Cardinal Richelieu: biography of a historical figure. Brief biography of Cardinal Richelieu
This powerful man determined French policy for 18 years. Cardinal Richelieu is generally admired as a powerful statesman, but at the same time accused of treachery and cruelty. What was he really like and what secrets did his monastic cassock hide?
Those who yachak with France XVII centuries, according to the novels of Alexandre Dumas, they perceive the first minister of state, “Cardinal Richelieu, as a cunning villain who weaves intrigues and does not disdain any methods to achieve his insidious goals. Others, who prefer the works of professional historians, on the contrary, would rather describe him as a progressive statesman who strengthened the power of France in spite of a weak-willed king and an unruly nobility. As is often the case, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Armand Jean du Plessis, Duke de Richelieu was a very controversial, but without any doubt, a major figure in world history.
Bishop reluctantly
Richelieu is most often spoken of as a politician, rather than as a clergyman. And this is absolutely true. Firstly, state affairs fascinated him much more than sermons and masses, and secondly, he accepted the priesthood almost by accident and almost reluctantly.
A boy named Armand Jean was born in the fall of 1585 into the family of the outstanding courtier Francois du Plessis. His father made an excellent career - he rose to the position of chief provost of France, which combined the functions of the supreme judge, minister of justice and head of the kingdom's secret service. King Henry 111 of Anjou considered him his personal friend. The next monarch, Henry IV of Bourbon, treated the chief provost with respect. However, either Francois du Plessis fulfilled his public duty so zealously that he forgot to think about more mundane things, or he was simply accustomed to perceive financial well-being as a given, without thinking about how to preserve it... In a word, when in 1590 he was struck down by a sudden fever, the wife and children of a powerful courtier were left with virtually no means of subsistence. Their main inheritance turned out to be promissory notes.
There was not enough money even for a decent funeral for the head of the family. For the sake of their organization, the widow was forced to lay down the chain of the Order of the Holy Spirit, of which Francois was a knight. For some time, financial problems were solved with money allocated by the king. But it was clear that the sons of Francois du Plessis should begin to build an independent career as soon as possible. Therefore, when the place of Bishop Luzon became vacant (the right to appoint new bishops to this diocese was granted to the Richelieu family by Henry III), no one asked Armand Jean whether he wanted to take this position or not. There was no choice - the family simply had no other sources of income.
So the youngest son of Francois du Plessis became a bishop. This caused a lot of noise - the candidate’s too young age caused surprise and even indignation (at the time of his appointment he was only 21 years old). It took the king's personal petition to the Pope for the appointment to take place. And it soon became clear that, despite his years, Arman Jean has a very strong business acumen. Over the course of several years, he significantly improved matters in Luzon, which had previously been one of the poorest dioceses in France. At the same time, he wrote several theological works and received a doctorate in philosophy from the Sorbonne.
The main enemy of the nobles
But still politics attracted the young du Plessis. And since 1614, he had the opportunity to plunge into it, becoming a deputy of the Estates General - the French parliament. True, he quickly became disillusioned with the idea of parliamentarism - too much talk and too little action. Having stood out with his bright speeches, he went up the hill and soon became his own man in court circles. At the same time, he was appointed confessor to Queen Anne of Austria, with whom Alexander Dumas attributed a romantic relationship to him.
But he did not immediately become the all-powerful first minister. Before winning the unconditional trust of King Louis XIII, he had to go through a lot, including exile and disgrace. Only in 1624, having gone through this thorny path, Richelieu was able to get real power into his own hands. Two years earlier, the Catholic Church elevated him to the rank of cardinal.
In his “Political Testament” Richelieu wrote: “When Your Majesty deigned to call me to your Council, I can certify that the Huguenots shared power in the state with you, the nobles behaved as if they were not your subjects, and the governors felt like sovereigns of their lands " To correct this deplorable state of affairs, he attacked those whom he considered the main source of instability - the French nobility. The aristocrats, spoiled by endless privileges, cared exclusively about their own interests, completely ignoring the harm they caused to the state. Actually, this is exactly how everyone’s favorite main characters of “The Three Musketeers” behave.
One of the actions against the noble freemen was the famous edict prohibiting duels. Richelieu was not happy with the fact that every year many young nobles die on the streets of Paris instead of shedding blood on the battlefields for the glory of France. In addition, he also had a personal motive - the cardinal's elder brother, Henri, was killed in a duel in 1619.
An equally radical measure was the order to tear down the fortifications of many castles located in the center of the country. This made it much easier to suppress possible uprisings. And by introducing the positions of intendants (officials who received positions directly from the king), Richelieu established reliable control over the administrative management system, building something similar to the notorious “vertical of power.”
Of course, all these actions aroused fierce hatred towards the cardinal on the part of the old nobility. It was in order to protect himself from assassination attempts that he created a company of those very guards who were traditional rivals of the royal musketeers.
After Richelieu received the ducal title in 1629, his ill-wishers nicknamed him the Red Duke. Thus, they hinted that in essence he was neither a nobleman nor a cardinal. It is impossible not to admit that in some ways they were right.
Priest with a sword
The priestly cassock was indeed too tight for the active and tough Richelieu. Before receiving his episcopal appointment, he studied at the Pluvinel Military Academy and firmly expected to connect his fate with the army. He could not part with this dream, even after becoming a clergyman. Perhaps Armand Jean de Richelieu deserves the title of the most militant priest in history.
