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[[File: Kardinaal de Richelieu.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Titian’s portrait of Richelieu]]
Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642) was one of France's most significant leaders because he both strengthened and consolidated the power of the most important statesmen in French if not European historymonarchy. He was chief minister to Louis XIII , and he changed the nature of the French government and society. Today , he is best known as a character in Alexander Dumas’classic novel, [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1853260401/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1853260401&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=ee86619b16656a6345cc090c6a7968c3 The Three Musketeers]. Richelieu was a master politician and diplomat, who because of used his influence over the monarch laid to lay the foundations of an ‘absolute monarchy’ in France. Richelieu was also able to use the Thirty Years War to further France's national interests. More than anyone else, he made France the greatest power in Europe by the second half of the seventeenth century. However, these achievements, while significant, were a catastrophe for most French citizens. == Why was France divided before the arrival of Cardinal Richelieu? ==In the early seventeenth century, France was one of Europe's leading powers, but it was very divided and vulnerable. It was surrounded by the Hapsburgs, who controlled the Low Countries and Spain. The kingdom was also very divided because of religion. Europe was torn by religious conflict, and in 1618 the Thirty Years War broke out, and much of the continent was dragged into the conflict between Catholic and Protestant.<ref> Bergin, Joseph. <i>The Rise of Richelieu</i> (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1997), p. 34</ref> The international situation was destabilizing French society, which was divided between Catholic and Protestant (Huguenot). The Edict of Nantes had granted French Protestants religious toleration, and this community effectively ran their own ‘parallel state.’ There were continued tensions between Catholics and Protestants, and this frequently exploded into riots and violence. The Catholic community itself was divided between hardliners and those who took a more pragmatic approach to religion. The country itself was still largely feudal society.<ref>Bergin, p. 13</ref>
====Background==Who was Cardinal Richelieu? ==In the early seventeenth century France Cardinal Richelieu was born in 1585, during one of the leading powers in Europe but it was very divided and vulnerableFrance’s many Religious Wars. It Richelieu was surrounded by the Hapsburgs who controlled son of the Low Countries and Spain. The kingdom was also very divided because Lord of religion. Europe was torn by religious conflict Richelieu and in 1618 the Thirty Years War broke out and much a member of the continent was dragged into the conflict between Catholic and Protestantminor nobility.<ref> Bergin, Joseph. The Rise of Richelieu (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1997), p. 344</ref> The international situation He was destabilizing French society which educated in Paris Collège de Navarre, a brilliant student he was divided between Catholic well-versed in history and Protestant (Huguenot)the classics. The Edict of Nantes He had granted French Protestants religious toleration and this community effectively ran their own ‘parallel state’originally intended to the military, but his family decided that he should enter the priesthood. There were continued tensions between Catholics and Protestants and this frequently exploded into riot In April 1607, after receiving a papal dispensation as he was only 21, he was ordained as a priest and violencebishop at Lucon. The Catholic community itself Richelieu was divided between hardliners very ambitious and those who took a more pragmatic approach to religionstudied the works of Machiavelli. The country itself was still largely a feudal society.<ref> Berginextent of the Italian political philosopher's influence can be seen in Richelieu’s cynical aphorisms, pespecially in his Testament Politique (1641). 13</ref>
The young bishop came king also secured a Cardinal’s hat for Richelieu. The French statesman was committed to furthering the attention power of the queen-regentmonarchy and France. In pursuit of this, Marie de Medici, who asked Richelieu he attacked the Huguenots and began to attend erode their power base. He reformed the navy and the Royal Courtarmy. Richelieu became chaplain He also reorganized the bureaucracy and sought to curb the power of the young queen Anne in 1615nobles. She was the wife Much of Louis XII, who his time in power was too young an effort to rule in his own name and centralize power really rested with his mother Marie de Medici. Richelieu He was a political genius dependent upon the king’s favor and soon he was appointed Secretary of State for Warconfidence. HoweverStill, his patron Marie de Medici fell from grace with the king because of court-politics and it seemed that Richelieu’s career was over.<ref>LeviLouis XIII, Anthony. <i>Cardinal Richelieu and the Making of France</i>. New York: Carroll an indolent and Graf, 2000), p. 112</ref> Howeverenigmatic man, gave Richelieu managed great leeway to reconcile pursue the queen-mother and her son and policies that he eventually thought were best for the kingdom. The Cardinal was rewarded often embroiled in disputes with noble factions, but the position of Chief Minister monarch's support allowed him to initiate fundamental reforms and with the backing of Louis XII he began the transformation of French societyradical policies.
