RICHLIEU, JOHN ARMAND DU PLESSIS DE, cardinal of Richieu and Fronzac, bishop of Lucon, &c. was born at Paris in 1585. He was of excellent parts;
and at the age of 22 had the address to obtain a dispen- sation to enjoy the bishopric of Lucon in 1607. Re- turning into France, he applied himself in a particular manner to the function of preaching; and his reputation this way procured him the office of almoner to the queen Mary de Medicis. His abilities in the manage- ment of affairs advanced him to be secretary of state in 1616; and the king soon gave him the preference to all his other secretaries. The death of the marquis d'Ancre having produced a revolution in state affairs, Richieu retired to Avignon; where he employed himself in composing books of controversy and piety. The king having recalled him to court, he was made a cardinal in 1622; and, two years after, first minister of state, and grand master of the navigation. In 1626, the isle of Rhéé was preserved by his care, and Rochelle taken, having stopped up the haven by that famous dyke which he ordered to be made there. He accompanied the king to the siege of Cazal, and contributed not a little to the raising of it in 1629. He also obliged the Hugue- nots to the peace at Alets, which proved the ruin of that party; he took Pamerol, and succoured Cazal be- sieged by Spinola. In the mean time the nobles found fault with his conduct, and persuaded the king to dis- card him. The cardinal, for his part, was unmoved with it; and by his reasonings overthrew what was thought to be determined against him; so that, instead of being disgraced, he from that moment became more powerful than ever. He punished all his enemies in the same manner as they would have had him suffer; and the day which produced this event, so glorious to Car- dinal Richieu, was called the day of dupes. This able minister had from thenceforward an ascendancy over the king's mind; and he now resolved to humble the ex- cessive pride of the house of Austria. For that purpose he concluded a treaty with Gustavus Adolphus king of Sweden, for carrying the war into the heart of Ger- many. He also entered into a league with the duke of Bavaria; secured Lorraine; raised a part of the princes of the empire against the emperor; treated with the Dutch to continue the war against Spain; favoured the Catalans and Portuguese till they shook off the Spanish yoke; and, in short, took so many different measures, that he accomplished his design; and after having car- ried on the war with success, was thinking of concluding it by a peace, when he died at Paris on the 4th of De- cember 1642, aged 58. He was interred in the Sor- bonne, where a magnificent mausoleum is erected to his memory. This great politician made the arts and sciences flourish; formed the botanical garden at Paris, called the king's garden; founded the French academy; estab- lished the royal printing-house; erected the palace af- terwards called Le Palais Royal, which he presented to the king; and rebuilt the Sorbonne with a magnificence that appears truly royal. Besides his books of con- troversy and piety, there go under the name of this min- ister, A Journal, in 2 vols 12mo; and a Political Testam- ent, in 12mo; all treating of politics and state affairs. Cardinal Mazarine pursued Richieu's plan, and com- pleted many of the schemes which he had begun, but left unfinished.