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Article: Colbert, Jean-Baptiste (1619–1683)
- Article from:
- Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World
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COLBERT, JEAN-BAPTISTE (1619
–
1683)
COLBERT, JEAN-BAPTISTE
(1619
–
1683), French statesman. Colbert, the leading minister during the initial decades of Louis XIV's (ruled 1643
–
1715) personal reign, was born at Reims, the son of a drapery merchant, on 29 August 1619. Exploiting familial ties with Michel le Tellier, Colbert obtained a royal appointment at a relatively young age in 1643. During the chaos of the Fronde (1648
–
1653), he served as agent for Jules Mazarin's (1602
–
1661) affairs while the cardinal was exiled from Paris (1651). Colbert's diligence and business acumen resulted in hefty rewards upon Mazarin's return. On his deathbed (1661), the ...