Sovereign Council of New France
The Sovereign Council of New France was a political body appointed by the King of France in the 1663 reorganization of the colony of New France. The major officers of the Sovereign Council were the Governor General, who was responsible for military affairs and diplomatic relations, the Intendant of New France, who was responsible for finance, economic development, and the administration of justice (law and order), and the Bishop of New France, who was responsible for all spiritual matters in the colony. The Intendant served as the presiding officer of the Soveriegn Council.
The introduction of this government cancelled the contract with the Compagnie des cents associées, which apparently had failed to organize the establishment of thousands of colonists in America.
The institution lasted from its introduction in 1663 to the fall of New France in 1760. Its last meeting occurred on April 28, 1760, the day of the Battle of Sainte-Foy.
As early as June 16, 1703, the King of France refers to the council as the Conseil Supérieur instead of the former Conseil Souverain.
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[edit] Composition
The Sovereign Council included nine officials who were fully responsible for all legislative, executive, and judicial matters. It made rules and enacted laws concerning the day-to-day affairs of the colony
- The Governor General of New France was the direct representative of the king of France and was responsible for defense and diplomatic relations.
- The Apostolic Vicar for New France (after 1674, Bishop of New France) was in control of religious affairs, which included charity, education, hospitals and the Christianization of Amerindians.
- The Intendant of New France was responsible for economic affairs and trade, the administration of justice, finance, settlement and seigneurialism. He traveled from house to house asking what should be improved.
- The Captain of the Militia informed the inhabitants of the Intendant's plans for the development for the colony, reported on the concerns of the people, and tallied the census. As New France became better organized, further captains were added in each province to fulfill the duties of the Council.
- Five councillors served as a Court of Appeal and as a governing body, and they formed the colony's senior court of law. In 1703, the number of councillors was increased to 12. Prior to 1675 the councillors were appointed by the Governor General and thereafter by the King alone.[1] Amongst these councillors were included the offices of Procurator General and Registrar of New France.
[edit] Members of the Council
[edit] Governor General of New France
| Name | Term | Sovereign |
|---|---|---|
| Augustin de Mésy | 1663-1665 | Louis XIV |
| Daniel de Courcelle | 1665-1672 | |
| Le comte de Frontenac | 1672-1682 | |
| Joseph-Antoine de LaBarre | 1682-1685 | |
| Le marquis de Denonville | 1685-1689 | |
| Le comte de Frontenac | 1689-1698 | |
| Hector de Callière | 1698-1703 | |
| Philippe de Rigaud de Vaudreuil | 1703-1725 | Louis XV |
| Le marquis de Beauharnois | 1726-1747 | |
| Le comte de La Galissonnière | 1747-1749 | |
| Le Marquis de la Jonquière | 1749-1752 | |
| Le Marquis Duquesne | 1752-1755 | |
| Pierre François de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal | 1755-1760 |
[edit] Intendant of New France
The Indendant was President of the Council.
| Name | Term | Sovereign |
|---|---|---|
| Jean Talon | 1665-1668 | Louis XIV |
| Claude de Boutroue d'Aubigny | 1668-1670 | |
| Jean Talon | 1669-1672 | |
| Jacques Duchesneau de la Doussinière et d'Ambault [1] | 1675-1682 | |
| Jacques de Meulles [2] | 1682-1686 | |
| Jean Bochart de Champigny, sieur de Noroy de Verneuil [3] | 1686-1702 | |
| François de Beauharnois de la Chaussaye, Baron de Beauville | 1702-1705 | |
| Jacques Raudot co-intendant | 1705-1711 | |
| Antoine-Denis Raudot co-intendant | 1705-1710 | |
| Michel Bégon de la Picardière | 1712-1726 | Louis XV |
| Claude-Thomas Dupuy | 1726-1728 | |
| Gilles Hocquart | 1729-1748 | |
| François Bigot | 1748-1760 |
[edit] Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec
| Name | Term | Sovereign |
|---|---|---|
| Bishop François de Montmorency-Laval | 1658-1688 | Louis XIV of France |
| Bishop Jean-Baptiste de la Croix de Chevrières de Saint-Vallier [4] | 1688-1727 | Louis XIV of France (until September 1715) and Louis XV of France |
| Bishop Louis-François Duplessis de Mornay | 1727-1733 | Louis XV of France |
| Bishop Pierre-Herman Dosquet | 1733-1739 | Louis XV of France |
| Bishop François-Louis de Pourroy de Lauberivière | 1739-1740 | Louis XV of France |
| Bishop Henri-Marie Dubreil de Pontbriand | 1741-1760 | Louis XV of France |
[edit] See also
- New France
- Timeline of Quebec history
- List of Governors General of Canada
- List of French possessions and colonies
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Les conseillers au Conseil souverain de la Nouvelle-France, Pierre-Georges Roy (The Consellors of the Sovereign Council of New France)
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