Étienne François de Choiseul, Duke of Choiseul

By the late 1760s Choiseul was concerned by the growing strength of Russia around the [[Baltic Sea]] fearing that Britain was behind it. He believed they were planning a "northern league" against France. To counter this he hoped to depose or severely weaken the power of [[Catherine the Great]] by encouraging the [[Ottoman Empire]] to attack Russia.Murphy (1982), p.151.

By the late 1760s Choiseul was concerned by the growing strength of Russia around the [[Baltic Sea]] fearing that Britain was behind it. He believed they were planning a "northern league" against France. To counter this he hoped to depose or severely weaken the power of [[Catherine the Great]] by encouraging the [[Ottoman Empire]] to attack Russia.Murphy (1982), p.151.

However, Choiseul's fall was caused by his action against the [[Jesuits]] and by his support of their opponent [[La Chalotais]], and of the provincial ''parlements''. After the death of Madame de Pompadour in 1764, his enemies, incorporating the King's new mistress, [[Madame du Barry]], in their plots, and the chancellor [[René Nicolas Charles Augustin de Maupeou|Maupeou]], were too strong for him.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=261}} He had supported his sister [[Béatrix de Choiseul-Stainville]], in her attempt to succeed Madame de Pompadour as the king's mistress, which placed him in opposition to Madame du Barry.Williams, Hugh Noel, Madame Dubarry, Beijer, Stockholm, 1905 {{page needed | date=April 2023}} In an attempt to boost the Austrian alliance, Choiseul was an advocate of the marriage between the [[Dauphin of France|Dauphin]], the future [[Louis XVI]], and the archduchess [[Marie Antoinette]], a daughter of the Holy Roman Empress [[Maria Theresa]] and the [[Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Francis I]]. Choiseul considered the marriage a personal triumph and believed it would cement his position of power.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}}

However, Choiseul's fall was caused by his action against the [[Jesuits]] and by his support of their opponent [[La Chalotais]], and of the provincial ''parlements''. After the death of Madame de Pompadour in 1764, his enemies, incorporating the King's new mistress, [[Madame du Barry]], in their plots, and the chancellor [[René Nicolas Charles Augustin de Maupeou|Maupeou]], were too strong for him.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=261}} He had supported his sister [[Béatrix de Choiseul-Stainville]], in her attempt to succeed Madame de Pompadour as the king's mistress, which placed him in opposition to Madame du Barry.Williams, Hugh Noel, Madame Dubarry, Beijer, Stockholm, 1905 {{page needed | date=April 2023}} In an attempt to boost the Austrian alliance, Choiseul was an advocate of the marriage between the [[Dauphin of France|Dauphin]], the future [[Louis XVI]], and the archduchess [[Marie Antoinette]], a daughter of the Holy Roman Empress [[Maria Theresa]] and the [[Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Francis I]]. Choiseul considered the marriage a personal triumph and believed it would cement his position of power.{{Sfn|Weber|2007}}

In 1770, a [[Falklands Crisis of 1770|dispute between Britain and Spain]] over the [[Falkland Islands]] threatened to flare into open warfare. As part of his long-term strategy to overturn what he perceived as British hegemony, Choiseul strongly supported Spain and mobilised the French military in preparation for war. Louis XV, who sought peace after the wars that had dominated much of his reign, was angry when he discovered that.Black (1999), p.116. At the height of the Falkland Crisis in 1770, Choiseul was dismissed and ordered to retire to his country estate, the [[Château de Chanteloup]]. The crisis was then settled peacefully by Britain and Spain.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}}

In 1770, a [[Falklands Crisis of 1770|dispute between Britain and Spain]] over the [[Falkland Islands]] threatened to flare into open warfare. As part of his long-term strategy to overturn what he perceived as British hegemony, Choiseul strongly supported Spain and mobilised the French military in preparation for war. Louis XV, who sought peace after the wars that had dominated much of his reign, was angry when he discovered that.Black (1999), p.116. At the height of the Falkland Crisis in 1770, Choiseul was dismissed and ordered to retire to his country estate, the [[Château de Chanteloup]]. The crisis was then settled peacefully by Britain and Spain.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}}