# Chief minister of France

The chief minister of France or, closer to the French term, chief minister of state (French: principal ministre d'État), or prime minister of France were and are informal titles given to various personages who received various degrees of power to rule the Kingdom of France on behalf of the monarch during the Ancien Régime ('Old Regime'). The titles were however informal and used more as job descriptions.

## History

Like the title of Chief Minister was unofficial, the monarch maintained all his powers, giving to the Chief Minister the task to make effective his orders. However, during moments where the king was absent from the country, highly sick, indifferent or unfit to govern, the Chief Minister had a strong role, becoming the real mind behind the state's operating.
Usually, the Chief Ministers were members of the King's Council (the archaic form of cabinet) or high members of the French nobility or the Catholic clergy.
From 1661, Louis XIV and his successors refused to allow any one of their ministers to be deemed more important than others, so the term was not in use. The title of 'First Minister of State' was used, however the old title was not brought back after Louis XIV.
With the eruption of the French Revolution in 1789, the First Minister of State progressively lost importance and influence inside national politics. Finally, with the coming of the constitutional monarchy in 1791, the title of First Minister ceased to exist.

## List

| Portrait | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Prior/Contemporary office | Term of office | Term of office | Estate | Cabinet | King (Reign) |
| | | Anne de Montmorency, Baron and Seigneur of Chantilly (1493–1567) | Grand Master of France (1526–1558) | 1 January 1515 | June 1541 | Nobility | Cabinets of Francis I | Francis I (1515–1547) |
| Francis I (1515–1547) ||||
| | | Claude d'Annebault, Baron of Retz (1495–1552) | Admiral of France (1543–1552) | June 1541 | 31 March 1547 | Nobility | Cabinets of Francis I | Francis I (1515–1547) |
| Francis I (1515–1547) ||||
| | | Anne, Duke of Montmorency (1493–1567) | Grand Master of France (1526–1558) | 1 April 1547 | 10 August 1557 | Nobility | Cabinets of Henry II | Henry II (1547–1559) |
| Henry II (1547–1559) ||||
| | — | Position vacant (absolute rule by Henry II) | King of France (1547–1559) | 11 August 1557 | 10 July 1559 | Nobility | Cabinets of Henry II | Henry II (1547–1559) |
| Henry II (1547–1559) ||||
| | | Francis, Duke of Guise (1519–1563) | Grand Master of France (1559–1563) | 10 July 1559 | 5 December 1560 | Nobility | Regency of Queen Mother Catherine | Francis II (1559–1560) |
| Francis II (1559–1560) ||||
| | | Michel de l'Hôpital (1507–1573) | Chancellor of France (1560–1573) | 5 December 1560 | 13 March 1573 † | Commoner | Cabinets of Charles IX | Charles IX (1560–1574) |
| Charles IX (1560–1574) ||||
| | | Cardinal René de Birague (1506–1583) | Chancellor of France (1573–1583) | 30 May 1574 | 24 November 1583 † | Clergy | Cabinets of Henry III | Henry III (1574–1589) |
| Henry III (1574–1589) ||||
| | | Philippe Hurault, Count of Cheverny (1528–1599) | Chancellor of France (1583–1588) | 24 November 1583 | 12 May 1588 | Nobility | Cabinets of Henry III | Henry III (1574–1589) |
| Henry III (1574–1589) ||||
| | — | Position vacant (absolute rule by Henry III) | King of France (1574–1589) | 12 May 1588 | 2 August 1589 | Nobility | Cabinets of Henry III | Henry III (1574–1589) |
| Henry III (1574–1589) ||||
| | | Maximilien de Béthune, 1st Duke of Sully (1560–1641) | Superintendent of Finances (1600–1611) | 2 August 1589 | 29 January 1611 | Nobility | Cabinets of Henry IV | Henry IV (1589–1610) |
| | | Maximilien de Béthune, 1st Duke of Sully (1560–1641) | Loyal minister of Henry IV since French Wars of Religion. Conversion of Henry IV to Catholicism. Free trade without restriction. Establishment of courthouses on misappropriation. Public works and new roads. Expansion of the Royal Army. Franco-Savoyard War. Organized marriage between Henry IV and Marie de' Medici. Edict of Nantes introduced religious tolerance to Protestants. Assassination of Henry IV by François Ravaillac, a Catholic fanatic. Isolated in the new Court, resigned and retired. | Loyal minister of Henry IV since French Wars of Religion. Conversion of Henry IV to Catholicism. Free trade without restriction. Establishment of courthouses on misappropriation. Public works and new roads. Expansion of the Royal Army. Franco-Savoyard