INTRODUCTORY NOTE

“Temerarious indeed must he appear who attempts to comprehend in so small a space the admirable actions of a Hero who filled the whole earth with the fame of his glory, and who, by the wonders he worked in our own days, effaced the most lofty and astounding deeds of Pagan demigods and illustrious Personages of Antiquity. But what encourages me to attempt a thing so daring is the preciousness of the material with which I have to deal; being such that it needs neither the workman nor his art for the heightening of its value. So that, however little I may say of the incomparable and inimitable actions of the great Armand de Richelieu, I shall yet say much; knowing also that if I were to fill large volumes, I should still say very little.”

Although the courtly language of the Sieur de la Colombière, Gentleman-in-Ordinary to Louis XIV., who wrote a Portrait of Cardinal de Richelieu some years after his death, may appear extravagant to modern minds, there is no denying that he is justified on one point—the marvellous interest of his subject.

Few harder tasks could be attempted than a complete biography of Richelieu. It would mean the history of France for more than fifty years, the history of Europe for more than twenty: even a fully equipped student might hesitate before undertaking it. At the same time, Richelieu’s personality and the times in which he lived are so rich in varied interest that even a passing glance at both may be found not unwelcome. If excuse is needed, there is that of Monsieur de la Colombière: “Pour peu que j’en parle, j’en dirai beaucoup.”

There are many good authorities for the life of Cardinal de Richelieu and for the details of his time, among which the well-known and invaluable works of M. Avenel and of the Vicomte G. d’Avenel should especially be mentioned. But any modern writer on the subject must, first and foremost, acknowledge a deep obligation to M. Hanotaux, concerning whose unfinished Histoire du Cardinal de Richelieu, extending down to the year 1624, one can only express the hope that its gifted author may some day find leisure and inclination to complete it.

