LOUVOIS, FRAN5.0IS MICHEL LETELLIER, 3Iarquis de, the war-minister of Louis XIV., was b. in Paris, Jan. 18, 1641. His father was chancellor and secretary of state in the war department, aud purchased for him the reversion of this office. Louvois dis played great administrative ability; but his desire of power was insatiable, and lie was willing to involve the whole world in the horrors of war, that he lihnself might be indis pensable to the king. `His war-policy was also ruthless. He caused the Palatinate to be wasted by fire and sword in'1674. For some time he was, after the king himself, the most powerful man in Frtince. After tile death of Colbert, financial affairs came under his control, and the system of extortion and borrowing which he pursued was among the causes of the revolution. Ile partially lost favor with the king by counseling him against the marriage with Mine. de Maintenon; but afterwards instigated the perse cution of the Proteitants, and involved France in the long war with the German empire, 1688-97. In 1689, with the alleged view of securing the confines of the kingdom,
he airain caused the Palatinate to be desolated. Mme. de Maintenon directed the atteaion of the king to these atrocities, who thereupon forbade the burning of Treves; but Louvois declared that, to save trouble to the king's conscience, he had already issued orders for reducing that city to ashes. The king., upon hearino. this reply, seized the tongs from the chhnuey, and would have struck his minister midi that ready weapon, if Mme. de Maintenon had not stepped between. Such scenes were repeated from time to time, and the health of the vain and ambitious minister gave way. He died suddenly, July 16, 1691. Louis is said to have rejoiced at his death.An elaborate history of Louvois's administration, from original documents in the archives of the depot de la Guerre, by Camille Rousset, appeared in 1861-63 (4 vols., Paris).