Cardinal Richelieu's Contribution to the Growth of the French State

1438 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: cardinal richelieu's goals of france essay

Armand-Jean du Plessis de Richelieu was born in 1585, and would become the future chief minister of the French monarchy from 1624 to 1642. When he was born, on his cot was the motto, Regi Armandus, meaning "Armand for the King" . This statement would arguably become one of the truest statements in history, as Richelieu would eventually play a very important part in firmly establishing the power of the French monarchy over its subjects and the power of France as a world power . Richelieu has been seen by different historians in two ways; one being a ruthless despot who would do whatever he possibly could to achieve his goals, and the other being of a brilliant politician who transformed France into one of the greatest and most powerful nations and monarchies in the world. However, some historians, such as Knecht argue that both of these views are interlinked. The Machiavellian principle, "the ends justify the means", applies greatly to Cardinal Richelieu, as he was a very ambitious politician, and would do anything that he saw as possible to strengthen the position of France and the king. Koenigsberger argues that, in relation to the wars of religion, "royal authority was restored largely by the energy of Louis XIII's chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu" .

Richelieu had many advantages being chief minister. One of these advantages was that he was a cardinal. The Catholic Church was an extremely powerful institution in France, and with one of their representatives in such a high position of parliament, it would be in the church's interest to support him wholly for their own ends. Wedgwood also argues that the church "would not readily tolerate an attack upon its main representative in council" . Theoretically, with the support of...

... middle of paper ...

...out of touch with its people. After his death, his policies were continued and this had a detrimental effect in the long run.

In conclusion, although Cardinal Richelieu's policies contributed greatly to the growth of the French state and monarchy, they also led to its decline with the French revolution in 1789.

1848 words

Bibliography

C. V. Wedgwood: Richelieu and the French Monarchy

English Universities Press LTD, Aylesbury 1965

G. R. R. Treasure: Seventeenth Century France

Rivingtons (Publishers) Limited, London 1966

Elizabeth Wirth Marvick: Louis XIII

Yale University Press, USA 1986

Orest A. Ranum: Richelieu and the Councillors of Louis XIII

Oxford University Press, London 1963

R. J. Knecht: Richelieu

Longman Group UK LTD, Essex 1991

H. G. Koenigsberger: Early Modern Europe 1500 - 1789

Pearson Education LTD, Essex 1987

Show More
Related

  • King Louis Xiv Essay

    1432 Words  | 3 Pages

    Louis XIV was an absolute monarch in France from 1643 to 1715. His father died when he was just four years old, making Louis XIV the throne’s successor at a very young age. Because of this, he ruled for seventy-two years, which made him “the longest monarch to rule a major country in European history” (Eggert). But it was when he was twenty-three years old when he decided to rule without a prime minister, believing it was his divine right. Translated by Louis de Rouvroy, Duc de Saint-Simon, the author of the book The Memoirs of Louis XIV: His Court and The Regency, King Louis XIV wrote, “The royal power is absolute. The royal throne is not the throne of a man, but the throne of God himself. Kings should be guarded as holy things, and whoever

    Read More

  • Louis XIV and Absolute Monarchism

    373 Words  | 1 Pages

    Louis XIV (the fourteenth) was an absolute monarch. He was often called "the Sun King," and ruled over France. He devoted himself to helping France achieve economic, political, and cultural prominence. Many historians believe the phrase "absolute power corrupts absolutely" mirrors Louis' reign. Louis XIV revoked the Edict on Nantes, changing the economy of France in one motion. By creating the city of Versailles and being a major patron of the arts, Louis was very influential on French culture. He made France go almost bankrupt from his costly wars and failures. Louis was very corrupt in his power, and it shown in all he did to change France; he got what he wanted, when he wanted it.

    Read More

  • French Absolutism and the French Revolution

    2294 Words  | 5 Pages

    that contributed to the rise and fall of the French Monarchy. The ideas of the

    Read More

  • History Of Louis XIII And Richelieu

    1757 Words  | 4 Pages

    Among Richelieu’s Main aims on coming to power were to make the royal power, his power, absolute and supreme at home, for France to become a wealthy thriving nation encouraging companies to establish colonies in America Africa and the West Indies and to protect Frances sovereignty and her borders most especially from the Powerful Habsburgs.