E. C. P.

CONTENTS

List of Authorities Pages [xiii], [xiv]
PART I
CHAPTER I
The birth of Armand Jean du Plessis de Richelieu—The position of hisfamily—His great-uncles—His grandfather and grandmother—His father,François de Richelieu, Grand Provost of Henry III.—His mother and herfamily—His godfathers—The death of his father Pages [1]-[9]
CHAPTER II
Friends and relations—The household at Richelieu—Country life inPoitou Pages [10]-[15]
CHAPTER III
The University of Paris—The College of Navarre—The Marquis duChillou—A change of prospect—A student of theology—The Abbé deRichelieu at Rome—His consecration Pages [16]-[25]
PART II
CHAPTER I
A Bishop at the Sorbonne—State of France under Henry IV.—HenryIV., his Queen and his Court—The Nobles and Princes—The unhealthinessof Paris—The Bishop’s departure Pages [26]-[37]
CHAPTER II
Richelieu arrives at Luçon—His palace and household—His work inthe diocese—His friends and neighbours Pages [38]-[47]
CHAPTER III
“Instructions et Maximes”—The death of Henry IV.—The difficultroad to favour—Père Joseph and the Abbey of Fontevrault Pages [48]-[62]
CHAPTER IV
Waiting for an opportunity—Political unrest—The States-General of1614—The Bishop of Luçon speaks Pages [63]-[71]
CHAPTER V
Richelieu appointed Chaplain to Queen Anne—Discontent of theParliament and the Princes—The royal progress to the south—Treaty ofLoudun—Return to Paris—Marie de Médicis and her favourites—Theyoung King and Queen—The Duc de Luynes—Richelieu as negotiatorand adviser—The death of Madame de Richelieu Pages [72]-[87]
CHAPTER VI
A contemporary view of the state of France—Barbin, Mangot, andRichelieu—A new rebellion—Richelieu as Foreign Secretary—The Abbéde Marolles—Concini in danger—The death of Concini—The fall of theMinistry—Horrible scenes in Paris—Richelieu follows the Queen-motherinto exile Pages [88]-[100]
CHAPTER VII
Richelieu at Blois—He is ordered back to his diocese—He writes abook in defence of the Faith—Marriage of Mademoiselle de Richelieu—TheBishop exiled to Avignon—Escape of the Queen-mother from Blois—Richelieuis recalled to her service Pages [101]-[115]
CHAPTER VIII
The Treaty of Angoulême—The death of Henry de Richelieu—Themeeting at Couzières—The Queen-mother at Angers—Richelieu’s influencefor peace—The battle of the Ponts-de-Cé—Intrigues of the Duc de Luynes—Marriageof Richelieu’s niece—The campaigns in Béarn and Languedoc—Thedeath of Luynes—The Bishop of Luçon becomes a Cardinal Pages [116]-[130]
PART III
CHAPTER I
Cardinal de Richelieu—Personal descriptions—A patron of the arts—Courtintrigues—Fancan and the pamphlets—The fall of the Ministers—Cardinalde Richelieu First Minister of France Pages [131]-[142]
CHAPTER II
Richelieu’s aims—The English alliance—The affair of the Valtelline—TheHuguenot revolt—The marriage of Madame Henriette—The Dukeof Buckingham Pages [143]-[157]
CHAPTER III
Peace with Spain—The making of the army and navy—The questionof Monsieur’s marriage—The first great conspiracy—Triumph of Richelieuand death of Chalais Pages [158]-[175]
CHAPTER IV
Two famous edicts—The tragedy of Bouteville and Des Chapelles—Thedeath of Madame and its consequences—War with England—Thesiege of La Rochelle Pages [176]-[192]
CHAPTER V
The Duc de Nevers and the war of the Mantuan succession—Therebellion in Languedoc—A new Italian campaign—Richelieu as Commander-in-Chief Pages [193]-[206]
CHAPTER VI
Illness of Louis XIII.—“Le Grand Orage de la Cour.”—The “Day ofDupes” Pages [207]-[216]
CHAPTER VII
Flight from France of the Queen-mother and Monsieur—New honoursfor Cardinal de Richelieu—The fall of the Marillac brothers—The Duc deMontmorency and Monsieur’s ride to Languedoc—Castelnaudary—Thedeath of Montmorency—Illness and recovery of the Cardinal Pages [217]-[233]
CHAPTER VIII
The Cardinal and his palaces—The château and town of Richelieu—ThePalais-Cardinal—Richelieu’s household, daily life, and friends—TheHôtel de Rambouillet—Mademoiselle de Gournay—Boisrobert and thefirst Academicians—Entertainments at the Palais-Cardinal—MiramePages [234]-[248]
CHAPTER IX
Conquests in Lorraine—The return of Monsieur—The fate of Puylaurens—Franceinvolved in the Thirty Years’ War—Last adventures ofthe Duc de Rohan—Defeat, invasion, and panic—The turn of the tide—Narrowescape of the Cardinal—The flight of the Princes Pages [249]-[262]
CHAPTER X
Palace intrigues—Mademoiselle de Hautefort—Mademoiselle de laFayette—The affair of the Val-de-Grâce—The birth of the Dauphin—Thedeath of Père Joseph—Difficulties in the Church Pages [263]-[275]
CHAPTER XI
Victories abroad—The death of the Comte de Soissons—Social triumphs—Marriageof the Duc d’Enghien—The revolt against the taxes—Theconspiracy of Cinq-Mars—The Cardinal’s dangerous illness—He makeshis will—The ruin of his enemies—His return to Paris Pages [276]-[290]
CHAPTER XII
The Cardinal’s last days—Renewed illness—His death and funeral—Hislegacies—The feeling in France—The Church of the Sorbonne Pages [291]-[298]
INDEX Pages [299]-[306]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

FACING PAGE
Cardinal de Richelieu. Triple Portrait by Philippe de Champagne (National Gallery) [Frontispiece]
Henry IV. From an engraving after the picture by François Porbus [26]
Cloister at Champigny [34]
From a photo by A. Pascal, Thouars.
The Majority of Louis XIII. (Louis XIII. and Marie de Médicis). From the picture by Rubens in the Louvre [68]
From a photo by Neurdein, Paris.
Cardinal de Richelieu. Portrait by Philippe de Champagne [132]
From a photo by A. Giraudon, Paris.
Gaston de France, Duc d’Orléans. From a contemporary portrait [162]
From a photo by Neurdein, Paris.
Louis XIII. From a contemporary portrait [188]
From a photo by Neurdein, Paris.
The Château de Richelieu. From an old print [234]
The Town of Richelieu. From an old print [238]
Anne of Austria. From a miniature in the Victoria and Albert Museum [268]
Porte de Châtellerault, Richelieu [280]
From a photo by Imprimerie Photo-Mécanique, Paris.
Tomb of Cardinal de Richelieu, by Girardon, in the Church of the Sorbonne [294]
From a photo by Neurdein, Paris.