Richelieu - R. Knecht

Cardinal Richelieu is commonly regarded as one of the architects of royal absolutism in France. For eighteen years he governed the destinies of France in spite of many attempts by aristocratic plotters to unseat him. He remained in power by managing King Louis X111, by ruthlessly suppessing and opposition and by carefully building up his own power base. He accumulated one of the largest fortunes in France and used his authority to install his relatives and friends in key positions in church and state. In recent years much new light has been shed by specialist research on different aspects of Richelieu's achievement. This book seeks to re-assess his contribution in the light of this research.;After broadly chronological survey of his ministerial career it focuses on such aspects as his relations with the Protestants and nobles, his foreign policy, war and taxation, the economy and overseas development, propaganda and patronage of letters and the arts. It is most concise and up-to-date assessment of Richelieu at present available in any language.