abstract:Nicolas Fouquet, marquis de Belle-Île, vicomte de Melun et Vaux (January 27, 1615 – March 23, 1680) was the Superintendent of Finances in France from 1653 until 1661 under King Louis XIV. He fell out of favor with the young king, probably because of his extravagant displays of wealth, and the king had him imprisoned from 1661 until his death in 1680.
VictimsincludeLouisXIV, who died of gangrene and had allhislegitimate children dieinchildhood, and French financeministerNicolasFouquet, thought by some to be the real Man in the IronMask.