The "Lieutenance générale de police" of Paris, founded by Colbert in 1667, introduced new police practices in an effort to chart and control the urban space of the city. The size of this area posed huge material problems and caused disturbances likely to destroy the social and political order. To deal with these, the "Lieutenance" developed a more accurate knowledge of Paris by assessing and recording the activities of its inhabitants, and in so doing appropriated and applied the most advanced techniques of the times, especially in cartography and in social control. The combination of the activities of field agents with paperwork in the offices made this type of police work into an effective and important tool for the governance of Paris.