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Similar to England, It was the threat of the Huguenots and French nobility in nobles that required the 16th and 17th centuries proved French kings to be at times a difficult group to control for the monarchdevelop spies that can infiltrate French society. During the reign of Louis XIV (1643-1715)'s reign, spying (internally and externally), developed in France as remaining rights of the country became the main power on the European continent Huguenots were taken away and was French nobles felt the leader loss of their power as Louis centralized the Catholic statesstate. This led Louis was well known to use informants within the Huguenots and nobles as a variety of spies, including Louise-Renée de Penacoëtway to undermine them. Thus, who became mistress critical to Charles II, a central state bureaucracy that efficiently ran the English kingcountry was a country that required spies at every level so that rebellious areas of France can be know before any major problems broke out. Using her liaison with Spies among the kingpoor commoners and nobility became well know, she passed on vital information creating a type of police state. The Affair of the Poisons and other conspiracies led to a more paranoid state for the French regarding English intentions and alliancesmonarchy. Louis also send emissaries and spies to his main rivals the Dutch <ref>For more on spying within France during the period age of William of Orange Louis XIV, see: Jeffreys-Jones, R. (1689-17022013)<i>In spies we trust: the story of Western intelligence</i>. First edition. Oxford, Oxford University Press. </ref>
It was ====Before and After the threat of French Revolution====Prior to the Huguenots and French nobles required Revolution, France had begun developing elaborate spy networks that spanned Russia to the French kings East and England to develop the North. Famous spies included Chevalier d'Éon, who had androgynous characteristics that can infiltrate French societymade him asuitable as a female and male spy. During Louis XIV's reignIn fact, remaining rights of the Huguenots were taken away he was known as a woman for over 33 years and French nobles felt penetrated the loss of their power Russian court as Louis centralized the statea female spy. This led Louis to use informants within However, in other aspects, the Huguenots and nobles Chevalier performed as a way male spy and soldier. It was only at his death that his true sex was determined to undermine themmany, even among his French allies. Thus<ref>For more on Chevalier d'Éon, critical to a central state bureaucracy that efficiently ran see: Burrows, S., Conlin, J., Goulbourne, R. & Mainz, V. (2010) <i>The Chevalier d’Eon and his worlds gender, espionage and politics in the country was a country that required spies at every level so that rebellious areas of France can be know before any major problems broke outeighteenth century</i>. Bloomsbury Academic; London.</ref>
==Before and After During the French Revolution==Prior to the , many spies, often working for multiple sides, arose. The French Revolutionwas, on the one hand, a great fear for the monarchies in Europe, but on the other hand also an opportunity to infiltrate France had begun developing elaborate by outside powers. One such spy networks was Emmanuel Henri Louis Alexandre. He initially supported the French Revolution and became an early member of the National Constitutional Assembly that spanned Russia to formed after the East and England to deposing of the NorthFrench (Bourbon) monarchy. Famous spies included Chevalier d'ÉonHe famously changed his mind, who had androgynous characteristicsafter Marie Antoinette, making him also suitable as a female spyformer love interest, was seized by the revolutionaries. In factThe Jacobines, he was known as a woman radical group in the French revolutionaries, were often most worried about spies and created counter spies to look out for over 33 years and penetrated any counter-revolutionaries. Their paranoia, however, likely led to the demise of many innocent people, leading to those supporting the Russian court as a female spyrevolution to turn against them. HoweverThe fear of spying during the so-called "Reign of Terror, " in other aspectseffect, helped lead to the Chevalier performed downfall of the revolution's ideals, although that would later live on, as a male spy the state became more oppressive than it was even during the monarchy period. That paved the way for Napoleon's takeover as discontent arose.<ref>For more on spying during the French Revolution, see: Brown, H.G. (2006) <i>Ending the French Revolution: violence, justice, and soldierrepression from the terror to Napoleon</i>. Charlottesville, University of Virginia Press. </ref>
