Michel de L’Hôpital

French chancellor

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Michel de L'Hôpital was a French statesman, lawyer, and humanist who served as chancellor of France from 1560 to 1568. He was instrumental in advocating for a policy of religious toleration towards the Huguenots during a period of intense religious conflict in France.12

L'Hôpital believed that rulers should protect all subjects regardless of their religion and that using force to impose religious unity would be counterproductive. His philosophies influenced the Politiques, a moderate Catholic group seeking peace during the Wars of Religion. He also worked on judicial reforms, promoting the Ordonnance de Moulins in 1566 to improve judicial administration. Despite his efforts, civil war reignited, and he lost favor, retiring in 1568.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

history of Europe
Nation-states and dynastic rivalries
…monarch was Charles IX’s chancellor, Michel de L’Hôpital, but his reforms in the 1560s were frustrated by the anarchy of the religious wars. In France the middle class aspired to ennoblement in the royal administration and mortgaged their future to the monarchy by investment in office and the royal finances.…
Read More
…monarch was Charles IX’s chancellor, Michel de L’Hôpital, but his reforms in the 1560s were frustrated by the anarchy of the religious wars. In France the middle class aspired to ennoblement in the royal administration and mortgaged their future to the monarchy by investment in office and the royal finances.…
Read More