The most famous episode in which his leadership talent was demonstrated is, of course, the siege of the La Rochelle fortress in 1627. It was not possible to take the well-fortified city by storm. The British constantly brought supplies to the besieged by sea, so the matter threatened to drag on for quite some time. While the French generals and marshals were racking their brains over how to organize a new assault, Cardinal de Richelieu turned to the history of military operations. And he suggested using the method that Alexander the Great used during the siege of the city of Tire. Namely, to build a bulk dam that would block the actions of the English fleet. Within six months the dam was built, and a few months later, by October 1628, the fortress fell.
Richelieu understood well that soldiers fight better when they do it not under duress, but knowing that their efforts will be well rewarded. And therefore he reformed the salary payment system in the army. From now on, money was received not by unit commanders (in whose pockets it often ended up without reaching those for whom it was intended), but by specially appointed military quartermasters. In the 17th century, many regiments were still created by aristocrats at their own expense. Accordingly, such units were something like private armies, subordinate not to the central government, but to their “masters.” The creation of a system of military quartermasters solved this problem - now the army became truly French, and not a collection of mercenary teams.
Richelieu once again confirmed his reputation as an excellent military leader at the height of the Thirty Years' War, a global conflict of the early 17th century that reshaped all of Europe. The Prime Minister chose the ideal moment for the start of hostilities - at the final stage of the war, when most of the participants had already exhausted their strength. As a result, it was France that actually became one of the victorious countries in the Thirty Years' War. The conquests of this time allowed the country to dominate Europe for many years. True, the final victory was won after the death of the cardinal.
For military services, Richelieu added the rank of lieutenant general to the rank of cardinal and the title of duke. It must be said that he was by no means an armchair military leader. Wearing a cuirass. The Red Duke often personally bypassed positions. True, he did not take personal part in the battles - the situation still obliged him to avoid bloodshed.
Warlock in cassock
Another oddity associated with the name Richelieu was revealed many years after his death. When scholars began to catalog his extensive library, they discovered that the cardinal was very interested in various types of occult literature. He collected one of the largest collections of treatises in Europe of his time, devoted to various aspects of alchemy, magic, Kabbalah and similar disciplines. Needless to say, it’s a very strange hobby. And for a statesman, and, even more so, for a cardinal of the Catholic Church. There are several explanations for this.
Of course, the easiest way is to assume that Richelieu wanted to “know the enemy by sight.” And he kept the works of warlocks at hand in order to better understand their machinations. However, as we already know, he was not a religious fanatic at all. Richelieu was even sharply criticized by Rome for being too lenient with the Huguenot heretics of La Rochelle, who surrendered to the mercy of the victors. By his actions, Richelieu made it clear that it was much more important to him that a person be a good subject of the French crown than a good Catholic. For this, his ill-wishers even nicknamed him the “Cardinal of the Huguenots.”
It is likely that the occult books were used by Richelieu for their intended purpose. According to eyewitnesses, he was a rather superstitious person and sincerely believed in the power of horoscopes, amulets, bad and good omens. This means that he could well believe in magic. But how could she help the powerful Prime Minister of France? Not at all in matters of national importance. Many believe that the Red Duke tried to improve his health through magic.
Armand Jean du Plessis was very sickly from childhood. It is known that his parents baptized him only six months after birth, because they were not sure that he would survive the winter. Weakness of physique also overshadowed Richelieu’s studies at the Pluvinel Academy, when he was still planning to become a military man. Medicine at the beginning of the 17th century was still very far from perfect, so the desire to live as long as possible could push the cardinal to dubious means.
However, even if this was the case, the magic spells could not extend the period measured by Richelieu. He died of a serious illness in 1642, aged only 57.
Victor Banev
Armand Jean du Plessis (Duke de Richelieu) was born on September 9, 1585 in Paris into a poor noble family. He was predicted to have a military future, but he became a minor bishop in Poitou. Richelieu had an extraordinary mind and a good education. He began his political career in 1614, as he was a deputy from the clergy in the Estates General. Later, Marie de Medici, who was the mother of Louis XIII, drew attention to him, which allowed him to become closer to the royal court. In 1622 he was elevated to the rank of cardinal, and in 1624 he became the first minister at the court of Louis XIII, joined the Royal Council and, one might say, from that moment on he actually began to rule France.
Richelieu was a very cunning, but at the same time patient man, which allowed him to strengthen his position in power every day. Of course, such a person could not help but be surrounded by enemies and ill-wishers among the aristocrats. At first, Louis XIII himself did not like him, but he was very dependent on the cardinal.
The negativity on the part of the aristocracy is more than understandable, since France was governed without taking into account the opinions of representatives of the nobility. The nobles lost their sovereignty, and now they did not have the right to issue their own laws. If they wanted to somehow influence the political situation in France, then the nobles were obliged to be under the supervision of the first minister.
In the 17th century, duels between representatives of the nobility took place especially often. Richelieu decided to stop the self-destruction of the “pillar of the state”, and in 1626 he introduced a ban on dueling. It is worth noting that in June 1627, on his orders, a nobleman was executed in Paris who dared to disobey the will of the cardinal and the king. A reflection of this famous event can be found in the novel “The Three Musketeers” by Alexandre Dumas.
