f dforagn &tattfmnt KICHELIEU KICHELIEU BY RICHARD LODGE, M.A. PROFESSOR OF HISTORY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW, FORMERLY FELLOW AND TUTOR OF BRASENOSE COLLEGE, OXFORD MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED ST. MARTIN'S STREET, LONDON 1908 First Edition 1896 Reprinted 1908 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Rise of the French monarchy The new appanaged nobles and tho Hundred Years' War Charles VII. expels the English The standing army and the permanent taille Louis XL humili- ates the nobles Strength of the monarchy under Francis I. Evil results of the sale of offices The wars of religion De- cline of the royal power Successes of Henry IV. Victory of the crown only partial Independence of the nobles, the Huguenots and the sovereign courts The minority of Louis XIII. Greatness of Richelieu's work Difficulty of his biography Page 1 CHAPTER I HICHELIEU'S EARLY LIFE 1585-1614 The family of du Plessis The du Plessis do Richelieu Career of Fran9ois du Plessis Birth of Armand Jean His life at Richelieu He enters the College of Navarre Transferred to the Academy The bishopric of Lu9on Armand returns to the University Consecrated bishop at Rome He quits Paris for Lu9on Motives for this step Letters to Madame de Bourges His conduct as bishop His religious attitude Early relations with Jansenism Connection with Berulle and vi RICHELIEU Father Joseph Death of Henry IV. Richelieu in Paris- Acquaintance with Barbin and Concini Returns to his diocese His attitude towards parties at court Letter to Concini Election to the States-General Personal appearance Feeble health Character and aims . Page 8 CHAPTER II THE STATES-GENERAL RICHELIEU'S FIRST MINISTRY 1614-1617 Questions before the States-General The paulette Quarrels of clergy and third estate Richelieu orator of the clergy Concini and the ministers Conde and the Huguenots oppose Mary de Medici Treaty of Loudun Fall of the old ministers Richelieu rises to prominence Conspiracy of the nobles Arrest of Cond6 and flight of his associates Richelieu receives office His difficulties Measures against the nobles Assassination of Concini Fall of the ministers Richelieu at the Louvre He quits the court 26 CHAPTER III RICHELIEU AND THE QUEEN-MOTHER 1617-1624 Government in the hands of Luynes Hostility to the Huguenots Edict to restore church lands in Beam Richelieu exiled to his diocese His answer to the four ministers of Charenton Exile in Avignon Writes the Instruction du Clir&ien Unpopularity of Luynes The nobles join the queen-mother Her escape from Blois Richelieu sent to join Mary de Medici at Angouleme His policy at this period The treaty of Angouleme Henri de Richelieu killed in a duel Continued hostility between Mary de Medici and Luynes The nobles CONTENTS vil again rally round the queen-mother Civil war The rout of Pont-de-Ce" Richelieu negotiates a treaty -His relations with Luynes Enforcement of royal edict in B6arn Huguenot dis- content and organisation Campaign of 1621 Luynes con- stable His death Mary de Medici still opposed by Conde and the ministers Campaign of 1622 Treaty of Montpellier Conde leaves France in disgust Richelieu receives the cardinal's hat The government of the Brularts (Sillery and Puisieux) La Vieuville procures the dismissal of the ministers Richelieu admitted to the council . Page 39 CHAPTER IV THE VALTELLINE AND LA EOCHELLE 1624-1628 Richelieu's schemes of domestic reform Compelled to abandon them for foreign politics Threatening progress of the house of Hapsburg Difficulties in the way of the ministers Renewed alliance with the Dutch Negotiations about the English marriage Fall of la Vieuville Richelieu first minister His policy in the English negotiations Question of the Valtelline The forts in the hands of the pope De Cceuvres seizes the Valtelline Revolt of the Huguenots Ships obtained from England and Holland Naval victory over the rebels Negotiations with the Huguenots Indignation of the Ultra- montane party against Richelieu Treaty of Monzon with Spain Treaty with the Huguenots Conspiracy of Ornano and Madame de Chevreuse Collapse of the conspiracy Fato of Chalais Richelieu appointed superintendent of navigation and commerce His maritime schemes Quarrel between France and England Buckingham's expedition to Rhe Critical position of France Energy displayed by Richelieu Relief of the fort of St. Martin Buckingham compelled to abandon Rhe Siege of La Rochelle Plan of blocking the harbour Period of the king's absence Richelieu directs the siege Failure of the English attempts to relieve La Rochelle Surrender of the city Its treatment .... 