War. Organized marriage between Henry IV and Marie de' Medici. Edict of Nantes introduced religious tolerance to Protestants. Assassination of Henry IV by François Ravaillac, a Catholic fanatic. Isolated in the new Court, resigned and retired. | Loyal minister of Henry IV since French Wars of Religion. Conversion of Henry IV to Catholicism. Free trade without restriction. Establishment of courthouses on misappropriation. Public works and new roads. Expansion of the Royal Army. Franco-Savoyard War. Organized marriage between Henry IV and Marie de' Medici. Edict of Nantes introduced religious tolerance to Protestants. Assassination of Henry IV by François Ravaillac, a Catholic fanatic. Isolated in the new Court, resigned and retired. | Loyal minister of Henry IV since French Wars of Religion. Conversion of Henry IV to Catholicism. Free trade without restriction. Establishment of courthouses on misappropriation. Public works and new roads. Expansion of the Royal Army. Franco-Savoyard War. Organized marriage between Henry IV and Marie de' Medici. Edict of Nantes introduced religious tolerance to Protestants. Assassination of Henry IV by François Ravaillac, a Catholic fanatic. Isolated in the new Court, resigned and retired. | Regency of Queen Mother Mary | Louis XIII (1610–1643) |
| | | Nicolas de Neufville, 1st Marquis of Villeroy (1543–1617) | Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1594–1616) | 30 January 1611 | 9 August 1616 | Nobility | Regency of Queen Mother Mary | Louis XIII (1610–1643) |
| Louis XIII (1610–1643) ||||
| | | Concino Concini, 1st Marquis d'Ancre (1569–1617) | Marshal of France (1613–1617) | 9 August 1616 | 24 April 1617 † | Nobility | Regency of Queen Mother Mary | Louis XIII (1610–1643) |
| Louis XIII (1610–1643) ||||
| | | Charles d'Albert,1st Duke of Luynes (1578–1621) | Grand Falconer of France (1616–1621) | 24 April 1617 | 15 December 1621 † | Nobility | Cabinets of Louis XIII | Louis XIII (1610–1643) |
| Louis XIII (1610–1643) ||||
| | — | Position vacant (absolute rule by Louis XIII) | King of France (1610–1643) | 15 December 1621 | 12 August 1624 | Nobility | Cabinets of Louis XIII | Louis XIII (1610–1643) |
| Louis XIII (1610–1643) ||||
| | | Cardinal Armand Jean du Plessis, 1st Duke of Richelieu and Fronsac (1585–1642) | Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs & War (1616–1617) | 12 August 1624 | 4 December 1642 † | Clergy | Cabinets of Louis XIII | Louis XIII (1610–1643) |
| Louis XIII (1610–1643) ||||
| | | Cardinal Jules Mazarin, 1st Duke of Mayenne and Rethel (1602–1661) | Bishop of Metz (1652–1658) | 5 December 1642 | 9 March 1661 † | Clergy | Cabinets of Louis XIII | Louis XIII (1610–1643) |
| | | Cardinal Jules Mazarin, 1st Duke of Mayenne and Rethel (1602–1661) | "Grey eminence" of Queen Mother Anne and Louis XIV. Eruption of the Fronde. Peace of Westphalia concluded the Thirty Years' War. End of the Eighty Years' War and recognizement of the United Provinces. Creation of the League of the Rhine. Repression of the Fronde. Formulary controversy. Treaty of the Pyrenees and peace with Habsburgs. Died in office due to illness. | "Grey eminence" of Queen Mother Anne and Louis XIV. Eruption of the Fronde. Peace of Westphalia concluded the Thirty Years' War. End of the Eighty Years' War and recognizement of the United Provinces. Creation of the League of the Rhine. Repression of the Fronde. Formulary controversy. Treaty of the Pyrenees and peace with Habsburgs. Died in office due to illness. | "Grey eminence" of Queen Mother Anne and Louis XIV. Eruption of the Fronde. Peace of Westphalia concluded the Thirty Years' War. End of the Eighty Years' War and recognizement of the United Provinces. Creation of the League of the Rhine. Repression of the Fronde. Formulary controversy. Treaty of the Pyrenees and peace with Habsburgs. Died in office due to illness. | "Grey eminence" of Queen Mother Anne and Louis XIV. Eruption of the Fronde. Peace of Westphalia concluded the Thirty Years' War. End of the Eighty Years' War and recognizement of the United Provinces. Creation of the League of the Rhine. Repression of the Fronde. Formulary controversy. Treaty of the Pyrenees and peace with Habsburgs. Died in office due to illness. | Regency of Queen Mother Anne | Louis XIV (1643–1715) |
