Colbert

Also known as: M Colbert / M. Colbert / Monsieur Colbert / his secretary / little Colbert / monsieur l’intendant / my attendant / the financier / the intendant · Family: French court · Role: clerk · First appears: Chapter 43

In chapter 43, Mazarin ordered Brienne to send him Colbert as a clerk. In 1648, his cousin Colbert, Seigneur de Saint-Penange placed and protected him in Michel Letellier’s service; Colbert carried a compromising letter to Mazarin and, after faithfully returning it to Letellier, gained Mazarin’s admiration and the post of Joubert, becoming indispensable through his knowledge of the cardinal’s accounts. Mazarin called him “my other confessor,” and entrusted him with knowledge of thirteen million livres beyond his known wealth.

Colbert delivered Mazarin’s sealed donation to Louis XIV at the Louvre, and at Vincennes Mazarin recommended him as “my attendant.” Louis XIV promised to place him securely in royal employment after Colbert disclosed the emptiness of the state’s finances and the thirteen million livres secretly entrusted to him by Mazarin. He then became intendant of the finances, established a chamber of justice, received access to English correspondence, and deposited the money in Louis XIV’s cellar.

Colbert’s examination of Fouquet’s accounts made them rivals, and Colbert’s appointment threatened Fouquet’s position. His notes named D’Eymeris and Lyodot for condemnation; he caused their arrest, trial, and scheduled execution, and ordered two gibbets. D’Artagnan opposed him, refusing to return fifteen thousand livres and destroying the payment order Colbert intended to use against Fouquet, while Menneville was his enemy. Later, Fouquet ordered Colbert to remit nine hundred thousand livres to Louis XIV, and Louis XIV continued to direct Colbert in the royal financial business.