    Read More

  • French Revolution Dbq

    1293 Words  | 3 Pages

    Alexis de Tocqueville, felt that the Revolution’s objective was no longer liberty, which in his opinion is what it should have been. Tocqueville insisted that the failure of not making liberty a primary objective is what brought down the French Revolution and impacted revolutions for years to come. He was concerned that all future revolutions would fall short and face shortcomings if liberty was not the main objective to create a legacy of the revolution. His theories show strength based upon the fact that in the beginning, the Revolution had clear goals and objectives, however towards the end it lacked sufficient proof that liberty was the objective at the end of the

    Read More

  • How Did The French Revolution Influence Political Change

    998 Words  | 2 Pages

    As the result of the French Revolution, the political system changed from an absolute monarchy to a more representative Republic. The monarchy in France was abolished, because the nation lost their belief in the king and the power of the government due to corruption, economic problems and weak leadership. For example when Louis XVI fled to Varennes, together with his wife - Marie Antoinette, this showed the nation that they could no longer trust Louis XVI and they way he led the government and the country.

    Read More

  • Maximilien Robespierre, Leader of the French Revolution

    1448 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Europe cannot conceive of life without Kings and nobles; and we cannot conceive of it with them. Europe is lavishing her blood to preserve her chains, whereas we are lavishing ours to destroy them”(Maximilien Robespierre). For centuries upon centuries, the monarchal system had dominated European life. The very nature of this method of rule incited rebellious feelings, as a definite imbalance of power was present. Understandably, people under this system had risen against authority. The glorious nation of France was no exception. The eighteenth century brought about a great deal of economic and social turmoil. By the end of this one hundred year period, rebellion had been talked about by many citizens for quite some time. However, no definitive action was taken until one man stepped to the forefront; Maximilien Robespierre. Born in Arras, France about thirty years prior to the French Revolution, Robespierre was an immensely intelligent man as is seen from his ability to read and write fluently from the age of eight (the Force of 10). Robespierre rose from fairly humble origins to become a provincial lawyer, advancing further to become a representative in the Estates General, and eventually ascending to the leader of the French Revolution itself. For its sake he sent thousands to the guillotine, overthrew a monarchy, declared a new national religion, and invigorated the will of a nation. “No individual of the French Revolutionary era, with the exception of Napolean Bonaparte, has excited more passion in his time than the…dedicated provincial lawyer, Maximilien Robespierre”(Maximilien 1). During this era, Robespierre led France’s world inspiring cry for the liberation of mankind and petrified the world with its relentle...

    Read More

  • The French Revolution

    914 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is evident that these three reasons are the main causes that led to the French revolution and the downfall of the French monarchial system. The ineffectiveness of the King Louis and Marie Antoinette being the main reason since it was because of it that led to the dissatisfaction of the peasants, which led them to seeking better systems and laws in the Enlightenment. It was all these reasons combined together that ultimately led to the destruction of the old regime and the French Revolution.

    Read More

  • The Most Successful Absolute Monarch in Europe was Louis XIV of France

    1549 Words  | 4 Pages

    Of all the absolute rulers in European history, Louis XIV of France was the most powerful, and the best example because of his successes, being able to continue his complete control even after failures, his ability to be able to use France’s money in any way he wanted, such as the Place of Versailles, taking away the nobles power, and his ability to delegate impotant jobs to smart yet loyal people.

    Read More

  • The Theory of Absolutism

    3286 Words  | 7 Pages

    ... then a noble. These governors were required to spend a large amount of time at Louis’ extensive palace of Versailles, which allowed Louis to monitor the generalités very closely. Religiously, Louis revoked the Edict of Nantes and declared France a Catholic state. Louis hoped that religious unity and centralization would lead to stronger unity in the country as a whole. He expelled or executed any Protestants who refused to convert, and the Catholics supported most of his actions. Although he delegated most of the power in France to himself, Louis did acknowledge the power and authority of the Parlement of Paris, which helped to regulate local administration and taxes, but overall, Louis stripped the nobles and aristocracy of most of their powers. Louis XIV long rule gave France the time it needed to transform from a divided nation to a centralized and powerful one.

