List of Defense Ministers of France

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The Minister of State for War was one of the four specialized ministers of state introduced into France in 1589. He was in charge of the army. In 1791 the Minister of State became Minister of War . Together with other ministerial posts, this office ceased to exist in 1794, but was restored a year later. After the Second World War , the Ministry of War merged with the Ministry of Navy to form the National Ministry of Defense , which is responsible for the entire military. Since 1974 it has operated as the Ministry of Defense .

State War Minister (1643–1791)

minister Beginning The End
Michel Le Tellier 1643 1666
François Michel Le Tellier de Louvois 1666 July 16, 1691
Louis François Le Tellier, marquis de Barbezieux July 16, 1691 January 5, 1701
Michel Chamillart January 5, 1701 June 9, 1709
Daniel-Voysin de la Noiraye June 9, 1709 September 14, 1715
Louis Hector, duc de Villars October 1, 1715 September 24, 1718
Claude le Blanc September 24, 1718 July 1, 1723
François Victor Le Tonnelier de Breteuil July 1, 1723 June 19, 1726
Claude le Blanc June 19, 1726 1728
Nicolas-Prosper Bauyn d'Angervilliers July 1728 February 1740
François Victor Le Tonnelier de Breteuil February 1740 January 7, 1743
Marc-Pierre d'Argenson January 7, 1743 February 1, 1757
Antoine René de Voyer de Paulmy d'Argenson February 1, 1757 March 3, 1758
Louis-Charles-Auguste Fouquet de Belle-Isle March 3, 1758 January 27, 1761
Étienne-François de Choiseul January 27, 1761 December 24, 1770
Louis François de Monteynard January 26, 1771 January 27, 1774
Emmanuel-Armand de Vignerot du Plessis de Richelieu, duc d'Aiguillon January 27, 1774 June 2, 1774
Louis Nicolas Victor de Félix d'Ollières June 5, 1774 October 10, 1775
Claude-Louis, Comte de Saint-Germain October 27, 1775 September 27, 1777
Alexandre-Marie-Léonor de Saint-Mauris de Montbarrey September 27, 1777 December 19, 1780
Philippe Henri, marquis de Ségur December 23, 1780 August 29, 1787
Louis Auguste Le Tonnelier de Breteuil August 29, 1787 September 23, 1787
Athanase-Louis-Marie de Loménie September 23, 1787 November 30, 1788
Louis-Pierre de Chastenet November 30, 1788 July 13, 1789
Victor-François de Broglie July 13, 1789 July 16, 1789
Jean-Frédéric de la Tour du Pin-Gouvernet 4th August 1789 November 16, 1790
Louis le Bègue du Presle Duportail November 16, 1790 December 7, 1791

Minister of War (1791-1940)

