Chief Minister of France, Roman Catholic Cardinal. André-Hercule de Fleury was sent to Paris as a young child and educated at several colleges. These included the Royal Collège de Navarre and La Sorbonne, where he received a degree in theology in 1676. He was ordained as a priest in 1679, and became bishop of Fréjus in 1699. The bishop resigned his diocese in 1715 and became preceptor to young King Louis XV. The king appointed de Fleury as first minister of France in 1726, an office which he held until his death. Shortly after he became chief minister of France, he was also elevated to cardinal. It was de Fleury who ruled France during that period, with the consent of the king. That period of time proved to be the most peaceful and prosperous of Louis XV's reign. After the Cardinal's death, the king ruled without a first minister. Cardinal de Fleury died in Issy, near Paris. He was initially buried in the parish church of Issy. Later, his remains were exhumed and reburied in the chapel at Saint-Louis du Louvre, Paris, in an elaborate monument built for him by King Louis XV.
Chief Minister of France, Roman Catholic Cardinal. André-Hercule de Fleury was sent to Paris as a young child and educated at several colleges. These included the Royal Collège de Navarre and La Sorbonne, where he received a degree in theology in 1676. He was ordained as a priest in 1679, and became bishop of Fréjus in 1699. The bishop resigned his diocese in 1715 and became preceptor to young King Louis XV. The king appointed de Fleury as first minister of France in 1726, an office which he held until his death. Shortly after he became chief minister of France, he was also elevated to cardinal. It was de Fleury who ruled France during that period, with the consent of the king. That period of time proved to be the most peaceful and prosperous of Louis XV's reign. After the Cardinal's death, the king ruled without a first minister. Cardinal de Fleury died in Issy, near Paris. He was initially buried in the parish church of Issy. Later, his remains were exhumed and reburied in the chapel at Saint-Louis du Louvre, Paris, in an elaborate monument built for him by King Louis XV.
Bio by: Anne Philbrick
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