Léon Bouthillier, comte de Chavigny (March 28, 1608 – October 11, 1652) was a Foreign Minister ofFrance toLouis XIII.
He was associated with his father,Claude Bouthillier, who took him to all major courts ofEurope, tutoring indiplomacy, from 1629 to 1632. To differentiate Bouthillier father and son, Leo was called "The Younger". Léon's brotherVictor becamearchbishop of Tours.
On March 18, 1632, he was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. In 1635, he signed a treaty of alliance withHolland andSweden.
He acts as messenger betweenGaston d'Orleans and the government. He is also a friend of Mazarin, but their friendship does not survive the period of the regency.
After the death ofLouis XIII, he relinquished his office June 23, 1643 but he was sent as plenipotentiary in the negotiations ofMunster. Returning to France, he intrigued againstMazarin and approaches thePrince of Conde. He was arrested twice during theFronde.
In October 1652, just before his death he made a large donation to Anthony Singlin, Jansen, Director of Port Royal, who is even suspected of extortion on this occasion.
His son,Armand Jean le Bouthillier de Rancé, was the founder of theTrappist order. Another son, François-Denis, wasbishop of Troyes andRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Sens.
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| Preceded by | Foreign Minister of France 18 March 1632 – 23 June 1643 | Succeeded by |
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