Richelieu, Armand Jean du Plessis, duc de. Memoires du cardinal de Richelieu: contenant tout ce qui s’est passe a la cour, pendant son administration... A Govde: [s.n.], 1650.
Call Number: SPC. 230.2 R528m 1650
Armand Jean du Plessis, (b. 1585 d. 1642) known to history as Cardinal Richelieu. During the reign of Louis XIII (1610-1643) Richelieu fought great odds to establish himself as principal minister. (1624-1642) All of France felt the impact of his power and unbending will. The establishment of the absolutist Bourbon monarchy can be largely credited to Richelieu, as can its many excesses and costly failures.
Vincent de Paul’s ministry was shaped precisely within these decades. To understand the France of Vincent de Paul one must understand the France of Cardinal Richelieu.
Richelieu produced his Testament Politique c.1638, framed as advice to Louis XIII. This work is thought never to have been seen by the king, and was only published after Richelieu’s death. The following lines give the reader some sense of the tone and content of this famous work and of Richelieu’s personality and policies:
“At the time when your Majesty resolved to admit me both to your council and to an important place in your confidence for the direction of your affairs, I must say the Hugenots shared the state with you; that the nobles conducted themselves as if they were not your subjects, and the most powerful governors as if they were sovereign in their offices… Notwithstanding these difficulties…knowing how much kings may do when they make good use of their power, I ventured to promise you, with confidence, that you would soon get control of your state…I promised your Majesty to employ all my industry and all the authority which it should please you to give me to ruin the Huguenot party, to abase the pride of the nobles, to bring back all your subjects to their duty, and to elevate your name among foreign nations to the point where it belongs.”1
More on Cardinal Richelieu next month.
1Readings in European History, J.H. Robinson ed., 2 vols. (Boston: Gin, 1906, 2:268-270).
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St. Vincent’s Reading List is recurring blog series exploring texts known to have been read and recommended by St. Vincent de Paul, those which can be presumed to have been read by him, and important works published during his lifetime (1581-1660). All materials discussed are held by DePaul’s Special Collections and Archives. The entire series may be viewed here.