization during one of the most significant periods of French history under the Sun King.