However, the common people were also dissatisfied with Richelieu's policies. After the introduction of harsh taxes, numerous peasant uprisings broke out in France. Richelieu justified the introduction of such a system for replenishing the royal treasury with his desire to increase the international prestige of the king. However, this resulted in France's participation in the Thirty Years' War, where its opponents were Spain and Austria. War for France became a powerful way to strengthen the position of the king at home and abroad, since Louis XIII was also commander-in-chief. Therefore, the increase in taxes was justified by military expenditures to save the country and human lives. In any case, the amount received by the treasury was several times higher than the church tithe. Thanks to the development of such a tax system, it is believed that Richelieu strengthened the absolutism of the monarchy.
Richelieu was a supporter of market independence. He believed that it was necessary to produce mainly goods for export and limit the import of luxury goods. He considered it necessary to build new canals that would contribute to the growth of trade. The Cardinal tried to develop foreign trade, and was a co-owner of several international companies. It was at this time that Canada, Persia and Morocco became a French colony. Richelieu also considered it necessary to actively build a fleet, which significantly strengthened France's military positions.
Richelieu is also famous for the suppression of the Huguenot (Protestant) minority. The cardinal believed that the Edict of Nantes by Henry IV, which granted the Huguenots the opportunity to conduct more or less free religious services, and also assigned several cities in the south of France to them, could carry a great risk for the state. The Huguenots had a kind of state within a state, which had powerful military potential and numerous supporters. The starting point in the fight against them was the participation of Protestants in the English attack on the coast of France in 1627. However, the beginning of active operations against the Huguenots occurred at the beginning of 1628, when the fortress of La Rochelle was besieged. Richelieu personally led the military campaign. As a result, the residents surrendered, as the city ran out of provisions, and it was huge amount dead. In 1629 religious war ended, and a peace agreement was concluded, according to which Louis XIII recognized all the rights of the Huguenots, except that now they could not have their own fortified fortresses. However, Protestants were also deprived of any military and political privileges.
Richelieu actively helped the development of culture and science, but believed that it was necessary to constantly monitor them. The cardinal patronized many writers and poets who served for the benefit of French absolutism. At the same time, those who did not at all fit into the framework of Richelieu’s policies were persecuted. By order of the cardinal, the famous Sorbonne was reconstructed, to which he transferred a rich library after his death, and the French Academy was organized. Richelieu also contributed to the publication of the propaganda newspaper Gazette de France, in which he wrote articles, selected and published required material. In addition, the cardinal was a good playwright, whose plays were published in the royal printing house.
Richelieu died on December 5, 1642 in Paris, and was buried on the territory of the Sorbonne, a university that owes much to its patron.
All these achievements helped Richelieu take his rightful place in the history of France, although many of his decrees were not implemented properly. He believed that his main goal was to strengthen the position of King Louis XIII and strengthen the position of France on the world stage.
I touched on the topic of the cardinal's favorites. Contemporaries attribute to him many affairs with the most noble ladies of France. The favorites always received gifts from the cardinal, but not everyone was able to achieve special generosity. There are many conversations about the life of the cardinal and most of them are contradictory.
About relationships with ladies, the social gossip Talleman de Reo wrote: “Cardinal Richelieu paid women no more for their services than he paid artists for their work.”. However, according to contemporaries, in the cardinal’s biography there are ladies for whom he had a heartfelt inclination.
Without having a remarkable appearance (according to the tastes of the era), Richelieu always enjoyed success with the ladies. In his youth, when he was not yet a cardinal, two ladies, the Marquise de Nesle and the Countess de Polignac, did not share his attention and staged a ladies' duel with swords (yes, the ladies of the gallant century also loved to fight). Fortunately, no one was hurt, the ladies fought until the first blood was drawn.
Richelieu in his youth
The cardinal's famous favorite, to whom the poems of the play were dedicated, was Marion de Lorme; at first, the lady was courted by Saint-Mars, the favorite of King Louis XIII. The king became jealous of his close friend. They said that “every evening the monarch took Saint-Mars to his bedroom at seven o’clock, showering his hands with kisses”. According to another version, the king had only a “platonic weakness” for the young man; he was simply interested in the company of a cheerful young friend.
19th century actress as Marion de Lorme
The prudent cardinal did the king a favor and drew attention to the king's rival. They said that Marion came on dates to Richelieu in a man's suit, and she was mistaken for a messenger. Madame de Lorme was 26 years younger than the cardinal.
Soon the favorite lost her caution and began to boast about the cardinal’s attention. In society, Marion de Leorme was nicknamed “Madame Cardinal.” To questions about how one can sleep with a priest, Marion answered “He doesn’t look like a priest at all when he takes off his cardinal’s cap and purple robe.”
Contemporaries' opinions differ about Marion's appearance; one called her " the most beautiful lady 17th century,” others considered her too thin. The ideal of beauty of the Baroque era was ladies with full bodies, like in the paintings of Rubens.
Marion de Lorme
By the way, the 19th century writer Victor Hugo dedicated the play to Marion de Lorme. In the play, Hugo created a tragic romantic image a dowryless woman who set out on the path of a courtesan, but luxury did not bring her happiness. Marion decided to leave the vicious world for the sake of love, but intrigues prevent her from finding happiness. The sinister figure of the cardinal remains “behind the scenes” in the play.
