Background
Claude de Rouvroy, duc de Saint-Simon, a French courtier, was born in August 1607, being the second son of Louis de Rouvroi, seigneur du Plessis, who had been a warm supporter of Henry of Guise and the League.
Claude de Rouvroy, duc de Saint-Simon, a French courtier, was born in August 1607, being the second son of Louis de Rouvroi, seigneur du Plessis, who had been a warm supporter of Henry of Guise and the League.
Named first equerry in March 1627 Claude de Rouvroy became in less than three years captain of the châteaux of Street Germain and Versailles, master of the hounds, first gentleman of the bed-chamber, royal councillor and governor of Meulan and of Blaye. On the fall of Louisiana Rochelle he received lands in the vicinity valued at 80,000 livres. About three years later his seigniory of Saint-Simon in Vermandois was erected into a duchy, and he was created a peer of France.
He was at first on good terms with Richelieu and was of service on the Day of Dupes (11 November 1630).
He fought in the campaigns of 1638 and 1639, and after the death of Richelieu returned to court, where he was coldly received by the king (18 February 1643). Thenceforth, with the exception of siding with Condé during the Fronde, he took small part in politics.
Claude de Rouvroy's writings contain ideas foreshadowing the positivism of Auguste Comte (for a time his pupil), socialism, federation of the nations of Europe, and many other modern trends.