| | | Cardinal Jules Mazarin, 1st Duke of Mayenne and Rethel (1602–1661) | "Grey eminence" of Queen Mother Anne and Louis XIV. Eruption of the Fronde. Peace of Westphalia concluded the Thirty Years' War. End of the Eighty Years' War and recognizement of the United Provinces. Creation of the League of the Rhine. Repression of the Fronde. Formulary controversy. Treaty of the Pyrenees and peace with Habsburgs. Died in office due to illness. | "Grey eminence" of Queen Mother Anne and Louis XIV. Eruption of the Fronde. Peace of Westphalia concluded the Thirty Years' War. End of the Eighty Years' War and recognizement of the United Provinces. Creation of the League of the Rhine. Repression of the Fronde. Formulary controversy. Treaty of the Pyrenees and peace with Habsburgs. Died in office due to illness. | "Grey eminence" of Queen Mother Anne and Louis XIV. Eruption of the Fronde. Peace of Westphalia concluded the Thirty Years' War. End of the Eighty Years' War and recognizement of the United Provinces. Creation of the League of the Rhine. Repression of the Fronde. Formulary controversy. Treaty of the Pyrenees and peace with Habsburgs. Died in office due to illness. | "Grey eminence" of Queen Mother Anne and Louis XIV. Eruption of the Fronde. Peace of Westphalia concluded the Thirty Years' War. End of the Eighty Years' War and recognizement of the United Provinces. Creation of the League of the Rhine. Repression of the Fronde. Formulary controversy. Treaty of the Pyrenees and peace with Habsburgs. Died in office due to illness. | Cabinets of Louis XIV | Louis XIV (1643–1715) |
| | | Jean-Baptiste Colbert (1619–1683) | Controller-General of Finances (1661–1683) | 9 March 1661 | 6 September 1683 † | Commoner | Cabinets of Louis XIV | Louis XIV (1643–1715) |
| Louis XIV (1643–1715) ||||
| | | François-Michel Le Tellier, 1st Marquis of Louvois (1641–1691) | Secretary of State for War & Maison du Roi (1662–1691) | 7 September 1683 | 16 July 1691 † | Nobility | Cabinets of Louis XIV | Louis XIV (1643–1715) |
| Louis XIV (1643–1715) ||||
| | — | Position vacant (absolute rule by Louis XIV) | King of France (1643–1715) | 17 July 1691 | 1 September 1715 | Nobility | Cabinets of Louis XIV | Louis XIV (1643–1715) |
| Louis XIV (1643–1715) ||||
| | | Cardinal Guillaume Dubois (1656–1723) | Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1718–1723) | 12 September 1715 | 10 August 1723 † | Clergy | Regency of The Duke of Orléans | Louis XV (1715–1774) |
| | | Cardinal Guillaume Dubois (1656–1723) | Third "Grey Eminence" of the Kingdom. Signature of the Triple Alliance and War of the Quadruple Alliance. Cellamare and Pontcallec conspirancies. Died in office due to health problems. | Third "Grey Eminence" of the Kingdom. Signature of the Triple Alliance and War of the Quadruple Alliance. Cellamare and Pontcallec conspirancies. Died in office due to health problems. | Third "Grey Eminence" of the Kingdom. Signature of the Triple Alliance and War of the Quadruple Alliance. Cellamare and Pontcallec conspirancies. Died in office due to health problems. | Third "Grey Eminence" of the Kingdom. Signature of the Triple Alliance and War of the Quadruple Alliance. Cellamare and Pontcallec conspirancies. Died in office due to health problems. | Cabinets of Louis XV | Louis XV (1715–1774) |
| | | Philippe II, 13th Duke of Orléans (1674–1723) | Regent of the Kingdom (1715–1723) | 10 August 1723 | 2 December 1723 † | Nobility | Cabinets of Louis XV | Louis XV (1715–1774) |
| Louis XV (1715–1774) ||||
| | | Louis Henri, 7th Prince of Condé (1692–1740) | Grand Master of France (1710–1740) | 2 December 1723 | 11 June 1726 | Nobility | Cabinets of Louis XV | Louis XV (1715–1774) |
| Louis XV (1715–1774) ||||
| | | Cardinal André-Hercule de Fleury (1653–1743) | Bishop of Fréjus (1699–1715) | 11 June 1726 | 29 January 1743 † | Clergy | Cabinets of Louis XV | Louis XV (1715–1774) |
| Louis XV (1715–1774) ||||
| | — | Position vacant (absolute rule by Louis XV) | King of France (1715–1774) | 29 January 1743 | 3 December 1758 | Nobility | Cabinets of Louis XV | Louis XV (1715–1774) |
| Louis XV (1715–1774) ||||
| | | Étienne François de Choiseul 1st Duke of Choiseul (1719–1785) | Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs & War (1761–1770) | 3 December 1758 | 24 December 1770 | Nobility | Cabinets of Louis XV | Louis XV (1715–1774) |
| Louis XV (1715–1774) ||||
| | | René-Nicolas de Maupeou (1714–1792) | Chancellor of France (1768–1774) | 25 December 1770 | 23 August 1774 | Nobility | Cabinets of Louis XV | Louis XV (1715–1774) |
