Cardinal Richelieu

Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642) was a French clergyman and statesman who served as Chief Minister to King Louis XIII. He is best known for consolidating royal power and strengthening the central government in France. Richelieu aimed to reduce the influence of the nobility and enhance the monarchy's authority, which he believed was essential for national stability and power. His foreign policy focused on weakening the Habsburgs, France's main rivals, during the Thirty Years' War. Richelieu's legacy also includes a significant cultural patronage, contributing to the development of French literature and the arts.