Claude Pâris la Montagne

Claude Pâris dit la Montagne (August 12, 1670, Moirans, Dauphiné - April 18, 1744, Serpaize), was a French banker and bibliophile, Lord of Moirans, Serpaize and Croix Fontaine. The suffix “La Montagne” comes from his mother Justine Trennanay La Montagne.

Early life Claude was the second of the four Pâris brothers, financiers during the reign of Louis XV. After studying law in Grenoble, then of treasurer of the Extraordinary of Wars in the army of Flanders in 1707. Recognized for their skills, admired for their logistical operations and benefiting from the support of the comptroller general of finance Nicolas Desmarets, Claude and his brothers were now connected with the inner circles of power in France.

In Paris, the position of the four brothers was strengthened with the end of the Regency. The Duke of Bourbon, then Prime Minister of Louis XV, held them in high esteem. However in a new twist on June 11, 1726, the adversaries of Paris come to power. The Duke of Bourbon is thanked and Claude and his brothers exiled again. After a brief stay in Sampigny with his brother Antoine, Claude returned to Dauphiné and never left.

In 1726, he added to his estates the castle of Meyzieu and that of La Tour in Saint-Genis-Laval, near Lyon. He then developed his extensive properties before dying on April 18, 1744 in his castle of Serpaize.

He was the most bibliophile of the Pâris brothers. He bequeathed his library of valuable books and manuscripts to his second son, Joseph Louis Pâris de Surieux (1714–1744), who died a few months after his father. His other son, Jean-Baptiste Pâris de Meyzieu (1718–1778), inherited the works. Claude Pâris' eldest son, Antoine Pâris d'Illins (1712–1777), had a son, :fr:Antoine Marie Paris d'Illins (1746-1809), a soldier who had a castle in Villers-sur-Mer.