Simon Arnauld, Marquis de Pomponne

He was son of Robert Arnauld d'Andilly, governor of Monsieur and "intendant d'armée" under Richelieu, and of Catherine Le Fevre de la Boderie.

After being taught by Martin Barcos, he entered the world of the "précieuses", attending the salon of Mme de Rambouillet with several members of his family.

His style is one of a real diplomat, trying to find agreements with other countries in wartime, and Louvois, Secretary of State for War, was more aggressive and keen to fight.

While Pomponne managed to obtain the Treaty of Nijmegen (1678), he was eventually dismissed at a time when Louis wanted to conduct a more warlike foreign policy (18 November 1679).

The King called him back in 1691 (as a member of the Conseil d'en haut but without the charge of a specific board), right after Louvois's death and fostered the marriage of the son of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the marquis de Torcy, with Pomponne's daughter.