During After the French Revolutiontakeover by Napoleon, many plots involving various international and national spies, often working for multiple sides, arosewere devised to depose Napoleon. The French Revolution was, on This included the one hand, a great fear for Plot of the monarchies rue Saint-Nicaise in Europe1800, but on the other hand also an opportunity to infiltrate France led by outside powers. One such spy was Emmanuel Henri Louis Alexandre. He initially supported the French Revolution Pierre Robinault de Saint-Régeant and became an early member of the National Constitutional Assembly others, that formed after the deposing of the French (Bourbon) monarchyattempted to blow up a bomb as Napoleon passed by. He famously changed his mindThis plot failed, after Marie Antoinettewhere it only succeeded in killing innocent people, a former love interest, was seized by the revolutionariesbut led Napoleon to become more paranoid with his safety. The Jacobines, increased paranoia by Napoleon and European powers as Napoleon began to become stronger developed into a radical group in the French revolutionaries, were often most worried about network of spies and create counter spies that attempted to look out for any counter-revolutionariesinfiltrate the courts of his adversaries. Their paranoiaNapoleon successfully, howeverfor instance, likely led used spies to help bring down the demise of many innocent people. The fear of spying during the so-called "Reign reign of Terror," in effectGustav IV Adolf, helped lead to the downfall king of the revolutionariesSweden, and place a successor who became was more friendly to be seen as oppressive and not holding up the ideals of the revolutionFrance.<ref>For more on Pierre Robinault de Saint-Régeant, see: Falk, A. That paved the way for (2007) <i> Napoleon's takeoveragainst himself: a psychobiography</i>. 1st ed. Charlottesville, Va, Pitchstone Pub. </ref>
After the takeover by Napoleon, plots involving various international and national spies were devised to depose Napoleon. This included the Plot of the rue Saint<dh-Nicaise in 1800, led by Pierre Robinault de Saint-Régeant and others, that attempted to blow up a bomb as Napoleon passed by. The increased paranoia by Napoleon and European powers as Napoleon began to become stronger developed into a network of spies and counter spies. Napoleon successfully used spies to help bring down the reign of Gustav IV Adolf, the king of Sweden, and place a successor who was more friendly to France.ad/>
French external spying suffered greatly Another famous case was that of Mata Hari. She was a Dutch citizen living in reputation after France during World War I and became known for her exotic dancing where she later was approached by the failures Deuxième Bureau for her participation in spying because she could freely travel to neutral European countries. She famously may have said about herself "A harlot? Yes, but a traitor, never!." She became a double agent, initially sent to predict spy on Germany's invasion routes , but later spying on France. She helped the Germans uncover spies and proved valuable in 1940German counter-espionage efforts. After World War IIThe uncovering of spies by Germany led to her suspicion and eventually she was arrest and then executed. <ref>For more on Mata Hari, see: Howe, France developed the General Directorate for External Security R.W. (DGSE1986)<i>Mata Hari, which became the equivalent to MI6 in Britaintrue story</i>. 1st ed. Notable successes included accurately predicting the Soviet invasion of AfghanistanNew York, which the CIA had failed to anticipateDodd, and uncovering Europe's largest technology spying networkMead.</ref>
The Directorate of Territorial Security, which developed French external spying suffered greatly in reputation after the failures to predict Germany's invasion routes in 1940. After World War II, and succeed by France developed the General Directorate for Internal External Security (DGSI or initially DGSE), which became the DCRI; since 2008) has led France's internal spying and anti-terrorism efforts within Franceequivalent to MI6 in Britain. The DGSI also merged aspects Notable successes included accurately predicting the Soviet invasion of the General Intelligence DirectorateAfghanistan, which also the CIA had responsibilities for internal securityfailed to anticipate, although it was an arm and uncovering Europe's largest technology spying network.<ref>For more for on the police. French internal espionage often concentrated on networks within France trying to steal technology. HoweverDGSE, a notable success came in 1981see: Polisar, when the notable Soviet KGB spy Vladimir Vetrov switched sides and gave France thousands of documents that helped it uncover KGB officers stationed worldwideP. It was one of (2003) <i>Inside France’s DGSE: the greatest successes General Directorate for France in External Security. Inside the Cold Warworld’s most famous intelligence agencies</i>. 1st ed. HoweverNew York, it also participated in internal espionage. Once its agents were caught posing as plumbers as they were trying to install listening devices in a newspaper critical of the governmentRosen Pub. This led to the downfall of the interior ministerGroup.</ref>
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[[File:4089186399 10e8826a8e z.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|Figure 1. Louise Renée de Penancoët helped spy for Louis XIV.]]
