Loir-et-Cher
Loir-et-Cher (, ) is a department in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. Its name is originated from two rivers which cross it, the Loir in its northern part and the Cher in its southern part. Its prefecture is Blois. The INSEE and La P ...
Jarnac
Jarnac (; ; Saintongese: ''Jharnat'') is a commune in the Charente department, southwestern France.Moncontour. Henri III made him
garde des sceaux
The title keeper of the seals or equivalent is used in several contexts, denoting the person entitled to keep and authorize use of the great seal of a given country. The title may or may not be linked to a particular cabinet or ministerial offic ...
in 1578 and lieutenant general of the
Orléanais
The Duchy of Orléanais () is a former province of France, which was created during the Renaissance by merging four former counties and towns. However after the French Revolution, the province was dissolved in 1791 and succeeded by five ''départm ...
and the pays Chartrain in 1582.
After the Day of the Barricades in 1588, he was disgraced by his liaisons with the Catholic League and left court. Henri IV recalled him in August 1590 and again made him garde des sceaux, a post he then held until his death.
He was the son of Raoul Hurault, controller of finances to king
Francis I of France
Francis I (french: François Ier; frm, Francoys; 12 September 1494 – 31 March 1547) was King of France from 1515 until his death in 1547. He was the son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy. He succeeded his first cousin once ...
. He married Anne de Thou but had a relationship with Isabeau Babou de la Bourdaisière, lady of Sourdis, daughter of
Jean Babou
Jean II Babou (1511 - 3 October 1569) was a French soldier, notable as grand-bailiff (grand-bailli) of Touraine and France's Grand Master of Artillery (1567). He was Lord of La Bourdaisière, count of Sagonne, Lord of Thuisseau, Chissé, Vouillon, ...
and the influential aunt of Henry IV's mistress
Gabrielle d'Estrées
Gabrielle d'Estrées, Duchess of Beaufort and Verneuil, Marchioness of Monceaux (; 157310 April 1599) was a mistress, confidante and adviser of Henry IV of France. She persuaded Henry to renounce Protestantism in favour of Catholicism in 1593. La ...
.
The Hurault had owned the
château de Cheverny
The Château de Cheverny () is located in Cheverny, Loir-et-Cher, France. It is one of the châteaux of the Loire Valley.
History
Henry Le Mareschau was the owner of Cheverny in 1315, held under the Count of Blois(F1). It was sold to Jean H ...
for several generations but, after it was seized by the king, Philippe Hurault was forced to buy it back from
Diane de Poitiers
Diane de Poitiers (9 January 1500 – 25 April 1566) was a French noblewoman and prominent courtier. She wielded much power and influence as King Henry II's royal mistress and adviser until his death. Her position increased her wealth and family' ...
. He had the estate raised to a
viscountcy
A viscount ( , for male) or viscountess (, for female) is a title used in certain European countries for a noble of varying status.
In many countries a viscount, and its historical equivalents, was a non-hereditary, administrative or judicial ...
then a comté (in 1582), and also had a house to the east of Paris, on the Roquette estate.
His ''Mémoires'' from 1567 to 1599 survive.