Maximilien de Béthune, Duc de Sully

Maximilien de Béthune, Duc de Sully (1560-1641), French statesman, born in the château of Rosny-sur-Seine near Mantes-Gassicourt, heir to the barony of Rosny. In 1571 he was sent to the court of Henry of Navarre, later king of France as Henry IV. Sully became Henry's most trusted counselor, being appointed a member of the king's council of finance in 1596. Two years later he was named minister of finance and remained in complete control of the royal monies until Henry's death in 1610. Among his economic achievements was the successful reorganization of the French revenue system. Sully was also influential in other aspects of government, holding such positions as grand commissioner of public works in 1597, governor of Mantes and Jargeau in 1602, and governor of Poitou in 1604. In March 1606 he was created duke of Sully. He remained faithful to Henry throughout the political turmoil of the monarch's reign, narrowly escaping death on several occasions. Following Henry's assassination, Sully retired to his estate.