55 viii RICHELIEU CHAPTEE V THE MANTUAN SUCCESSION AND THE DAY OF DUPES 1628-1631 The question of the Mantuan succession Siege of Casale Louis XIII. and Richelieu cross the Alps for its relief Treaty of Susa Peace with England Treaty between Spain and Rohan Campaign in Languedoc Submission of the Huguenots They retain religious toleration but lose their political privileges Discontent of Gaston of Orleans He goes to Lorraine Enmity of Mary de Medici against Richelieu Its motives Relations of Richelieu and Louis XIII. Gaston returns to France Imperialist troops sent to Mantua Richelieu's second expedition to Italy Attitude of Charles Emmanuel of Savoy The French take Pinerolo Conquest of Savoy Fall of Mantua Siege of Casale Truce of Rivalta Relations of France with Gustavus Adolphus The emperor and the Catholic League Diet of Ratisbon Treaty of Ratisbon Richelieu refuses to confirm it Illness of Louis XIII. Relief of Casale Open quarrel of Mary de Medici with Richelieu The Day of Dupes Gaston goes to Orleans Mary de Medici at Compiegne Gaston goes to Lorraine The queen-mother escapes to Brussels Settlement of the Mantuan succession by treaties of Cherasco France keeps Pinerolo Successes of Richelieu . Page 81 CHAPTER VI FRANCE INVOLVED IN THE EUROPEAN WAR 1631-1635 Richelieu made duke and peer Threatened coalition in favour of Gaston Lorraine Treaty of Vic Gaston's marriage and retreat to Brussels Gustavus Adolphus in Germany Services which he renders to France Louis XIII. and Richelieu in Lorraine Treaty of Liverdun Gaston in France Montmor- ency Battle of Castelnaudari Execution of Montmorency Gaston retires to Brussels Death of Gustavus Adolphus Illness and recovery of Richelieu Fall and imprisonment of CONTENTS ix Chlteauneuf Richelieu and his colleagues League of Heil- bronn Renewed invasion of Lorraine Surrender of Nancy Abdication of Charles IV. Complete occupation of Lorraine Gaston's marriage with Margaret annulled Return of Gaston and Puylaurens Imprisonment and death of Puylaurens Wallenstein's policy His death Battle of Nordlingen Break up of the Protestant League in Germany Treaty of Prague Dangers to France if the war came to an end Seizure of the elector of Trier by the Spaniards France declares war against Spain Page 110 CHAPTER VII REVERSES AND TRIUMPHS 1635-1640 French alliances Military preparations Disasters of 1635 in the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and at sea Causes of failure Campaign of 1636 Invasion of Picardy Panic in Paris Richelieu's courage Repulse of the Spaniards Conspiracy of Orleans and Soissons Risings in Normandy and Guienne Episode of Louise de la Fayette Campaign of 1637 More French reverses Loss of the Valtelline The French fleet recovers the Lerins Series of triumphs begin in 1638 Bern- hard of Saxe- Weimar takes Breisach His death France becomes his heir The Spaniards in Piedmont Battle and capture of Turin Naval victories Destruction of Spanish fleet in the Downs Relations with England Revolt of Cata- lonia and Portugal Capture of Arras Extent of Richelieu's triumphs Birth of the dauphin Death of Father Joseph 133 CHAPTER VIII DOMESTIC GOVERNMENT Richelieu's influence almost as great in France as abroad The aims of his domestic policy Treatment of the Huguenots Measures the nobles : the destruction of fortresses edict against ; against of duelling ; appointment intendants Relations with the Parliament of Paris Hostility to the provincial estates RICHELIEU Organisation of the Conseil du Roy The Conseil d'e'tat Centralisation inevitable Merits of Richelieu's government : and naval of commerce and military organisation ; patronage colonisation Defects : neglect of manufactures and agri- culture financial maladministration to conciliate ; Attempts public opinion Meetings of notables Patronage of literature and foundation of the Academy Origin of the Gazette de la France Page 157 CHAPTEE IX RICHELIEU AND THE CHURCH Condition of the French Church during the religious wars Religious revival in the seventeenth century Charitable orders Advance of clerical and secular education Monastic reform Richelieu's relations with the papacy Relations of Church and State Clerical taxation Richelieu and St. Cyran Richelieu's opportunism in ecclesiastical matters His superstition Case of Urbain Grandier . 184 CHAPTER X RICHELIEU'S LAST TEARS 1641, 1642 Military events of 1641 and 1642 Rising of Soissons His death Conspiracy of Cinq-Mars Richelieu's illness at Narbonne His will Detection of the plot Execution of Cinq-Mars and de Thou Completeness of Richelieu's success His death Continuance of his policy Gradual relaxation of severity Death of Louis XIII. Permanence of Richelieu's influence Richelieu's character His ill-health His isolation The in- security of his position His relations with Louis XIII. His vindictiveness His unpopularity . ... 207 APPENDIX A. The Genealogy of the Richelieu family . 231 APPENDIX B. The chief books on the period . 232 APPENDIX C. The Testament Politique .... 234 INTRODUCTION Rise of the French monarchy The new appanaged nobles and the Hundred Years' War Charles VII. expels the English The standing army and the permanent taille Louis XL humiliates the nobles Strength of the monarchy under Francis I. Evil results of the sale of offices The wars of religion Decline of the royal power Successes of Henry IV. Victory of the crown only partial Independence of the nobles, the Huguenots, and the sovereign courts The minority of Louis XIII.