minister Beginning The End
Louis Marie de Narbonne-Lara December 7, 1791 March 9, 1792
Pierre Marie de Grave March 9, 1792 May 9, 1792
Joseph Marie Servan de Gerbey May 9, 1792 June 13, 1792
Charles-François Dumouriez June 13, 1792 June 18, 1792
Pierre August Lajard June 18, 1792 July 23, 1792
Charles-Xavier Franqueville d'Abancourt July 23, 1792 August 10, 1792
Joseph Marie Servan de Gerbey August 10, 1792 October 3, 1792
Pierre Henri Hélène Marie Lebrun-Tondu October 3, 1792 October 18, 1792
Jean-Nicolas Pache October 18, 1792 February 4, 1793
Pierre Riel de Beurnonville February 4, 1793 April 1, 1793
Pierre Henri Hélène Marie Lebrun-Tondu April 1, 1793 April 4, 1793
Jean Baptiste Noël Bouchotte April 4, 1793 April 20, 1794
unoccupied April 20, 1794 November 3, 1795
Jean-Baptiste Annibal Aubert du Bayet November 3, 1795 February 8, 1796
Claude Louis Petiet February 8, 1796 July 15, 1797
Lazare Hoche July 15, 1797 July 22, 1797
Barthélemy Louis Joseph Scherer July 22, 1797 February 21, 1799
Louis Marie de Miletus de Mureau February 21, 1799 July 2, 1799
Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte July 2, 1799 September 14, 1799
Edmond Louis Alexis Dubois-Crancé September 14, 1799 November 10, 1799
Louis-Alexandre Berthier November 11, 1799 April 2, 1800
Lazare Carnot April 2, 1800 October 8, 1800
Louis-Alexandre Berthier, prince de Neuchâtel October 8, 1800 August 19, 1807
Henri Clarke d'Hunebourg, duc de Feltre August 19, 1807 April 1, 1814
Pierre Dupont de l'Étang April 3, 1814 December 3, 1814
Nicolas Jean-de-Dieu Soult December 3, 1814 March 11, 1815
Henri Clarke d'Hunebourg, duc de Feltre March 11, 1815 March 20, 1815
Louis Nicolas Davout, duc d'Auerstadt March 20, 1815 July 7, 1815
Laurent, comte de Gouvion de Saint-Cyr July 7, 1815 September 26, 1815
Henri Clarke d'Hunebourg, duc de Feltre September 26, 1815 September 12, 1817
Laurent, marquis de Gouvion de Saint-Cyr September 12, 1817 November 19, 1819
Marie Victor Nicolas de Fay, marquis de La Tour-Maubourg November 19, 1819 December 14, 1821
Claude-Victor Perrin, duc de Bellune December 14, 1821 March 23, 1823
Alexandre, vicomte Digeon March 23, 1823 April 15, 1823
Claude-Victor Perrin, duc de Bellune April 15, 1823 October 19, 1823
Ange Hyacinthe Maxence de Damas October 19, 1823 4th August 1824
Aimé, duc de Clermont-Tonnerre 4th August 1824 January 4, 1828
Louis Victor de Caux de Blacquetot January 4, 1828 August 8, 1829
Louis-Auguste-Victor de Ghaisnes de Bourmont August 8, 1829 July 31, 1830
Étienne Maurice, Comte Gérard July 31, 1830 November 17, 1830
Nicolas Jean-de-Dieu Soult November 17, 1830 July 18, 1834
Étienne Maurice, Comte Gérard July 18, 1834 November 10, 1834
Simon Bernard November 10, 1834 November 18, 1834
Édouard Adolphe Casimir Joseph Mortier, duc de Trévise November 18, 1834 March 12, 1835
Henri Gauthier, comte de Rigny March 12, 1835 April 30, 1835
Nicolas Joseph, marquis Maison April 30, 1835 September 6, 1836
Simon Bernard September 6, 1836 March 31, 1839
Amédée Louis Despans-Cubières March 31, 1839 May 12, 1839
Antoine Virgile Schneider May 12, 1839 March 1, 1840
Amédée Louis Despans-Cubières March 1, 1840 October 29, 1840
Nicolas Jean-de-Dieu Soult October 29, 1840 November 10, 1845
Alexandre Pierre Chevalier Moline de Saint-Yon November 10, 1845 May 9, 1847
Camille Alphonse Trézel May 9, 1847 February 24, 1848
Marie-Alphonse Bedeau February 24, 1848 February 25, 1848
Jacques Gervais, baron Subervie February 25, 1848 March 20, 1848
Louis-Eugène Cavaignac March 20, 1848 April 5, 1848
François Arago April 5, 1848 May 11, 1848
Jean-Baptiste Adolphe Charras May 11, 1848 May 17, 1848
Louis-Eugène Cavaignac May 17, 1848 June 28, 1848
Louis Juchault de Lamoricière June 28, 1848 December 20, 1848
Joseph Marcelin Rulhières December 20, 1848 October 31, 1849
Alphonse Henri, comte d'Hautpoul October 31, 1849 October 22, 1850
Jean-Paul Adam Schramm October 22, 1850 January 9, 1851
Auguste Étienne, Comte Régnault de Saint-Jean d'Angély January 9, 1851 January 24, 1851
Jacques-Louis-César-Alexandre, comte de Randon January 24, 1851 October 26, 1851
Achille de Saint-Arnaud October 26, 1851 March 11, 1854
Jean-Baptiste Philibert Vaillant March 11, 1854 May 5, 1859
Jacques-Louis-César-Alexandre, comte de Randon May 5, 1859 January 20, 1867
Adolphe Niel January 20, 1867 August 13, 1869
Charles Rigault de Genouilly August 13, 1869 August 21, 1869
