Arthur Gouffier de Roannez

Coat of arms race of Gouffier

Artus Gouffier, Duke of Roannez or Duke of Roannais (* 1627 , † 1696 ), was governor of Poitou in 17th century France under Minister Mazarin and one of Blaise Pascal's closest friends .

Artus Gouffier, son of Henri Gouffier , Marquis of Boisy , Count of Maulévrier and lord of the Château d'Oiron (1605 - 24 August 1639) and of Anne-Marie du Peray (- 1676), inherited the title of Duke of Roannez from his grandfather, Louis Gouffier (1575–1642). He was appointed governor of Poitou in 1651.

Enthusiastic about transport issues, he pushed ahead with the work to drain the Marais Poitevin , contributed to the sewerage of the Sèvre Niortaise and later the Seine between Paris and Rouen and developed the Carrosses à cinq sols company in Paris .

After the death of Blaise Pascal in 1662 he tried to get the writings of the philosopher published. Of Jansenism suspected he had to give up the duchy to his sister Charlotte, as this later on April 9, 1667 Marshal of France François d'Aubusson de La Feuillade married.

literature

• Jean Mesnard: Pascal et les Roannez , Paris 1965

Web links

• The family tree of the Gouffier family (French; Artus Gouffier de Roannez can be found on page 5)
• The coat of arms of the Dukes of Roannez (French)