LOUVOIS, Francois Michel Le Tellier, fran-swa me-she' le 100-VWa, MARQUIS OF, Minister of War to Louis XIV: b. Paris, 18 Jan. 1641; d. 16 July 1691. He was early made a royal councillor through the influence of his father who was War Secretary. After 1666 he had the whole management of the Ministry of War and soon exercised great power under the king and over the army. His extensive knowledge, his decision, activity, industry and talents, rendered him an able minister; but he was too lavish of the blood and treasure of France and he pandered to the vanity and pas sion for military glory of his master. Justly appreciated, Louvois must be considered as the evil genius of the showy but disastrous reign of Louis XIV. The war of 1672 against Hol land was begun at his instigation. The vic tories of Turenne in 1674 and 1675 were gained by a disobedience of the orders of the Minister of War ; but the devastation of the Palatinate was commanded by him. On the death of Col bert (1683), of whom he had been the enemy, his influence became still greater; he opposed Louis' secret marriage with Madame de Main tenon ; and to a large extent he was respon sible for the revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685), the dragonnades, and the consequent flight of so many peaceful and industrious Cal vinists. The encroachments of France had
united the European powers in the League of Augsburg. Louvois would have the king com mence operations against the allies at once, but the growing influence of Madame tie Mainte non was sufficient to prevent this. In 1688 how ever, the French forces took Philipsburg on the Rhine, and on the order of Louvois the Pala tinate was reduced to a wilderness in midwin ter (1689). Louvois' scheme of army organ ization lasted till the empire; but he undid the constructive work of Colbert and destroyed the commerce of France. Consult Rousset,
de Louvois) (Paris 1872) ; Michel,