On March 9, 1661, after the death of Cardinal Mazarin, Louis XIV called three men together to form what would become the Conseil d’en haut or Council of Ministers. These men, the ministers of state, would be his closest advisors. This council would discuss matters of important policy: diplomacy, war, peace, the Church, trade, and taxes.

For the rest of Louis XIV’s reign, this council would meet two or three times a week, unless the king was traveling or ill. An oral invitation transmitted by one of the king’s Swiss guards summoned people to join this council. Membership would fluctuate from a low of two men to a high of seven men. There were temporarily only two members of the Conseil d’en haut following the death of Hugues de Lionne on September 2, 1671, until his replacement could be recalled from Sweden; he arrived at court some time in January 1672. During the crisis years, from November 1708 to April 1711, the council had seven members. Usually, Louis expanded the membership when war was looming, and allowed the number of members to decline as peace returned.

During the years of Louis XIV’s personal rule, from 1661 until his death on September 1, 1715, a total of nineteen men would be members of this council, including the king’s son and two of his grandsons. Of the sixteen nonroyal members, three would be dismissed, but one of them would be recalled. Two others retired from the court voluntarily. Eight would die while they were members of the council, and four would still be sitting on the council at the king’s death. His son and two grandsons all died while serving on it.

What follows is a list of the members of the Council of Ministers, with their dates of service, followed by a chronology of membership on the Council, with members listed according to seniority (i.e., with the most senior member first). Seniority was significant because the king usually asked for the opinion of the newest nonroyal members first.

List of Members of the Council of Ministers

• 1. Michel Le Tellier: March 9, 1661–October 30, 1685 (death)

• 2. Hugues de Lionne: March 9, 1661–September 2, 1671 (death)

• 3. Nicolas Foucquet: March 9, 1661–September 5, 1661 (arrest and dismissal)