Marion de Lorme (engraving for the play)
Having received the favor of the cardinal, Marion broke up with her former admirer Saint-Mars, but there were rumors that Saint-Mars climbed into his mistress’s room at night using a rope ladder that she lowered from the window. Marion could not part with the young handsome man, who was 35 years younger than the cardinal.
Marion believed that he was sent to her by fate “Saint-Mars”, consonant with the French “Cinn Mars” - “fifth of March”, Marion’s birthday. Unlike other fans, Marion did not accept money or gifts from Saint-Mars, believing that this would be the end of their love.
Saint-Mars - young rival of the cardinal, executed in Lyon
The ardent lover of Saint-Mars became a conspirator against Richelieu. It is believed that Saint-Mars' conspiracy also included a romantic reason for rivalry with the cardinal. Saint-Mars was jealous of Marion and decided to take revenge on Richelieu.
The plot was unsuccessful, Saint-Mars was arrested for treason and executed in Lyon on the gloomy Place du Thérault (which I wrote about in the post) in 1642. The vengeful cardinal paid 100 ecus to the inexperienced executioner, who cut off the condemned man's head only on the second attempt. The executed Saint-Mars was 22 years old.
The cardinal outlived his rival by only a few months.
They said that Marion took the death of Saint-Mars hard; she spent a year in solitude and prayers for the repose of his soul.
Richelieu had many rivals for Marion’s love, but some only provoked ridicule.
For example, the court poet Barro, who dedicated the following poems to the lady:
I will forever love the incomparable beauty,
For whom slaves and earthly kings
Numerous altars were erected
To serve only her alone in the world.
To eminent opponents I say:
I am not jealous, although I suffer from you too,
May you love her as I love her, -
This will only increase my fame.
This is just a small part of Barro's joyful song.
The poems began with a boastful title: “On how much sweeter the author is in the arms of his mistress than M. Cardinal de Richelieu, who was his rival.”
There is a version that the Duke of Buckingham, who received the pendants of Queen Anne of Austria, also became the cardinal’s rival for Marion’s attention. The Duke paid his attorney 25,000 ecus to meet Marion.
It turns out that the Duke twice stood in the way of the cardinal in personal matters. Insulted, Richelieu ordered an assassin to be sent to Buckingham. Although the political reason for the murder seems more plausible.
Twice Rival - Duke of Buckingham
Marion survived the cardinal. In court intrigues after the death of Richelieu, she took the side of Queen Anne, but did not accept Mazarin's policies.
Madame de Lorme died at the age of 44, having made a mistake with the dosage of the medicine she was taking to prevent pregnancy. They said that Marion was poisoned by Mazarin's agents. There were also rumors that Marion feared imprisonment in the Bastille, so she staged own death and fled to England with her adventurer lover. Then she married three times and died at the age of one hundred.
Marion had a rival - the widow d'Aiguillon (aka Madame de Combalet), the niece of the cardinal, whom he took under his protection.
Tallemant de Reo wrote about Marion's rivalry: “She said that Cardinal Richelieu once gave her a purse with sixty pistoles through Madame d’Aiguillon...
“I considered this purse as a trophy,” she said, “because, generally speaking, my rival, Madame de Combalet, should have received it: this is evidence of my victory over her, although her remains still lie on the battlefield in the heart of the cardinal "
The cardinal was infatuated with Marion de Lorme, but it was the faithful d’Aiguillon, who lived with him in the palace, who enjoyed special honor. She was the cardinal's niece - the daughter of his beloved sister.
Of course, everyone remembers the song “About Madame d’Aiguillon” from the film.
At the time of her acquaintance with the cardinal, the widow was 37 years old; she met with him to receive guidance in the monastic life to which she wanted to devote herself.
Seeing the widow, the cardinal told her “your place is not in the monastery, but next to me.” Madame d'Aiguillon became Richelieu's companion.
Versions about the relationship between the cardinal and d'Eguillon are contradictory. Some argue that rumors about the love affair between the cardinal and his niece were invented by gossips - enemies of Richelieu. Others are sure that d’Aiguillon was a favorite of Richelieu, who laughed at morality.
Modest Madame d'Aiguillon
Reviews from contemporaries about d’Aiguillon herself are also contradictory. According to some statements, Madame d’Aiguillon was modest in everyday life and received the nickname “nun”, expensive gifts She spent the cardinal's money on helping those in need. According to other versions, the favorite “walked with millions,” adored luxury and walked around the cardinal’s palace half naked, not embarrassed by visitors.
“This charming, plump blonde of thirty-seven years old loved to walk with her breasts naked, which brought untold joy to the cardinal’s friends.”. Perhaps this gossip was caused to create an association with the perverted Borgia, whose daughter Lucrezia behaved in a similar manner.
Ceremonial portrait Madame d'Aiguillon
It was said that Cardinal Richelieu introduced the fashion of presenting his young mistresses in society as “nieces,” whom he then married off. According to legend, he married one of his “nieces” to the Duke of Enghien; the king and favorite Marion de Lorme was present at the magnificent wedding.