| | | René-Nicolas de Maupeou (1714–1792) | Failed attempt to establish an Enlightened absolutism. Tensions with the Parlements. Fight against upper classes on privileges and farms. Envoy of musketeers against Parliament's magistrates. Suppression of the Court of Aids. Despite his success against magistrates' power abuses, Louis XVI preferred search an agreement with them. Resigned due to disagreements with the new King. | Failed attempt to establish an Enlightened absolutism. Tensions with the Parlements. Fight against upper classes on privileges and farms. Envoy of musketeers against Parliament's magistrates. Suppression of the Court of Aids. Despite his success against magistrates' power abuses, Louis XVI preferred search an agreement with them. Resigned due to disagreements with the new King. | Failed attempt to establish an Enlightened absolutism. Tensions with the Parlements. Fight against upper classes on privileges and farms. Envoy of musketeers against Parliament's magistrates. Suppression of the Court of Aids. Despite his success against magistrates' power abuses, Louis XVI preferred search an agreement with them. Resigned due to disagreements with the new King. | Failed attempt to establish an Enlightened absolutism. Tensions with the Parlements. Fight against upper classes on privileges and farms. Envoy of musketeers against Parliament's magistrates. Suppression of the Court of Aids. Despite his success against magistrates' power abuses, Louis XVI preferred search an agreement with them. Resigned due to disagreements with the new King. | Cabinets of Louis XVI | Louis XVI (1774–1792) |
| | | Jacques Turgot (1727–1781) | Controller-General of Finances (1723–1749) | 24 August 1774 | 12 May 1776 | Commoner | Cabinets of Louis XVI | Louis XVI (1774–1792) |
| Louis XVI (1774–1792) ||||
| | | Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, 3rd Count of Maurepas (1701–1781) | Secretary of State of the Navy (1723–1749) | 14 May 1776 | 21 November 1781 † | Nobility | Cabinets of Louis XVI | Louis XVI (1774–1792) |
| Louis XVI (1774–1792) ||||
| | | Charles Gravier, Count of Vergennes (1717–1787) | Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1774–1787) | 21 November 1781 | 13 February 1787 † | Nobility | Cabinets of Louis XVI | Louis XVI (1774–1792) |
| Louis XVI (1774–1792) ||||
| | | Archbishop Étienne Charles de Loménie (1727–1794) | Archbishop of Toulouse (1763–1788) | 1 May 1787 | 25 August 1788 | Clergy | Cabinets of Louis XVI | Louis XVI (1774–1792) |
| Louis XVI (1774–1792) ||||
| | | Jacques Necker (1732–1804) | Controller-General of Finances (1777–1781/1788–1789) | 25 August 1788 | 11 July 1789 | Commoner | Cabinets of Louis XVI | Louis XVI (1774–1792) |
| Louis XVI (1774–1792) ||||
| | | Louis Auguste Le Tonnelier, Baron of Breteuil (1730–1807) | Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi (1783–1788) | 11 July 1789 | 16 July 1789 | Nobility | Cabinets of Louis XVI | Louis XVI (1774–1792) |
| Louis XVI (1774–1792) ||||
| | | Jacques Necker (1732–1804) | Controller-General of Finances (1777–1781/1788–1789) | 16 July 1789 | 3 September 1790 | Commoner | Cabinets of Louis XVI | Louis XVI (1774–1792) |
| Louis XVI (1774–1792) ||||
| | | Armand Marc, Count of Montmorin and Saint-Hérem (1745–1792) | Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1787–1789) | 3 September 1790 | 3 September 1791 | Nobility | Cabinets of Louis XVI | Louis XVI (1774–1792) |
| | | Armand Marc, Count of Montmorin and Saint-Hérem (1745–1792) | Former member of the conservative clique of Versailles, he became a puppet in Mirabeau and La Marck's hands. After Mirabeau's death, he resigned from his position. He was later killed during September Massacres. | Former member of the conservative clique of Versailles, he became a puppet in Mirabeau and La Marck's hands. After Mirabeau's death, he resigned from his position. He was later killed during September Massacres. | Former member of the conservative clique of Versailles, he became a puppet in Mirabeau and La Marck's hands. After Mirabeau's death, he resigned from his position. He was later killed during September Massacres. | Former member of the conservative clique of Versailles, he became a puppet in Mirabeau and La Marck's hands. After Mirabeau's death, he resigned from his position. He was later killed during September Massacres. | Constitutional Cabinet of Louis XVI | Louis XVI (1774–1792) |
| | — | Position vacant (supervisioned by Legislative Assembly) | N/A | 3 September 1791 | 21 September 1792 | N/A | Constitutional Cabinet of Louis XVI | Louis XVI (1774–1792) |
| Louis XVI (1774–1792) ||||