Edmond Lebœuf August 21, 1869 July 20, 1870
Pierre Charles Dejean July 20, 1870 August 10, 1870
Charles Cousin-Montauban August 10, 1870 September 4, 1870
Adolphe Le Flô September 4, 1870 June 5, 1871
Ernest Courtot de Cissey June 5, 1871 May 25, 1873
François Claude du Barail May 29, 1873 May 22, 1874
Ernest Courtot de Cissey May 22, 1874 August 15, 1876
Jean Auguste Berthaud August 15, 1876 November 23, 1877
Gaëtan de Rochebouët November 23, 1877 December 13, 1877
Jean-Louis Borel December 13, 1877 May 16, 1878
Henri François Xavier Gresley May 16, 1878 December 28, 1879
Jean Joseph Farre December 28, 1879 November 14, 1881
Jean-Baptiste Campenon November 14, 1881 January 26, 1882
Jean-Baptiste Billot January 30, 1882 January 29, 1883
Jean Thibaudin January 31, 1883 October 9, 1883
Jean-Baptiste Campenon October 9, 1883 January 3, 1885
Jules Louis Lewal January 3, 1885 April 6, 1885
Jean-Baptiste Campenon April 6, 1885 January 7, 1886
Georges Boulanger January 7, 1886 May 30, 1887
Théophile Adrien Ferron May 30, 1887 December 12, 1887
François Auguste Logerot December 12, 1887 April 3, 1888
Charles de Saulces de Freycinet April 3, 1888 January 11, 1893
Julien Léon Loizillon January 11, 1893 December 3, 1893
Auguste Mercier December 3, 1893 January 24, 1895
Émile Auguste Zurlinden January 28, 1895 November 1, 1895
Godefroy Cavaignac November 1, 1895 April 29, 1896
Jean-Baptiste Billot April 29, 1896 June 28, 1898
Godefroy Cavaignac June 28, 1898 September 5, 1898
Émile Auguste Zurlinden September 5, 1898 September 17, 1898
Charles Chanoine September 17, 1898 October 25, 1898
Edouard Locroy October 25, 1898 November 1, 1898
Charles de Saulces de Freycinet November 1, 1898 May 6, 1899
Camille Krantz May 6, 1899 June 22, 1899
Gaston de Galliffet June 22, 1899 May 20, 1900
Louis André May 20, 1900 November 14, 1904
Maurice Berteaux November 14, 1904 November 12, 1905
Eugène Etienne November 12, 1905 October 25, 1906
Georges Picquart October 25, 1906 July 20, 1909
Jean Brun July 24, 1909 February 20, 1911
Aristide Briand February 23, 1911 March 2, 1911
Maurice Berteaux March 2, 1911 May 21, 1911
François Louis Auguste Goiran May 27, 1911 June 27, 1911
Adolphe Messimy June 27, 1911 January 14, 1912
Alexandre Millerand January 14, 1912 January 12, 1913
Albert Lebrun January 12, 1913 January 21, 1913
Eugène Etienne January 21, 1913 December 9, 1913
Joseph Noulens December 9, 1913 June 9, 1914
Théophile Delcassé June 9, 1914 June 13, 1914
Adolphe Messimy June 13, 1914 August 26, 1914
Alexandre Millerand August 26, 1914 October 29, 1915
Joseph Simon Gallieni October 29, 1915 March 16, 1916
Pierre Auguste Roques March 16, 1916 December 12, 1916
Louis Hubert Gonzalve Lyautey December 12, 1916 March 14, 1917
Lucien Lacaze March 14, 1917 March 20, 1917
Paul Painlevé March 20, 1917 November 16, 1917
Georges Clemenceau November 16, 1917 January 20, 1920
André Lefèvre January 20, 1920 December 16, 1920
Flaminius Raiberti December 16, 1920 January 16, 1921
Louis Barthou January 16, 1921 January 15, 1922
André Maginot January 15, 1922 June 14, 1924
Charles Nollet June 14, 1924 April 17, 1925
Paul Painlevé April 17, 1925 October 29, 1925
Edouard Daladier October 29, 1925 November 28, 1925
Paul Painlevé November 28, 1925 June 23, 1926
Adolphe Guillaumat June 23, 1926 July 19, 1926
Paul Painlevé July 19, 1926 November 3, 1929
André Maginot November 3, 1929 February 21, 1930
René Besnard February 21, 1930 March 2, 1930
André Maginot March 2, 1930 December 13, 1930
Louis Barthou December 13, 1930 January 27, 1931
André Maginot January 27, 1931 January 6, 1932
André Tardieu January 14, 1932 February 20, 1932
François Piétri February 20, 1932 June 3, 1932
Joseph Paul-Boncour June 3, 1932 December 18, 1932
Edouard Daladier December 18, 1932 January 30, 1934
Jean Fabry January 30, 1934 February 4, 1934
Joseph Paul-Boncour February 4, 1934 February 9, 1934
Philippe Pétain February 9, 1934 November 8, 1934
Louis Maurin November 8, 1934 June 7, 1935
Jean Fabry June 7, 1935 January 24, 1936
Louis Maurin January 24, 1936 June 4, 1936
Edouard Daladier June 4, 1936 May 18, 1940
Paul Reynaud May 18, 1940 June 16, 1940
Maxime Weygand (National Defense) and Louis Colson (War) June 16, 1940 September 6, 1940
Charles Huntziger September 6, 1940 August 11, 1941
François Darlan August 11, 1941 April 18, 1942
Eugène Bridoux April 18, 1942 August 20, 1944