The king condemned the “sin” of Madame d’Aiguillon, but Queen Anne stood up for the favorite, noting that such a sin was the fault of two:
“The king is behaving very strangely. He defends the cardinal and blasphemes his niece in everything. Calling her a shameless woman, he expressed his dissatisfaction with the fact that she dared to appear in the Church of St. Eustace at the moment when I was listening to a sermon there.”- Anna was publicly indignant.
Cardinal Richelieu last year life - the man of the ladies' dreams of the Baroque era
There are allegations that Madame d'Aiguillon turned out to be very jealous; a social gossip described the story of the torture of reprisals against her rival Madame de Chaulnes:
“The biggest scandal erupted when the cardinal became infatuated with Madame de Chaulnes. On the road from Saint-Denis, six officers of the naval regiment threw two bottles of ink at Madame de Cholne's face, but she managed to dodge, and the bottles hit the door of her carriage. The bottles were glass. The glass shards were supposed to cut the face, and the ink was supposed to fill the cuts. There would be dark blue scars on the face that could not be removed. Madame de Chaulne did not dare to complain. Everyone believes that the officers received orders to frighten her: the Duchess d’Aiguillon did not want anyone else to have as good a time with her uncle as she did herself.”
It’s strange, of course, that d’Eguillon wants to disfigure one rival, while the other, Marion de Lorme, transfers money from the cardinal. Gossip is very controversial.
Madame Chaulne received compensation from the cardinal - an estate with an annual annuity.
Medallion d'Aiguillon
It was claimed that the cardinal and d'Aiguillon had children. One day Marshal de Breze said that the favorite gave birth to four children for the cardinal.
Queen Anne mockingly remarked:
You can only half trust the marshal
So a rumor spread that the cardinal had two children.
Richelieu and d'Aiguillon were together for 17 years, until the death of the cardinal. Richilier died at the age of 57. The faithful d'Eguillon was next to him. The cardinal left his niece a rich inheritance.
The poet Paul Scarron wrote a poem on Richelieu's death:
Those who wished me defeat,
He suppressed with his omnipotence:
To conquer the proud Spaniards,
I did not spare France,
Sinless angel or demon -
Judge for yourself who I was
And the common people sang vulgar couplets:
Here lies a terrible prisoner of pride.
Here lies a mysterious priest.
The one who fought wars and drank the blood of the French,
Bringing misfortune and good fortune to the country.
From his niece he received
Two children and syphilis to boot.
My article is about Jean-Armand du Plessis, Cardinal de Richelieu, who turns 423 today. I warn you - I love Richelieu very much, and the article is apologetic.
"Cardinal de Richelieu was certainly one of the greatest men that ever existed, not only in France, but in all of Europe."
"Memoirs of Messire d'Artagnan"
"Great man, if you were alive today, I would give you half of my empire, provided you teach me how to rule the other half."
Peter I visiting the tomb of Richelieu
It has long been known that historians and writers have different, and sometimes even opposing, views on the same things. Historians extol strong, strong-willed, pragmatic, even cruel rulers and openly dislike weaklings, dreamers, builders of “castles in the air” and other idealists and losers. “Politics is the art of the possible,” they emphasize, each time reminding how many thousands or millions - in gold and human lives- this or that sublime idea has cost the world. Writers, on the contrary, readily pick up any - even frankly delusional - ideals, glorify "knights without fear and reproach" who are capable of spitting on the interest
nikovs, sometimes even bandits and murderers, presented as “noble robbers.” The only ones who will never wait from writers kind words- these are realist politicians. Those who were honest and fair will be considered boringly virtuous by writers. Powerful and tough fighters for the public good face a worse fate: they will become “tyrants”, “tormentors”, “stranglers of freedom”... And the funniest thing is that humanity, as a rule, will believe in literary interpretation events - school course history instantly flies out of your head, but the images created by Dumas, Hugo and other romantic writers remain there forever.
The most striking historical figure, in whom the shortcomings invented by novelists always overshadowed the real ones - and very significant ones! - advantages
, was and remains Cardinal Richelieu. One of the greatest statesmen in all of European history, a brilliant politician, comparable only to De Gaulle in terms of the significance of what he did for France, he appeared in the works of romantics at best as an intelligent and evil intriguer, frantically grasping
in power, and at worst - a tyrant, senseless and merciless. Obviously, Dumas, Hugo and Vigny, who were distinguished by their heroic health, exorbitant self-love and passion for pleasure, simply could not understand an extremely painful, but nevertheless very energetic person, who put the interests of the country above everything else: money, friendship, love, hatred, and even your own health and life.
Jean-Armand du Plessis de Richelieu was born on September 9, 1585 in the family of the chief provost of France. His father, François de Plessis, a brave warrior and an impractical man, served the king loyally and did little about his own affairs. As a result, when the provost was struck down by a fever in 1590, his widow was left with almost no means of support and with five small children in her arms. The family's only asset was the Lusson bishopric, which brought in a small but stable income. However, in order to retain it in the future, one of the du Plessis had to become prelate. The mother's choice fell on her middle son Alphonse, a reserved and very pious boy. Her two other sons - the strong and handsome Henri and the sickly but very ambitious Armand - were to become military men. Armand, the youngest and most capable of the children, was given an excellent education by his mother: he studied at Navarre College, and then at the Pluvinel Military Academy.
