Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet

Jacques-Benigne Bossuet (September 27, 1627 – April 12, 1704) was a French bishop, theologian, and court preacher. Bossuet was one of the first to advocate the theory of political absolutism; he made the argument that government was divine and that kings received their power from God.

He was an influential courtier during the time of Louis XIV. He won the trust of Louis's long-term mistress, Athénaïs, Marquise de Montespan, only to intrigue against her a few years later. As a result of this, Bossuet was a cherished ally of Louis's second wife, Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon. Bossuet also delivered the eulogies at the funerals of Charles I's widow, Queen Henrietta Maria and her daughter, Henriette-Anne – both of whom died in France.

Writings by Bossuet

• Politics Drawn from the Very Words of Holy Scripture