Sully, Maximilien de B�thune, Duc de, also known as Baron de Rosny 1560-1641
French financier

The second son of the Huguenot Baron de Rosny, he was born in the ch�teau of Rosny near Mantes. He accompanied Henri of Navarre (the future Henri IV) in his flight from the French court (1576), took an active part in the war, and helped to decide the victory of Coutras (1587). At Ivry he captured the standard of Mayenne. He approved of the Henri's conversion to Roman Catholicism in 1572, but refused himself to become a Roman Catholic, and throughout the reign remained a trusted counsellor. His first task was the restoration of the economy after 30 years of civil war. Before his time the whole administration was an organized system of pillage; he made a tour through the provinces, examined the accounts, reduced exemptions from taxation and amassed 110 million livres' revenue in the Bastille. The arsenals and fleet were put into good order. He was instrumental in arranging Henri's marriage to Marie de M�dicis (1600). In 1606 he was created Duc de Sully. After Henri's assassination (1610) he had to resign, but was presented by Marie de M�dicis with 300,000 livres, and retired to his estates, Rosny and Villebon.

Bibliography: David Buisseret, Sully and the Growth of Centralized Government in France (1968)