### First French Empire (1804–1814)

| Chief minister | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Political party | Emperor (Reign) |
| Position vacant | 1 | 18 May 1804 | 1 April 1814 | Vacant | Vacant | Napoleon I (1804–1814) |

### Kingdom of France (1814–1815)

| Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Prior/Contemporary office | Term of office | Term of office | Political Party | Government | King (Reign) |
| | Charles Maurice, Prince of Talleyrand (1754–1838) | Minister of Foreign Affairs (1799–1807) | 1 April 1814 | 2 May 1814 | Legitimist | Prov. Gov. | Louis XVIII (1814–1815) |
| Louis XVIII (1814–1815) ||||
| | Pierre-Louis, Count of Blacas (1771–1839) | Minister for the Maison du Roi (1814–1815) | 2 May 1814 | 20 March 1815 | Legitimist | King's Ministry | Louis XVIII (1814–1815) |
| Louis XVIII (1814–1815) ||||

### Hundred Days (1815)

| Chief Minister | Chief Minister | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Political party | Emperor (Reign) |
| Position vacant (absolute rule by Napoleon I) | Position vacant (absolute rule by Napoleon I) | 2 | 20 March 1815 | 22 June 1815 | Vacant | Vacant | Napoleon I (1815) |
| | Joseph Fouché (1759–1820) (as President of the Executive Commission) | • | 22 June 1815 | 7 July 1815 | | Bonapartist | Napoleon II (1815) |