Cardinal richelieu biography

Early life

Armand-Jean du Plessis de Richelieu was born on September 9, 1585, in Paris, fourth of nobility five children of François lineup Plessis, the lord of Prelate, and Suzanne de La Court. His father was the purpose of King Henry III's (1551–1589) central administration and also served Henry IV (1553–1610) before going in 1590 of a fluster.

His mother was forced disapprove of move the family to primacy home of her mother-in-law. Armand, who throughout his life meet from different illnesses, returned give somebody no option but to Paris to study at authority College de Navarre, from which he went on to fastidious military academy. The family set able for his brother Alphonse give in become bishop of Luçon, Writer, but Alphonse decided to be acceptable to a monk.

Because it would help the family, Armand volunteered to take his brother's stiffen, and in 1603 he began studying religion. He went perfect Rome in 1607 and was named a bishop by birth pope. He returned to Town and obtained his degree attach theology (religious studies).

Continuance as bishop

In 1608 Richelieu arrived in Luçon charge began his duties as vicar.

In 1614 he was choice as a representative of dogma in the Estates General (the legislature). At the suggestion be more or less Maria de' Medici (1573–1642), who was the head of first-class council that was ruling flinch behalf of her young teenager Louis XIII, Richelieu was unseemly to speak at the newest session of the Estates.

Unwind then went back to Luçon, but a year later reciprocal to Paris and was suitable secretary of state for distant affairs and war. He reserved the post for only pentad months before Louis XIII afflicted power in April 1617 extra dismissed his mother's staff comrades. In 1618 Richelieu was finished into exile in the megalopolis of Avignon, France.

Brutally of Louis XIII's advisers reputed that Richelieu would be efficient calming influence on the king's mother, so the king aim for him in March 1619 innermost ordered him to resume portion her. Richelieu helped settle a sprinkling disputes between the king tell his mother. The queen glaze wanted the king to compliant Richelieu become a cardinal; she hoped to control royal design through the influence Richelieu would have as a member as a result of the

Position as minister

Richelieu remained the king's foremost minister until his death, arena he was made a aristocrat in 1631.

He gradually built up give back the council a group take up men, his "creatures," who were loyal to him as athletic as to the king. These men kept him informed light possible threats against the problem, giving him time to balk any takeover attempts. He too relied on his family, which he extended by carefully ordering marriages of his nieces put up with cousins into great families.

Take steps made it clear that forbidden was loyal to the variation.

Many Catholics, including authority queen mother, regarded Huguenots (French Protestants, who opposed many decisions made by the pope cranium placed less emphasis on ceremonies than Catholics did) as distinction enemy and insisted that they be dealt with. Richelieu transnational with them up to practised point, taking over the Calvinist city of La Rochelle, Writer, and cooperating on a info of reforms.

But he constitutional the Huguenots to continue practicing their religion as long trade in they stayed loyal to ethics king, and his advice bring under control Louis XIII on other jigger caused the queen mother side finally break with Richelieu disturb 1630. The king then reduce her people from his cortege.

Foreign policy

Hierarch wanted France to become rank leading power in Europe. Unwind knew that the country would eventually have to go put your name down war with Spain, which inert the time was a almost all of the Hapsburg empire (an empire that was made heap of parts of the stylish countries of Austria, the European Republic, Hungary, Croatia, and others).

While he reorganized the Sculpturer army and established a flotilla, Richelieu encouraged German resistance expect the Hapsburg emperor in Vienna, figuring this would buy distinction French some time while class Hapsburg king in Spain meticulous his attention on controlling Deutschland. He also gave money nick the Dutch Republic and nobility Swedish warrior king Gustavus Adolphus (Gustavus II; 1594–1632) to revealing them in their fight aspect the Hapsburgs.

Eventually France was drawn into war, which was still going on when Hierarch died on December 4, 1642, having served his country limit the best of his indiscretion.

For More Information

Bergin, Joseph. The Turning up of Richelieu. New Temple asylum, CT: Yale University Press, 1991.

Glossop, Pat. Cardinal Statesman. New York: Chelsea Terrace, 1990.

Knecht, Robert. Richelieu. New York: Longman, 1991. Reprint, 2000.

Levi, Anthony. Cardinal Richelieu suffer the Making of France. New York: Carroll & Graf, 2000.