But in 1602 thunder struck: having renounced the bishopric, Alphonse became a simple monk. Madame Du Plessis was horrified: the family was deprived of its only source of income. There was still hope that the place of the unlucky son would be taken by Henri or Armand. The elder brother flatly refused a spiritual career,
but the younger one, after thinking, heeded the pleas of his beloved mother. Having given up military affairs, he actively took up theology, and soon, despite his young age, gained great authority in scientific circles. Henry IV himself favored the talented young man,
the Pope was able to approve Armand as a bishop a year and a half ahead of schedule (Arman was too young for the rank of bishop - EC).
But a small bishopric in Poitou was not at all the ultimate dream of Richelieu. A young man with the ambitions of a great politician dreamed of becoming a minister. At first he hoped that Henry IV would like him, but in 1610 he was killed. The young Louis XIII became the new king, and his mother Marie de Medici became the regent and de facto ruler of France. The reign of the Queen Mother was incompetent: in a few years, she and her favorites squandered the kingdom's treasury and negated all the political advantages that Henry IV had achieved in his time.
Richelieu realized this like no one else, but he also took into account the fact that only
the favor of the Queen Mother and her favorites will open the way to power for him. The young prelate used any means to obtain a ministerial post: he uncontrollably flattered the monarch, intrigued, and supported the influential “Spanish” party in every possible way. Marie de Medici even wanted to make him the confessor of her young daughter-in-law Anne of Austria, but at the last moment Richelieu received from her an even more luxurious gift - the position of Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
Maria Medici
He held this post for almost a year and showed himself not only to be a capable diplomat, but also an intelligent and firm politician. Another rebellion broke out in the country - and Richelieu suppressed it with an iron fist, which unpleasantly surprised the troublemakers, who were accustomed to the carrot rather than the stick. However, in 1617, something happened that the astute minister did not foresee: the young king removed his mother from power and threw everyone out of the government.
henchmen. Yesterday's servants of Marie de Medici, like rats, fled from the “sinking ship,” while Richelieu “stayed with the queen in her sadness.” Not out of gratitude - there is no such word in his dictionary
it was. The Bishop of Lusson simply understood that sooner or later the mother would regain her influence over her weak-willed son. Only Anna of Austria could “take away” the king from her, but the young queen missed the moment - and the mother-in-law managed to convince her son of her daughter-in-law’s frivolous and absurd character.
Richelieu had to wait seven years for a new rise, but he enjoyed the triumph to the fullest. First, through the efforts of his patroness, he received a cardinal's hat, and then, together with the Queen Mother, the newly-made cardinal entered the Royal Council. Having become a minister, Richelieu immediately began to look for an approach to Louis XIII: he understood that only by controlling the king could he rule France.
The monarch's Achilles heel was quickly discovered. The son of Henry the Great suffered in the shadow of his famous father. Richelieu began to treat him as Louis the Just, the father of the nation, a worthy successor to his father’s glorious deeds. It worked: unnoticed by the Queen Mother
Richelieu became the only person, who could manipulate the king like a puppet. The relationship between Louis XIII and his first minister was idyllic: the king even in official speeches called him “a very dear and beloved cardinal” and fully supported the conduct
I give them politics.
Having such a patron behind him, Richelieu sharply turned the country’s foreign policy course: the “pro-Spanish” line was forgotten for the sake of a much more profitable strategy for France to suppress the power of the Habsburgs. "The French Protestant is better than the Spanish Catholic" - this new formula At first it caused general bewilderment. A country where having a different religion was a crime, and treason was the norm, had difficulty mastering new - patriotic - values. Richelieu hoped that the time would come when the national idea would become popular, but so far no one except the king understood him. Maria de Medici, faithful "Spanish" oh" line, she cursed the day when she introduced Richelieu to the Royal Council. In order to overthrow the already all-powerful minister, she even made peace with Anna of Austria, but this did not achieve anything. It got to the point that the mother presented her son with an ultimatum: either I or Richelieu. The Queen She was sure that Louis’s heart would tremble - and she was cruelly mistaken. His Majesty himself sent her into exile, and sent a tear-filled letter to the resigned cardinal, in which he begged him to return “for the good of France.” It was then that Richelieu realized that the king was not thinking. without him running the country - and since then threatened to resign whenever he hesitated to make any unpopular decisions.
Louis the 13th
And there were more than enough such decisions. The cardinal regularly suppressed the rebellions of princes, limited the liberties of the nobility, and introduced a dueling code, according to which not only duelists, but even their seconds were threatened with execution. “A nobleman should give his life for the king, and not in a random fight,” his Eminence liked to say, but evil tongues They said that he also had a personal reason to hate duels: in 1619, his beloved brother, the Marquis Henri de Richelieu, died in a “senseless duel.”
There were plenty of people dissatisfied with the cardinal's policy, but the enterprising minister always managed to discern the danger in the bud and eliminate it before it began to cause trouble. In politics, Richelieu was guided by the principle “Knowledge is power” - he always knew everything about everyone. The cardinal's extensive network of spies under his skillful leadership best assistant- Father Joseph - covered not only the whole of France, but also the royal courts of all Europe. That is why numerous conspiracies against Richelieu failed: he always found out about them before the matter began to take a serious turn.