Espionage, in the French monarchy period, has become notorious in suppressing aspirations of those who sought to loosen the bonds of the monarchy in the late 18th century. The history of spying in France, similar to other European powers, started because of interests in security and developed to both external and internal espionage. This has also shaped subsequent periods after the French Revolution. World War II also set the stage for modern French Espionage.
====Early Development====Similar to England, the French nobility in the 16th and 17th centuries proved to be at times a difficult group to control for the monarch. During the reign of Louis XIV (1643-1715), spying (internally and externally), developed in France as the country became the main power on the European continent and was the leader of the Catholic states. Louis was well known to use a variety of spies, particularly his diplomats. However, he also used many women, as he found them useful in infiltrating powerful men. For instance, Louise-Renée de Penacoët, who became a mistress to Charles II, was used to spy on the English king. Using her liaison with the king, she passed on vital information to the French regarding English intentions and alliances. Louis also send emissaries and spies to his main rivals the Dutch during the period of William of Orange (1689-1702).<ref>For more on Louis XIV and his spies, see: Young, W. (2004) <i>International politics and warfare in the age of Louis XIV and Peter the Great: a guide to the historical literature </i>. New York, NY, Universe.</ref>
====Recent Periods====[[File:Margaretha Zelle, alias Mata Hari.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|Figure 2. Mata Hari (or Margaretha Geertruida "Margreet" MacLeod) was a famous double agent in World War I who ultimately was executed.]]After the turbulent years of the Napoleonic wars, French spying became more professionalized. The need for foreign intelligence became apparent after the French defeat in the Fanco-Prussian war in 1870-1871. The development of military intelligence was a result of this. This became known as the Deuxième Bureau, the agency in charge of French military spying and intelligence. The spy agency continued until 1940, when France fell to Germany. Notable success included early cryptanalytical work that helped in breaking foreign codes and communications. However, the agency suffered in the Dreyfus Affair, where notable military officers were accused or convicted of spying for Germany in the 1890s and injustice for a junior officer, Alfred Dreyfus, in being accused of being a spy proved to make the French military and its spying networks suffer in their reputation. <ref>For more on the Dryfus Affair and the Deuxième Bureau, see: Porch, D. (1995) <i>The French secret services: from the Dreyfus Affair to the Gulf War</i>. London, Macmillan, pg. 19.</ref>
The Directorate of Territorial Security, which developed after World War II, and succeeded by the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI or initially the DCRI; since 2008) has led France's internal spying and anti-terrorism efforts within France. The DGSI also merged aspects of the General Intelligence Directorate, which also had responsibilities for internal security, although it was an arm more for the police and focused on efforts such as narcotics. French internal espionage often concentrated on networks within France trying to steal technology. However, a notable success came in 1981, when the notable Soviet KGB spy Vladimir Vetrov switched sides and gave France thousands of documents that helped it uncover KGB officers stationed worldwide. It was one of the greatest successes for France in the Cold War and one of the largest successes for NATO allies in counter-espionage. However, the DGSI also participated in internal espionage. Once its agents were caught posing as plumbers in France as they were trying to install listening devices in a newspaper critical of the government. This led to the downfall of the interior minister.<ref>For more on the DGSI and its equivalents in post-World War II France, see: Derdzinski, J.L. (2009)<i> Internal security services in liberalizing states: transitions, turmoil, and (in)security</i>. Farnham, England ; Burlington, VT, Ashgate Publishing Co, pg. 57.</ref> ====Summary====
The creation of a central French state in the 16th and 17th centuries and internal unrest that came during the Protestant Reformation led to the development of spy networks within France that attempted to facilitate the French state's power. In the French Revolution, spies often switched sides and the great upheaval and fear caused by the state led to great fear of spies, both by the government and the population. The disaster of the Franco-Prussian war helped shape the French Republic's first professional spying agency that did have some notable success, but the state's downfall in World War II and the rise of the Cold War subsequently shaped new internal and external spy agencies. Since the 2000s, terrorism and technology espionage have been seen as the greatest threats that France's spy agencies have attempted to counter.
====References====<references/> [[Category:Wikis]][[Category:French History]][[Category:European History]][[Category:Diplomatic History]]{{Contributors}}