Free commissioners (Vichy government, 1941–1944)

Commissioner Beginning The End
Paul Legentilhomme September 24, 1941 November 9, 1943
André Le Troquet November 9, 1943 April 4, 1944
André Diethelm April 4, 1944 September 10, 1944

Minister for National Defense (1944–1974)

minister Beginning The End
André Diethelm September 10, 1944 November 21, 1945
Edmond Michelet November 21, 1945 June 24, 1946
Félix Gouin June 24, 1946 December 16, 1946
André Le Troquer December 16, 1946 January 22, 1947
François Billoux January 22, 1947 May 4, 1947
Yvon Delbos May 4, 1947 October 22, 1947
Pierre-Henri Teitgen October 22, 1947 July 26, 1948
René Maier July 26, 1948 September 11, 1948
Paul Ramadier September 11, 1948 October 28, 1949
René Pleven October 29, 1949 July 12, 1950
Jules Moch July 12, 1950 August 11, 1951
Georges Bidault August 11, 1951 March 8, 1952
René Pleven March 8, 1952 June 19, 1954
Marie-Pierre Koenig June 19, 1954 August 14, 1954
Emmanuel Temple August 14, 1954 January 20, 1955
Jacques Chevallier (National Defense) and Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury (Armed Forces) January 20, 1955 February 23, 1955
Marie-Pierre Koenig February 23, 1955 October 6, 1955
Pierre Billotte October 6, 1955 February 1, 1956
Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury February 1, 1956 June 13, 1957
André Morice June 13, 1957 November 6, 1957
Jacques Chaban-Delmas November 6, 1957 May 14, 1958
Pierre de Chevigné May 14, 1958 June 1, 1958
Charles de Gaulle (National Defense) and Pierre Guillaumat (Armies) June 1, 1958 January 8, 1959
Pierre Guillaumat June 1, 1958 5th February 1960
Pierre Messmer 5th February 1960 June 22, 1969
Michel Debre June 22, 1969 April 4th 1973
Robert Galley April 4th 1973 May 28, 1974

Defense Minister (1974 to date)

minister Beginning The End
Jacques Soufflet May 28, 1974 1st February 1975
Yvon Bourges 1st February 1975 2nd October 1980
Joël Le Theule 2nd October 1980 December 14, 1980
Robert Galley December 22, 1980 May 22, 1981
Charles Hernu May 22, 1981 20th September 1985
Paul Quilès 20th September 1985 March 20, 1986
André Giraud March 20, 1986 May 12, 1988
Jean-Pierre Chevènement May 12, 1988 January 29, 1991
Pierre Joxe January 29, 1991 March 29, 1993
François Léotard March 29, 1993 May 18, 1995
Charles Millon May 18, 1995 June 4th 1997
Alain Richard June 4th 1997 May 7, 2002
Michèle Alliot-Marie May 7, 2002 May 15, 2007
Hervé Morin May 18, 2007 November 13, 2010
Alain Juppé November 14, 2010 February 26, 2011
Gérard Longuet February 27, 2011 May 15, 2012
Jean-Yves Le Drian May 16, 2012 15th May 2017
Sylvie Goulard 17th May 2017 20th June 2017
Florence Parly June 21, 2017 currently

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