Pontchartrain’s First Years 1691–1693

Abstract

After Seignelay’s death it was generally assumed that the king would select Bonrepaus to take charge of the navy. Bonrepaus was the logical choice: he had long experience in naval affairs, had been closely associated with the Colbert family, and in the last months of Seignelay’s life had been running the fleet for him. If Bonrepaus had become Secretary of State for the navy, he would in all probability have carried on the Colbertian policy of the guerre d’escadre for as long as he could, and would have fought against any diminution of the navy’s role. He was a favourite of the king’s and it is to be assumed that he would have exercised a strong influence on policy-making at the highest level. But for one reason or another — we do not really know why, except that it may have been because he could not afford to purchase the office of Secretary from Seignelay’s heir — Bonrepaus was passed over. From this time, the Colbertian tradition of naval policy that he represented began gradually to give way to different ideas.