Page "Council of State (France)" Paragraph 19

The Council of State originates from the 13th century by which time the King's Court ( Curia regis ) had split into three sections, one of which was the King's Council ( Curia in consilium, later Conseil du roi ), which too broke up into three distinct parts: the Conseil secret ' Privy Council ', the Conseil privé ' Private Council ', and Conseil des finances ' Council of Finances '.

Reorganized under Louis XIV into two major groupings, it was the Conseil d ' État privé, finances et direction that was the direct ancestor of the Council of State.

It brought together legal advisors and experts to advise the King on claims against the Crown.

Officially established in 1557, this was the largest of the King's Councils made up of France's High Chancellor, lords of peerage, Ministers and Secretaries of State, the Comptroller-General, 30 Councillors of State, 80 masters of requests, and the Intendants of Finance.

The judicial portion of the Council was known as the Conseil d ' État privé or Conseil des parties.