The king also secured a Cardinal’s hat for Richelieu. The French statesman was committed Cardinal sought to furthering the power of the monarchy and establish an Absolute Monarchy in France. In pursuit of this, he attacked where the Huguenots and began to erode their power base. He reformed king would be, obeyed through the navy land, and the armyfeudal nobility no longer acted like independent lords. He also reformed the bureaucracy suppressed several conspiracies and rebellions and sought to curb limited the power powers of the noblesnobility. Much of his time <ref> Collins, p. 115</ref> Richelieu was very much a ‘realist’ in power was an effort to centralize powerinternational affairs. He was dependent upon the king’s favor and confidence but Louis XIIIallied himself with Protestant nations, an indolent and enigmatic manthough a Catholic, gave Richelieu, great leeway to pursue the policies that he thought were best for the kingdomstrengthen his position beloved France in Europe. The Cardinal was often embroiled He intervened in disputes with noble factions but the support Thirty Years War and changed the direction of the monarch allowed him to initiate key reforms that conflict. Richelieu died hated by many in 1642. His work was continued by his hand-picked successor Cardinal Mazarin, who completed his old master's work and radical policiescreated an absolute monarchy in France.
This was a relic of feudalism , and Richelieu believed that it was not suitable for a modern state. He persuaded Louis XIII to appoint an ‘intendant’ or official to every district , and they would administer the area. This did much to reduce the influence of the local notables , but they still had immense powers. The appointment of government officials did much to curb the authority and freedom of provincial nobles. Richelieu 's administrative reforms did much to change France from a feudal to a modern state. However, this was arguably not finished until the French Revolution. Richelieu also had many castles and fortresses demolished and this , which reduced the nobility's ability of the nobility to defy their monarch. However, however they were still able to recruit large private armies from among their tenants and retainers. The new administration also meant more taxes for the peasantry , and there were many peasant uprisings during the Cardinal’s ministry.<ref>Bergin, p. 116</ref>
====Why did Cardinal Richelieu attack the French Huguenots==? ==
[[File: Siege of La Rochelle 1881 Henri Motte 1846 1922.jpg|200px|thumb|left| Richelieu at the siege of La Rochelle]]
The Huguenots, were perhaps the strongest faction in the country , and they had a significant army and were supported by Charles I of England. Richelieu attempted to revoke many of the privileges that were granted to the Huguenots under the Edict of Nantes. This action led to a rebellion , and Richelieu besieged one of their main strongholds La Rochelle. This siege was The Cardinal personally directed by the Cardinal this siege, and he imitated Alexander the Great's siege tactics of Alexander the Great to capture the strategic port. The Huguenots continued their rebellion , but the Cardinal was implacable , and the Royalist army defatted the French Protestants in battle.<ref> Levi, p. 113</ref> This forced the Huguenot leader to seek terms with the king. Richelieu adopted a conciliatory policy towards them was influenced by because of personal philosophy ‘First, all means to conciliate; failing that, all means to crush.’<ref> Richelieu, <i>Political Statement</i>. (1663), p. 13</ref> If the Huguenots had not obeyed the Cardinal’s will , he would have waged a total war against them. Richelieu, eventually appointed the Huguenot leader to a senior position in the army and integrated some Huguenot soldiers into the Royal army. The Cardinal at the same time, under the Peace of Alais, the Protestants still had religious freedom , but they were shorn of their military and political rights. == What Cardinal Richelieu's role in the Thirty Years War? ==<div class="portal" style='float:right; width:35%'> ====Related Articles===={{#dpl:category=French History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=8}}</div>[[File: Battle of Lens.jpeg|200px|thumb|left| 19th-century painting of the Battle of Lens (1648)]]Richelieu was unique among politicians of the time as he put his king's needs before that of his religion. He devised a strategy that promoted and safeguarded the geopolitical interests of France. Despite being an early adherent of the Devot party, he was determined to limit his fellow Catholics' power, the Hapsburgs.