Background
Charles Colbert, like his elder brother Jean Baptiste Colbert, began his career in the office of the minister of war Le Tellier. He was born in Reims, France on August 5, 1625.
Charles Colbert, like his elder brother Jean Baptiste Colbert, began his career in the office of the minister of war Le Tellier. He was born in Reims, France on August 5, 1625.
Charles Colbert began his career in the office of the minister of war Le Tellier. In 1656 he bought a counsellorship at the parlement of Metz, and in 1658 was appointed intendant of Alsace and president of the newly-created sovereign council of Alsace. In this position he had to re-organize the territory recently annexed to France. The steady support of his brother at court gained for him several diplomatic missions-to Germany and Italy (1659 - 1661).
In this position Charles Colbert had to re-organize the territory recently annexed to France.
In 1662 he became marquis de Croissy and president d mortier of the parlement of Metz.
After various intendancies, at Soissons (1665), at Amiens (1666), and at Paris (1667), he turned definitely to diplomacy.
In 1668 he represented France at the conference of Aix-la-Chapelle; and in August of the same year was sent as ambassador to London, where he was to negotiate the definite treaty of alliance with Charles II.
He at once assumed the entire direction of French diplomacy.
It was he, not Louvois, who formed the idea of annexation during a time of peace, by means of the chambers of reunion.
He had outlined this plan as early as 1658 with regard to Alsace.
His policy at first was to retain the territory annexed by the chambers of reunion without declaring war, and for this purpose he signed treaties of alliance with the elector of Brandenburg (1681), and with Denmark (1683); but the troubles following upon the revocation of the edict of Nantes (1685) forced him to give up his scheme and to prepare for war with Germany (1688).
In 1664 Charles Colbert married Françoise Béraud. They had 7 children.