However, despite endless wars, the fight against rebel princes and Protestant autonomies, the cardinal always had time to worry about the education and culture of the country. No French monarch or minister did more to support French culture than Richelieu. He founded the first official newspaper, where - under a pseudonym - he wrote and persuaded Louis XIII to write. He supported financially people of art and, first of all, writers. By his order, the building of the oldest French university, the Sorbonne, was rebuilt, to which the cardinal subsequently bequeathed his entire rich library. Richelieu founded the now famous French Academy. He himself also wrote poetry and plays and was even proud of it. However, the politician in him always prevailed over the artist: in literature, Richelieu strove not for sophistication of style, but for a clear and simple presentation of thoughts: “Duty (i.e. service to the king) is above all - love, hatred, personal grievances. Debt is the first duty of any citizen of the country." The Cardinal so skillfully encouraged everyone who wrote poetry or plays with such morality that a new literary movement even appeared in France.
Richelieu was the country's first minister for 18 years. And no one even guessed that all these years, the strong, intelligent cardinal, who controlled everything and everyone, was tormented by severe pain - there were periods when he had no doubt that he was dying. But, as one of his biographers noted, Richelieu’s weak body was controlled by a powerful mind: any spiritual uplift could lift him, a dying man, out of bed and instill in him an energy that would be envied would be a twenty-year-old youth. However, years of struggle for power, for the soul of the king, weak-willed and tired of being the “father of the nation,” undermined the cardinal’s health. Ironically, the “black cat” ran between him and Louis because of Anne of Austria. His Majesty hated his wife for many years and dreamed of imprisoning her in a monastery. However, the cardinal did not give in to his persuasion - and not from the “lyrical
"considerations that novelists would probably attribute to him. He simply understood what the offended husband did not want to hear about: the Pope would hardly have given his consent to the dissolution of the marriage, which means Louis would not have been able to marry again. France needed an heir , and not such a nonentity as the king’s brother Gaston, who betrayed all his friends and lived on handouts from the Spanish king. Richelieu had little choice, and he hoped that Anna would wise up and finally give birth to a son for the king.
Anne of Austria
Anna of Austria eventually realized who the true defender of her interests was. It was she who “surrendered” the last “anti-cardinal” conspiracy - Saint-Mars - Richelieu. Understanding the details of this matter, the cardinal learned a detail that offended him: the king was tired of his tutelage and he himself often complained to Saint-Mars that he “could not breathe freely.” By the way, fate never brought this joy to Louis XIII: he died only six months after the death of his minister.
Bust of Richelieu by the great Bernini
The cardinal himself passed away in December 1642. With him was his niece, the Duchess d'Aiguillon, whom Richelieu called “his daughter,” and evil tongues called his mistress and the love of his life. This was practically the only personal feeling of a man who always put the interests of his homeland first. The cardinal remained true to his credo and on his deathbed, when, giving communion to the dying man, the priest said the traditional: “Forgive your enemies,” Richelieu responded: “I had no other enemies except the enemies of the state. But I never forgave them."
(c) Elena TSYMBAL
| Secretary of State for Military Affairs of France | ||
|---|---|---|
| November 25 - April 24 | ||
Paris, France
Paris, France
Armand Jean du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu(in Russian tradition Richelieu; fr. Armand-Jean du Plessis, duc de Richelieu; September 9, Paris - December 4, Paris), also known as Cardinal Richelieu or Red cardinal(French l "Éminence rouge) - cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, aristocrat and statesman of France. Cardinal Richelieu served as secretaries of state for military and foreign affairs from 1616 to 1617 and was head of government (first minister of the king) from 1624 to of his death.
Biography
Origin
The father's family belonged to the noble nobility of Poitou. François du Plessis de Richelieu was a prominent statesman during the reign of Henry III, and after his death served Henry IV.
Armand's mother, Suzanne de La Porte, did not belong to the aristocracy. She was the daughter of the lawyer of the Parisian Parliament, François de La Porte, a bourgeois who was granted nobility for his length of service.
Childhood
Armand was born in Paris, in the parish of Saint-Eustache, on the Rue Boulois (or Bouloir). Was youngest son in the family. He was baptized only on May 5, 1586, six months after his birth, due to his “frail, sickly” health.
1586, fifth day of May. Armand Jean, the son of Messire François du Plessis, Seigneur de Richelieu...member of the Council of State, Provost of the Royal House and Chief Provost of France, and Dame Suzanne de La Porte, his wife, was baptized...The baby was born on September 9, 1585.
From the baptismal certificate in the registers of the parish of Saint Eustace in Paris
Armand's godfathers were two marshals of France - Armand de Gonto-Biron and Jean d'Aumont, who gave him their names. His godmother was his grandmother, Françoise de Richelieu, née Rochechouart.
In 1588, Armand's father became one of the organizers of the flight of Henry III from the rebellious Paris. The mother and children also left Paris and settled in the family estate of Richelieu's husband in Poitou. After the assassination of the king, Armand's father continued to successfully serve the new king Henry IV of Bourbon. François du Plessis-Richelieu died unexpectedly of a fever on July 19, 1590 at the age of 42, leaving behind only debts. The family began to experience significant financial difficulties. To organize a worthy funeral, Suzanne was even forced to lay the chain of the Order of the Holy Spirit, of which her late husband was a holder. King Henry IV, in recognition of the merits of the deceased, twice allocated funds to the widow totaling 36 thousand livres.