<ref> Levi, p. 123</ref> This dynasty ruled in Spain and Austria, and they dominated much of Europe. For over a hundred years, they had threatened France or interfered in her internal affairs. When he became Minister, he adopted a determined anti-Hapsburg policy. Through subsidies, he supported various Protestant armies in Germany that were fighting the Catholic armies of the Hapsburgs. In 1629 when the Hapsburgs seemed on the point of victory, he encouraged the Swedes to invade Germany. This was not enough for Richelieu, and he had French armies fight against the Spanish Hapsburgs in Northern Italy and even in Spain itself (Catalonia). The Cardinal used all the resources of France to contain and defeat the Hapsburgs. He was concerned that the Hapsburgs sought to encircle and conquer France. He raised taxes to pay for the military campaigns. The increased taxes disproportionately targeted ordinary families and even caused localized famines. However, Richelieu's policies were continued with, and they eventually led to the French victory over the Spanish Hapsburgs at Lens in 1648. This is widely regarded as the end of the Hapsburgs' supremacy in Europe and was a victory that saw France's emergence as the most significant power in Europe. Richelieu did not live to implement all his plans, but he undoubtedly helped make France the preeminent power in seventeenth-century Europe.
==How did Richelieu expand the power of the French Empire? ==Thirty Years War====[[File: Battle of Lens.jpeg|200px|thumb|left|19th century painting of the Battle of Lens (1648)]]Not only did Richelieu was unique among statemen of help to make France the time as greatest power in Europe, but he put was also instrumental in the needs establishment of his king before that of his religiona French overseas Empire. He devised a strategy His Navy reforms meant that promoted and safeguarded the geopolitical interests of FranceFrench could secure new colonies, especially in the eighteenth century. Despite being an early adherent of the Devot party, When he was determined came to limit the power of his fellow Catholics , the Hapsburgs.<ref> Levi, p. 123</ref> This dynasty ruled in Spain and French colony in Austria and they dominated much of Europe. For over a hundred years they had threatened New France or interfered (Canada) was in her internal affairs when he became Minister he adopted a determined anti-Hapsburg policydecline. He supported, through subsidies various Protestant armies in Germany that were fighting revived the Catholic armies fortunes of the Hapsburgs. In 1629 when colony by the Hapsburgs seemed on formation of the point ‘Company of victory he encouraged the Swedes to invade GermanyNew France. This was not enough for Richelieu and he had French armies fight against the Spanish Hapsburgs in Northern Italy and even in Spain itself (Catalonia). ’
====Richelieu and the French Empire==Conclusion ==Not only did Richelieu help to make France was one of the greatest power figures in Early Modern Europe he . He changed France from a feudal society into a modern state. He was also instrumental in the establishment of a French overseas Empire. His reforms of the navy meant that the French could secure new colonies especially Absolute Monarchy in the eighteenth century. When France because he came managed to curb the power of the French colony in New France (Canada) was in declinenobility. He revived the fortunes of the colony by the formation of His foreign policy effectively ended the ‘Company of New France’. This helped Hapsburg threat to boost trade between the colony and France and this encouraged many French emigrants to settle in the colony. Richelieu encouraged the settlers to live in harmony with the Native Americans and this did much to strengthen the French colony. The Cardinal was made her one of , or perhaps the pivotal figures in most powerful kingdom on the history of Quebec and Francophone Canadacontinent.
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Reviewed Januray 29, 2019.
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