the Thirty Years' War. In 1644 the official negotiations started in Münster where the Catholic delegations resided. The French delegation was led by the duc de Longueville, and comprised Anne-Geneviève de Bourbon-Condé, the leader's wife, d'Avaux, and Abel Servien. D'Avaux, who was more conciliatory, repeatedly clashed with Abel Servien, who was more demanding and had been dubbed "l'ange exterminateur de la paix" (the peace-killing angel) by the negotiators. D'Avaux was finally excluded from the negotiations. Townhouse Between 1644 and 1650 d'Avaux built himself a new stylish townhouse in the Marais quarter of Paris. It was designed by Pierre Le Muet. The present address is 71 rue du Temple, but in his time this plot was in rue Sainte-Avoye. This mansion stayed in the family until 1688, when it was sold to Paul de Beauvilliers, the future 2nd duc of St Aignan for 153,000 livres. It therefore became known as the Hôtel de Saint-Aignan. This house must not be confused with the Hôtel de Mesmes, which stood almost opposite to it on the other side of the same street. His elder brother Henri lived in the Hôtel de Mesmes. Later life, death, and timeline Although the dispute with Servien damaged his reputation, d'Avaux ended his career as a member of the high Council of the Realm and superintendent of finances (1649–1650). His nephew Jean-Antoine (died 1709) was to follow in his footsteps and become the other famous diplomat of the family. D'Avaux died on 19 November 1650. He had never married. At his death, the title and most of the lands passed to Jean-Antoine (Jean-Antoine I de Mesmes), his younger brother, because Henri, his elder brother, had died some months before him, also in 1650, and left no male heir. Jean-Antoine also inherited his elder brother Henri's charge as président à mortier of the Parlement of Paris. Notes and references Notes Citations Sources – Knights of the Order of the Holy Spirit and general index – A to J (for Avaux) – 1631 to 1666 – AUD to BER (for Avaux & Belleforière) – MAL to MON (for Mesmes) – F to Z – M to N – 1703 – 1711 to 1712 Further reading External links Racines Histoire 1595 births 1650 deaths 17th-century French diplomats French Ministers of Finance