Nicolas V de Neufville de Villeroy (14 October 1598 – 28 November 1685) was a French nobleman and

marshal of France Marshal of France (french: Maréchal de France, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished ( ...

. He was marquis then (from 1651) 1st duke of Villeroy and (from 1663)

peer of France The Peerage of France (french: Pairie de France) was a hereditary distinction within the French nobility which appeared in 1180 in the Middle Ages. The prestigious title and position of Peer of France (french: Pair de France, links=no) was ...

, marquis d'Alincourt and lord of Magny, and acted as governor of the young

Louis XIV Louis XIV (Louis Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was List of French monarchs, King of France from 14 May 1643 until his death in 1715. His reign of 72 years and 110 days is the Li ...

. His son

François François () is a French masculine given name and surname, equivalent to the English name Francis. People with the given name * Francis I of France, King of France (), known as "the Father and Restorer of Letters" * Francis II of France, Kin ...

succeeded him as duke. He was the lover of Catherine-Charlotte de Gramont.

Life

He was the son of Charles de Neufville (1566–1642), marquis de Villeroy et d'Alincourt, and his second wife, Jacqueline de Harlay de Sancy. His grandfather Nicolas de Neufville served as a secretary of state under Charles IX, Henry III, Henry IV, and

Louis XIII Louis XIII (; sometimes called the Just; 27 September 1601 – 14 May 1643) was King of France from 1610 until his death in 1643 and King of Navarre (as Louis II) from 1610 to 1620, when the crown of Navarre was merged with the French crow ...

. Nicolas de Neufville studied at the court of Louis XIII as an enfant d’honneur. In 1615, he was made governor of the

Lyonnais The Lyonnais () is a historical province of France which owes its name to the city of Lyon. The geographical area known as the ''Lyonnais'' became part of the Kingdom of Burgundy after the division of the Carolingian Empire. The disintegratio ...

under his father's supervision – an effective governor, he served in that post until his father's death in 1642. He served in Italy with Lesdiguières and was promoted to

on 20 October 1646 thanks to being the protégé of cardinal

Jules Mazarin Cardinal Jules Mazarin (, also , , ; 14 July 1602 – 9 March 1661), born Giulio Raimondo Mazzarino () or Mazarini, was an Italian cardinal, diplomat and politician who served as the chief minister to the Kings of France Louis XIII and Louis XI ...

. In March 1646, the queen-mother made marshal de Villeroy governor of

, under Mazarin's authority chosen as "surintendent for the government and conduct of the king". It is difficult to attribute him any good or bad influence in the young king's education. He was made duke of Villeroy in September 1651 and admitted to the

peerage of France The Peerage of France (french: Pairie de France) was a hereditary distinction within the French nobility which appeared in 1180 in the Middle Ages. The prestigious title and position of Peer of France (french: Pair de France, links=no) was ...

in 1663. He served as Grand Master of France at Louis XIV's coronation and was made a knight of the

Order of the Holy Spirit , status = Abolished in 1830 after the July RevolutionRecognised as a dynastic order of chivalry by the ICOC , founder = Henry III of France , head_title = Grand Master , head = Disputed:Louis Alphonse, Duke of Anjou Jean, Count of Pari ...

on 31 December 1661. Louis XIV also made him head of the Conseil royal des finances in 1661, a role (of particular importance at the time of the suppression of the

surintendance des finances The Superintendent of Finances (french: Surintendant des finances) was the name of the minister in charge of finances in France from 1561 to 1661. The position was abolished in 1661 with the downfall of Nicolas Fouquet, and a new position was c ...

, but becoming largely honorific) he held until his death.

Hotel de Villeroy

In 1640 Nicolas de Villeroy built a '' hôtel particulier'' on 34

rue des Bourdonnais ''Ruta graveolens'', commonly known as rue, common rue or herb-of-grace, is a species of ''Ruta'' grown as an ornamental plant and herb. It is native to the Balkan Peninsula. It is grown throughout the world in gardens, especially for its bluis ...

in the center of Paris in the district of les Halles. The House was built on the grounds of a former mansion already belonging to the Villeroy family since 1370. It has a second entrance from 9

rue des Dechargeurs ''Ruta graveolens'', commonly known as rue, common rue or herb-of-grace, is a species of ''Ruta'' grown as an ornamental plant and herb. It is native to the Balkan Peninsula. It is grown throughout the world in gardens, especially for its bluis ...

The beautiful courtyard of the building was frequently visited by the young

King Louis XIV , house = Bourbon , father = Louis XIII , mother = Anne of Austria , birth_date = , birth_place = Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France , death_date = , death_place = Palace of Ver ...

who lived in the nearby Palais Royal and played there as a child with his brother Prince Philippe d'Orleans. The Hotel de Villeroy still exists today, and in 1984 it was protected as a historic monument. Part of it is today used by the International Exposition center Cremerie de Paris which hosted in June 2012 the

Nike Barber Shop Nike often refers to: * Nike (mythology), a Greek goddess who personifies victory * Nike, Inc., a major American producer of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment Nike may also refer to: People * Nike (name), a surname and feminine given ...

. The Barber Shop was the center of the advertisement campaign of the US company

Nike, Inc Nike, Inc. ( or ) is an American multinational corporation that is engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, and worldwide marketing and sales of footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories, and services. The company is headquartered ne ...

. Information tours are organized every month giving the public the possibility to discover the staircase and the courtyard of the Hotel de Villeroy.

Family

Nicolas married on 11 July 1617 to Madeleine de Créquy. They had four children: # Charles de Neufville (died 1645), Marquis of Alincourt # François de Neufville, (2nd) Duke of Villeroy (1644–1730), # Françoise de Neufville (died 1701) married: (1) Just, Count of Tournon (†1644) (2, 1646) Henri d'Albert, Duke of Chaulnes (†1653), then (3) Jean Vignier, Marquis of Hauterive # Catherine de Neufville (1639–1707), in 1660 married Louis of Lorraine, Count of Armangnac (1641–1718), and of Charny and de Brionne

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Villeroy 1598 births 1685 deaths Dukes of Villeroi French generals Governors of the Children of France Marshals of France 17th-century peers of France Peers created by Louis XIV