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Cardinal de Fleury
Cardinal (1726) · Bishop of Fréjus (1698-1715) · Minister of State (1726-1743) · Tutor to Louis XV
André-Hercule de Fleury (Lodève, 22 June 1653 – Issy-les-Moulineaux, 29 January 1743), known as Cardinal de Fleury, governed France in the name of Louis XV from 1726 until his death. Born in Languedoc into a family of minor nobility (his father was a receveur des tailles, a tax collector, for the diocese of Lodève), he built a career in the Church at court: almoner to Queen Marie-Thérèse and then to Louis XIV, he became Bishop of Fréjus in 1698. Appointed tutor to the future Louis XV in 1715, he earned the lasting trust of the young king. In 1726, after the disgrace of the Duke of Bourbon, he became de facto first minister, with the title of Minister of State, and in the same year received the cardinal's hat. His long ministry was marked by the stabilisation of the currency, the growth of colonial trade and a cautious foreign policy. His link with Castries stems from his Languedocian origins and his patrons: early in his career he was a protégé of Cardinal Pierre de Bonzi, brother-in-law of the Marquis René-Gaspard de Castries. Two portraits of the cardinal are preserved at the château de Castries, among the mementos of persons related or connected to the family.
Naissance22 juin 1653 (26 juin selon certaines sources), Lodève
Décès29 janvier 1743, Issy-les-Moulineaux
FonctionCardinal (1726) · Bishop of Fréjus (1698-1715)
Époque18th century – reign of Louis XV
Histoire & patrimoine
The Minister of Louis XV
For nearly seventeen years, Fleury directed the government without bearing the title of principal minister. He stabilised the currency, encouraged trade and sought to preserve peace in Europe, while limiting naval ambitions. He remains the oldest head of government France ever had.
Château de CastriesRepères dans sa vie
22 juin 1653
Born in Lodève, son of a receveur des tailles (tax collector).
Années 1670
Protégé of Cardinal de Bonzi; almoner to Queen Marie-Thérèse and then to the king.
1698
Bishop of Fréjus.
1715
Appointed tutor to the young Louis XV.
11 juin 1726
Minister of State, de facto head of government.
11 septembre 1726
Created cardinal by Pope Benedict XIII.
29 janvier 1743
Died at Issy, aged 89, still in office.
Patrimoine associé
1 lieuLes châteaux liés à cette personnalité
Réseau historique
Personnalités liées
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Cardinal de Fleury dans l’histoire
A Languedocian Linked to the Castries Network
A native of Lodève, Fleury owed his first support to Cardinal Pierre de Bonzi, a leading figure in Languedoc and brother-in-law of the Marquis René-Gaspard de Castries. The collections of the château de Castries hold two portraits of the cardinal, cited by the DRAC Occitanie among the mementos of famous figures connected with the family.
Sources de la fiche
Cette synthèse croise plusieurs sources pour documenter les lieux, événements et relations historiques.
- Inauguration de la salle des États du château de Castries — DRAC Occitanie
- André-Hercule de Fleury (1653-1743) — Hérodote.net
- André-Hercule de Fleury — Britannica
- Andre-Hercule de Fleury — Catholic Encyclopedia