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Cardinal Richelieu Biography

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RICHELIEU Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal, Duke of, eminent statesman, born in Paris, France, Sept. 5, 1585; died Dec. 4, 1642. He descended from a noble family and studied for a military career at the College of Navarre, but his elder brother, being bishop of Luçon, influenced him to study for the church. Accordingly he attained a degree at the Sorbonne, and in 1607 succeeded his brother as bishop of Luçon, being consecrated to that position by Cardinal de Givry in the presence of Pope Paul V. Louis XIII. of France appointed him secretary of war and foreign affairs in 1616, but the following year Louis quarreled with the queen mother and Richelieu was banished to Blois and later to Avignon. A reconciliation was effected soon after and the queen was restored to her position at court, Richelieu gaining marked influence. He was made cardinal in 1622, and became minister of state in 1624, a position which he retained until his death. It was Richelieu's design to strengthen the French court, and with that end in view he devised a plan whereby the nobles and feudal lords were limited in power, many of the leading opponents being sentenced to life imprisonment or brought to the scaffold. This fairly begun, he began to plan with the view of weakening the house of Hapsburg, both in Germany and Italy. The suppression of the Huguenots was also one of his designs, and when their influence became limited, he turned against the queen-mother, Mary of Medici, for the reason that she had conspired to cause his fall, whereupon she was compelled to withdraw into exile at Cologne. Richelieu was signally successful in carrying out his vigorous policy, both at home and abroad. He made his administration quite impressive by promoting many internal improvements and gigantic military maneuvers. As a statesman he attained to much eminence, giving the royal house freedom from the influence of the nobilty. He patronized learning, and is the founder of the French Academy and the Royal Printing Presses. In 1631 he was raised to the rank of duke. He is the author of several works on economics, civics, and diplomacy.