Back in Paris
A few years later, Armand returns to Paris, where he is enrolled at the College of Navarre, where both Henry III and Henry IV studied. At college, Arman studied grammar, art and philosophy. After graduating from college, Arman, by family decision, entered the Pluvinel Military Academy. But suddenly circumstances change, since Armand Richelieu must now take the place of Bishop of Luzon, an ecclesiastical diocese granted to the Richelieu family by Henry III. Arman is forced to change his military uniform to a cassock, since this diocese is the only source of income for his family. At this time he is 17 years old. Armand, with his characteristic ebullient energy, begins to study theology.
Bishop of Luzon
Soon, Marie de Medici appointed Richelieu as confessor to Anne of Austria. A little later, in November 1616, she appointed him to the post of Minister of War. Richelieu was resolutely opposed to the government's then-existing policy aimed at an unequal alliance with Spain and neglect of the national interests of France, but then the Bishop of Luzon did not dare to openly confront the government. The state's finances were also in a deplorable state, and there was a constant threat of further riots and civil war.
But soon the king orders him to follow Maria de Medici in order to reason with her (the queen mother wanted to rebel against her own son). Richelieu copes brilliantly with this mission. Peace has been restored in the kingdom. The bishop's disgrace has been lifted.
Cardinal of France in the service of the state
In 1622 (at the age of 37) he was elevated to the rank of cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He began to actively appear at court and participate in political intrigues. Meanwhile, the situation in the state remained deplorable. King Louis XIII needed a man who could find a way out of the impasse, and Richelieu turned out to be that man. On August 13, 1624, Armand de Richelieu became the first minister of Louis XIII.
In his “Political Testament” Richelieu writes about the situation in France at that time:
“When Your Majesty deigned to call me to your Council, I can certify that the Huguenots shared power in the state with you, the nobles behaved as if they were not your subjects, and the governors felt like sovereigns of their lands... alliances with foreign states were in a state of disrepair , and self-interest was preferred to the common good"
Richelieu understood that the main enemies in the international arena were the Habsburg monarchies of Austria and Spain. But France was not yet ready for open conflict. Richelieu knew that the state lacked the necessary resources for this, it was necessary to decide internal problems. Meanwhile, he rejects an alliance with England and its Prime Minister, the Duke of Buckingham, whom Richelieu considered a charlatan and an adventurer.
Inside the country, Richelieu successfully uncovers a conspiracy against the king, aimed at eliminating the monarch and placing his younger brother Gaston d'Orléans on the throne. Many noble nobles and the queen herself participate in the conspiracy. The assassination of the cardinal was also planned. It was after this incident that the cardinal acquired a personal guard, which would later become the cardinal’s guard regiment.
War with England and the siege of La Rochelle
In 1632, Richelieu uncovered another conspiracy against the king, in which Gaston d'Orléans and the Duke of Montmorency participated.
On December 29, 1629, the cardinal, having received the title of His Majesty's lieutenant general, went to command an army in Italy, where he confirmed his military talents and met Giulio Mazarin. The latter became Richelieu's closest ally, which helped him later become the first minister of France.
Richelieu based his policy on the implementation of the program of Henry IV: strengthening the state, its centralization, ensuring the primacy of secular power over the church and the center over the provinces, eliminating the aristocratic opposition, and countering Spanish-Austrian hegemony in Europe. The main result of Richelieu's state activities was the establishment of absolutism in France. Cold, calculating, often very stern to the point of cruelty, subordinating feelings to reason, Cardinal Richelieu firmly held the reins of government in his hands and, with remarkable vigilance and foresight, noticing the impending danger, warned it at its very appearance.
Facts and memory
Works of Richelieu
- Le testament politique ou les maximes d'etat.
- Memoires (ed.).
Richelieu in art
Fiction
- The cardinal is one of the heroes of the popular novel “The Three Musketeers” by Alexandre Dumas. At the same time, the depiction of both the cardinal himself and the political situation around him (a kind of “competition” between the king and the cardinal and the people loyal to them) does not correspond much to the historical truth.
- Indirect mention is the novel by Arturo Perez-Reverte “The Dumas Club, or the Shadow of Richelieu”.
- Also, “Horace” by Pierre Corneille is dedicated to Cardinal Richelieu as a kind of gift to the patron.
- Writer Evelyn Anthony's book "A Cardinal's Love" tells the story of the romance between Richelieu and Queen Anne of Austria.
- In the series of books “State Secrets” by Juliette Benzoni, he is one of the negative characters.
- A character in the novel “Saint-Mars, or the Conspiracy of the Times of Louis XIII” by Alfred de Vigny and the drama “Marion Delorme” by Victor Hugo.
- Character from the novel “The Casket of Marie de Medici” by Eremey Parnov.
- In the novel German writer Georg Born's "Anne of Austria or the Queen's Musketeers" Richelieu is shown as one of the main antagonists of the book.
- In the novel “The Red Sphinx” by Alexandre Dumas, entirely dedicated to Cardinal Richelieu.
- In the novel "Bardelis the Magnificent" by Rafael Sabatini, as the patron of the main character.
- Mentioned in the novel Captain Mac by Ponson du Terrailhat.
- In the novel by Alexander Bushkov "D" Artagnan - the Cardinal's Guardsman.
- Mentioned in the play "Cyrano de Bergerac" by Edmond Rostand.
Cinema
- Edouard de Max in the series
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