Richelieu
resh'eh-leo (1585-1642), a French cardinal and statesman of the seventeenth century. He was a native of Paris. He belonged to a noble but impoverished family, and was educated for the military profession. A brother that was a bishop having retired to a monastery, Richelieu studied theology and obtained an appointment as his successor. Having attracted the attention of Mary de Medici, the mother of the young King Louis XIII, he obtained standing at court. In 1622 he was made a cardinal, and two years later he was appointed minister of state. Although at times Louis XIII and the court party tried to get rid of Richelieu, he remained in power practically throughout the entire reign of his royal master, whom, indeed, he survived a few months. He shaped the history of France for a quarter of a century. His state policy may be described in brief as covering two points; the making of the French monarch supreme at home, and humbling his chief rival, the German emperor, abroad.
In pursuance of this policy, he crushed the great nobles of France with a merciless hand and waged unrelenting warfare against the Huguenots until he had captured La Rochelle and the other garrisoned towns which they held. Although he was a Catholic, his enmity for the Huguenots was political, rather than religious. He believed that the possession of fortified towns by a factious element was contrary to the interests of the general government. In foreign affairs, he struck hands with Gustavus Adolphus and the Protestant princes of northern Europe against the Catholic emperors and princes of southern Germany. Portugal became independent of Spain through his assistance.
He left a reputation as a patron of literature. His success in influencing Corneille and other literary men to do his bidding was expressed in the current phrase that he employed "five poets to wash his dirty linen." He founded the French Academy in 1635. He left a number of works, including religious books, dramas, correspondence, and state papers. Of the dramas in particular, it is said there is doubt concerning the authorship. It is believed that, in his eagerness to pose as a literary man, Richelieu permitted his name to be attached to the work of others. The outlet of Lake Champlain was named the Richelieu in honor of the great cardinal. Bulwer-Lytton made him the hero of a drama.