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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. He supported, through subsidies 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 believed was concerned that if they were not that they would the Hapsburgs sought to encircle and even conquer France. The He raised taxes raised to pay for the military campaigns led to real hardships for many . The increased taxes disproportionately targeted ordinary people families and even caused localized famines. However, Richelieu 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 the emergence of France as the most significant power in Europe. Richelieu did not live to implement all his plans, but he undoubtedly helped to make France the preeminent power in seventeenth-century Europe.
====Richelieu and the French Empire====
