Richelieu, << RIHSH uh `loo` or `ree` sheh LYU, >> Cardinal (1585-1642), served as prime minister of France from 1624 to 1642. He and King Louis XIII worked closely to govern the country. Richelieu strengthened the king’s rule and helped make France the most powerful country in Europe.
Rise to power.
Richelieu was born in Paris on Sept. 9, 1585. His given and family name was Armand Jean du Plessis. He took the title of Richelieu from the name of his family’s estate. In 1607, Richelieu became the Roman Catholic bishop of Luçon, near La Rochelle in western France. In 1614, he was elected to France’s Estates-General, a legislative body consisting of representatives of three estates (groups)—the clergy, the nobility, and the common people. Richelieu was chosen as spokesman for the clergy. In 1616, he became a member of Louis XIII’s royal council. But this appointment lasted only a short time.
Pope Gregory XV named Richelieu a cardinal in 1622. In 1624, Richelieu regained his post on the royal council and soon headed the council. As the council’s head, he became known as prime minister. In the council, Richelieu demonstrated a deep understanding of politics and great skill at helping to put the king’s policies into effect. Soon, Richelieu became the dominant power in the French government.
Strengthening the monarchy.
When Richelieu rose to power, Louis XIII had not yet firmly established his own authority in France. The Huguenots, a Protestant group, exercised much political and religious power even though most of France was Roman Catholic. The independence of the nobility and unreliability among government officials also threatened the monarchy’s rule. Richelieu wanted to ensure that the king’s will would be obeyed.
In 1627, Richelieu directed a siege of the French city of La Rochelle, where the Huguenots maintained self-rule. After 14 months of fighting, La Rochelle surrendered in October 1628. The royal forces then attacked other cities controlled by the Huguenots. In 1629, the Huguenots and the French government signed the Peace of Alais. This treaty eliminated the Huguenots’ right to maintain military forces in the cities they governed, a right granted by the Edict of Nantes in 1598. As a result, the Huguenots could no longer wage civil war or act as a state within the state.
To control the nobles, Richelieu severely punished people who plotted against the king. Richelieu ordered the destruction of all fortresses controlled by the nobility, except those protecting the French borders. Many nobles who rebelled were executed or exiled.
By 1631, Richelieu had replaced his enemies in the government with officials he could trust. Marie de Médicis, the king’s mother, was forced into exile for plotting against Richelieu. In addition, Richelieu expanded the king’s control over local governments by sending royal agents called intendants into the provinces.
Thirty Years’ War.
During Richelieu’s service as prime minister, Europe fought a series of religious and political wars called the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648).
Members of the Habsburg (or Hapsburg) royal family ruled Spain and the Holy Roman Empire. Lands controlled by Spain included what are now Belgium and parts of Italy. The Holy Roman Empire included what are now Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and part of Italy. To stop the growth of Habsburg power, Richelieu supported others fighting the Habsburgs. For example, he gave Sweden funds to continue fighting. But the Habsburgs grew stronger.
In 1635, France declared war on Spain. At first, the war went poorly for France. Spanish armies quickly penetrated French borders, and tax revolts and uprisings by French nobles distracted Richelieu. France regained its position against Spain in later years and eventually won the war. But Richelieu died on Dec. 4, 1642, before the war ended.
Historical reputation.
Many historians have admired Richelieu for his extraordinary intelligence and energy. He promoted the growth of royal authority and helped France become Europe’s leading power. Richelieu’s work also led to the building of a French navy and expansion of French ports. He helped establish French colonies in Africa, Canada, and the West Indies. However, Richelieu concentrated on France’s foreign affairs and, as a result, failed to resolve many domestic problems and even aggravated some of them.
Richelieu took great interest in the arts and made lasting investments in them. He rebuilt the Sorbonne, the theological college of the University of Paris. He also supported promising writers and founded the French Academy, an organization of France’s leading writers and other thinkers.
