Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754–1838) was a French diplomat and statesman, later titled Prince de Talleyrand. Born into an aristocratic family, he entered the clergy and became Bishop of Autun. During the French Revolution he took part in the Estates-General and the National Assembly, then turned to diplomacy. He served as foreign minister under the Directory and under Napoleon Bonaparte, playing a major role in European negotiations, including the Congress of Vienna. After Napoleon’s fall he supported the Bourbon Restoration and again held high office. Talleyrand also left memoirs and political writings that shaped his enduring reputation.