    Read More

  • Louis XIV: The Sun King

    1212 Words  | 3 Pages

    For the first portion of his quote, “one king”, Louis consolidated his power in many ways. France, as well as many other countries throughout the middle ages and early renaissance, had their power balanced between the nobles and the dynastic ruling class, where nobles controlled their individual provinces and the king would have to rely on his nobles to spread his royal decrees. This was highly demonstrated throughout the Holy Roman Empire during the 16th and parts of the 17th century, where the polygot of cultures, religions, and languages lead Charles V to have to rely on the nobles, confederacy, and a decentralization of government to rule. Because of these sacrifices, Charles V never really ruled his country, nor did he achieve any of his goals. He died a white haired old man, giving his domains to his son and brother. Louis XIV actually achieved his goal in a very different way, by defeating the power of the noble class, while strenghening the middle class, or the bourgeois. Louis built an internal beauracracy within France, and believed that a countries power came from it’s unification and military prowess. These beliefs were largely based on the early years of his rule. Louis XIV became king when he was only 5 years old, so his mother. Anne of Austria, and Cardinal Mazarin, rumored to be her lover, ruled in his place as a child. Mazarin was the ideological heir to Richelieu, w...

    Read More

  • Louis XIV

    782 Words  | 2 Pages

    When Louis the XIV began his rule in 1643, his actions immediately began to suggest and absolute dictatorship. Because of the misery he had previously suffered, one of the first things he did was to decrease the power of the nobility. He withdrew himself from the rich upper class, doing everything secretly. The wealth had no connection to Louis, and therefore all power they previously had was gone. He had complete control over the nobles, spying, going through mail, and a secret police force made sure that Louis had absolute power. Louis appointed all of his officials, middle class men who served him without wanting any power. Louis wanted it clear that none of his power would be shared. He wanted "people to know by the rank of the men who served him that he had no intention of sharing power with them." If Louis XIV appointed advisors from the upper classes, they would expect to gain power, and Louis was not willing to give it to them. The way Louis XIV ruled, the sole powerful leader, made him an absolute ruler. He had divine rule, and did not want to give any power to anyone other than himself. These beliefs made him an absolute ruler.

    Read More

  • Luis XIV, and His Selfish Ways

    892 Words  | 2 Pages

    If you were asked to answer the question, “Which king in European history was the best representative of absolutism?”, you would probably answer, “Louis XIV.” If you were asked to identify the king with the biggest palace and the most glamorous court, you would answer “Louis XIV.” If you were asked to identify the king whose reign coincided with the most glorious period of culture in his country's history, you would answer “Louis XIV.” If you were asked to identify what king fought an endless series of wars, heavily taxed his population, set up the pre-conditions for a revolution against his own system and was jeered by his people as his body was taken to be buried, then you would answer “Louis XIV.”

    Read More

  • Causes of the French Revolution

    1384 Words  | 3 Pages

    There were many causes and events leading up to the French Revolution in 1789. Before the Revolution, France had been involved in many expensive wars, especially the American War of Independence, causing financial difficulties and debts which were increased through the expensive upkeep of the Royal Family and their courts. At this time the Age of Enlightenment was occurring and new ideas, challenging the Ancien Regime and the Absolute right to rule, were emerging. The monarch of the time, King Louis XVI, was a weak monarch who was incapable of making decisions and sticking to them. King Louis XIV was also incapable of using his powers in a way to spark fear and gain control of those under his power. As a result of the high debts held by the French Government, the King decided to start taxing the First and Second Estates. They objected causing the Third Estate to question why the first two estates were given choice in paying taxes when the Third Estate, who were so heavily taxed, paid all their taxes. These were the major causes leading up to and, in some cases, triggering, the French Revolution.

    Read More

  • The French Revolution and Christianity

    1720 Words  | 4 Pages

    During the latter part of the 18th century, to be a French citizen almost certainly meant that you were Catholic as well. People outside the Catholic church were denied complete ...

    Read More

More about Cardinal Richelieu's Contribution to the Growth of the French State

Open Document