Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully
Prince of Sully Maximilien de Béthune | |
|---|---|
Maximilien de Béthune in 1630 | |
| Chief Minister of France | |
| In office 2 August 1589 – 29 January 1611 | |
| Monarchs | Henry IV Louis XIII |
| Succeeded by | Nicolas de Neufville |
| Superintendent of Finances | |
| In office 1600 – 26 January 1611 | |
| Monarchs | |
| Preceded by | Henry I of Montmorency (first of a council) |
| Succeeded by | Pierre Jeannin (first of a council) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 December 1560 |
| Died | 22 December 1641 (aged 81) Villebon, France |
| Spouses | Anne de Courtenay
(m. 1583; died 1589)Rachel de Cochefilet
(m. 1592; died 1641) |
| Children |
|
| Parent(s) | François de Béthune and Charlotte Dauvet |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of France |
| Branch/service | Royal Army |
| Years of service | 1576–1598 |
| Rank | Marshal of France |
| Battles/wars | French Wars of Religion (1562–1598):
Franco-Savoyard War (1600–1601): |
Maximilien de Béthune Sully, 1st Prince of Sully, Marquis of Rosny and Nogent, Count of Muret and Villebon, Viscount of Meaux (13 December 1560 – 22 December 1641) was a French nobleman, soldier, statesman, and counselor of King Henry IV of France. Historians emphasize Sully's role in building a strong, centralized administrative system in France using coercion and highly effective new administrative techniques. While not all of his policies were original, he used them well to revitalize France after the European wars of religion. Most, however, were repealed by later monarchs who preferred absolute power. Historians have also studied his Neostoicism and his ideas about virtue, prudence, and discipline.