Croissy, Charles Colbert, marquis de [key], c.1625–96, French diplomat, brother of Jean Baptiste Colbert. He entered the service of Cardinal Mazarin and filled many diplomatic posts in Europe in the 1650s and 60s. In 1668 he signed the peace treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which ended the War of Devolution. As ambassador to England (1668–74) he negotiated the first treaty of Dover with King Charles II (1670). In 1678 he became president for life of the Parlement of Paris. Becoming minister of state for foreign affairs in 1680, he worked to develop an alliance system for France and was probably instrumental in developing the “chambers of reunion” to aid Louis XIV's expansionist ambitions.
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