Journal de Monsieur le Cardinal Duc de Richelieu: qu’il a faict durant le grand orage de la Court en l’annee 1630 & 1631, by Armand Jean du Plessis, Duc-Cardinal de Richelieu. 1648.
Call Number: SpC.944.032R528j1648
Vincent de Paul witnessed many of the key political events in the evolution of the Bourbon monarchy and early modern France, including the famous Day of the Dupes in November 1631. Historians consider this event as the turning point in the reign of Louis XIII (1610-1643).
Louis XIII came to the throne at the age of eight, upon the assassination of his father Henri IV. His mother Marie de Medici served as Regent and exercised a great influence over her son, even after he began his personal rule. Early in the reign a young, talented bishop by the name of Armand Jean du Plessis de Richelieu came to the Regent’s attention and began his rocky rise to power which would lead to his emergence as first minister.
The leadership weaknesses of Louis XIII led to a period of instability as the great struggles around domestic and foreign policy, religion, and royal authority took place in a power vacuum. This situation led to the development of plots, power struggles, court intrigue, and open rebellion. The King could not even control the behavior of his brother Gaston d’Orleans.
This situation came to a head in November 1631, when there was a show-down in which Marie de Medici and her devot supporters such as the Keeper of the Seals (the great Michel de Marillac) plotted to defeat Richelieu. At first, it appeared that the Queen-Mother had convinced the King to dismiss the cardinal. However, even as Marie de Medici was celebrating her apparent victory, Richelieu and his supporters tried one last desperate appeal to the King. They succeeded, and Cardinal Richelieu snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Marie de Medici would be banished from the kingdom, and her leading supporters severely punished by Richelieu. Those punished would include Louise de Marillac’s two uncles, Michel and Louis, who paid with their lives.
Although Richelieu’s relationship with Louis XIII would be strained and never close, the king knew that the Cardinal’s leadership was essential to the preservation of royal authority, and the construction of a strong monarchy and a powerful kingdom. Vincent de Paul and Cardinal Richelieu enjoyed a close working relationship. It was during these years that Vincent began his rise to national prominence as Cardinal Richelieu’s policies transformed France, and prepared the way for Louis XIV.
The present volume was published after Richelieu’s death. Taken from his memoirs, it describes his view of the fateful events of 1630-31.
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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.