Editing Cardinal Richelieu (section)

==Chief minister==
[[File:Jean Warin, Armand-Jean du Plessis, 1585-1642, Cardinal de Richelieu 1622 (obverse), 1631, NGA 45335.jpg|thumb|left|upright=.8|Jean Warin, Cardinal de Richelieu 1622 (obverse), 1631]]

Cardinal Richelieu's policy involved two primary goals: [[centralized government|centralization of power]] in France<ref>Zagorin, p. 9.</ref> and opposition to the [[Habsburg dynasty]] (which ruled in both Austria and Spain).<ref>Wedgwood, p. 188.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Richelieu, Armand Jean du Plessis de {{!}} Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/richelieu-armand-jean-du-plessis-de |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=www.encyclopedia.com}}</ref> He saw the reestablishment of the Catholic orthodoxy as a political maneuver of the Habsburg and Austrian states which was detrimental to the French national interests.<ref>Kissinger, p. 59</ref>

Shortly after he became Louis' principal minister, he was faced with a [[Treaty of Monçon#Background|crisis]] in [[Valtellina]], a valley in Lombardy (northern Italy). To counter Spanish designs on the territory, Richelieu supported the Protestant [[Three Leagues|Swiss canton of Grisons]], which also claimed the strategically important valley. The cardinal deployed troops to Valtellina, from which the pope's garrisons were driven out.<ref>Wedgwood, p. 195.</ref> Richelieu's early decision to support a Protestant canton against the pope was a foretaste of the purely diplomatic power politics he espoused in his foreign policy.

To further consolidate power in France, Richelieu sought to suppress the influence of the [[feudalism|feudal]] nobility. In 1626, he abolished the position of [[Constable of France]] and ordered all fortified castles razed, with the exception only of those needed to defend against invaders.<ref>Collins, p. 48.</ref> Thus he stripped the princes, dukes, and lesser aristocrats of important defences that could have been used against the king's armies during rebellions. As a result, Richelieu was hated by most of the nobility.

[[File:Siege of La Rochelle 1881 Henri Motte.png|thumb|left|[[Henri Motte]]'s depiction of Cardinal Richelieu at the [[siege of La Rochelle]].]]

Another obstacle to the centralization of power was religious division in France. The [[Huguenot]]s, one of the largest political and religious factions in the country, controlled a significant military force, and were in rebellion.<ref>Zagorin, p. 16.</ref> Moreover, [[Charles I of England|Charles I]], the king of England, declared war on France in an attempt to aid the Huguenot faction. In 1627, Richelieu ordered the army to besiege the Huguenot stronghold of [[Siege of La Rochelle|La Rochelle]]; the cardinal personally commanded the besieging troops.<ref>Zagorin, p. 17.</ref> English troops under the [[George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham|Duke of Buckingham]] led an expedition to help the citizens of La Rochelle, but failed abysmally. The city, however, remained firm for over a year before capitulating in 1628.

Although the Huguenots suffered a major defeat at La Rochelle, they continued to fight, led by [[Henri, duc de Rohan]]. Protestant forces, however, were defeated in 1629; Rohan submitted to the terms of the [[Peace of Alais]].<ref name="Zagorin, p. 18">Zagorin, p. 18.</ref> As a result, religious toleration for Protestants, which had first been granted by the [[Edict of Nantes]] in 1598, was permitted to continue, but the cardinal abolished their political rights and protections.<ref name="Zagorin, p. 18"/> Rohan was not executed (as were leaders of rebellions later in Richelieu's tenure); in fact, he later became a commanding officer in the French army.

[[File:Peter Paul Rubens 095b.jpg|thumb|upright=.8|On the "Day of the Dupes" in 1630, it appeared that Marie de Médicis had secured Richelieu's dismissal. Richelieu, however, survived the scheme, and Marie was exiled as a result.]]

Habsburg Spain exploited the French conflict with the Huguenots to extend its influence in northern Italy. It funded the Huguenot rebels to keep the French army occupied, meanwhile expanding its Italian dominions. Richelieu, however, responded aggressively; after La Rochelle capitulated, he personally led the French army to northern Italy to restrain Spain. On 26 November 1629, he was created [[duc de Richelieu]] and a [[Peerage of France|Peer of France]]. In the next year, Richelieu's position was seriously threatened by his former patron, Marie de Médicis. Marie believed that the cardinal had robbed her of her political influence; thus, she demanded that her son dismiss the chief minister.<ref>Pardoe, p. 176.</ref> Louis XIII was not, at first, averse to such a course of action, as he personally disliked Richelieu.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> Despite this, the persuasive statesman was able to secure the king as an ally against his own mother. On 11 November 1630, Marie de Médicis and the king's brother, [[Gaston, Duke of Orléans|Gaston, duc d'Orléans]], secured the king's agreement for the dismissal. Richelieu, however, was aware of the plan, and quickly convinced the king to repent.<ref>Munck, p. 44.</ref>

Meanwhile, Marie de Médicis was exiled to [[Compiègne]]. Both Marie and the duc d'Orléans continued to conspire against Richelieu, but their schemes came to nothing. The nobility also remained powerless. The only important rising was that of [[Henri II de Montmorency|Henri, duc de Montmorency]] in 1632; Richelieu, ruthless in suppressing opposition, ordered the duke's execution. In 1634, the cardinal had one of his outspoken critics, [[Urbain Grandier]], [[execution by burning|burned at the stake]] in the [[Loudun possessions|Loudun affair]]. These and other harsh measures were orchestrated by Richelieu to intimidate his enemies. He also ensured his political security by establishing a large network of spies in France and in other European countries.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}