Richelieu

This concise and up-to-date assessment of Richelieu's career provides an enthralling introduction to the character and exercise of his power. Richelieu governed France for 18 years until his death and until the mid-20th century was viewed by Anglo-Saxon historians as cold, clever and ruthless. Recent interpretations have been more favourable and in this incisive study R. J. Knecht uses recent research to reassess Richelieu's career and achievements. 'A devil and a popish one at that'

• Offers a convincing reassessment of Richelieu's ministerial career.
• Includes an examination of Richelieu's rise to power.
• Explores Richelieu's political objectives.

This concise and up-to-date assessment of Richelieu's career provides an enthralling introduction to the character and exercise of his power. Richelieu governed France for 18 years until his death and until the mid-20th century was viewed by Anglo-Saxon historians as cold, clever and ruthless. Recent interpretations have been more favorable and in this incisive study R. J. Knecht uses recent research to reassess Richelieu's career and achievements. And, as the other titles in the Profiles in Power series, this is not a full blown biography, though inevitably it contains much biographical material, it instead analyzes the major features, achievements and failures of Richelieu's career.

R.J. Knecht has written extensively on French history and his publications includes the Rise and fall of Renaissance France (1996) and The French Civil Wars 1562-1598 (2000).

Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Preface Dedication Chapter 1: Richelieu's Rise to Power (1585–1624) Chapter 2: Richelieu as Chief Minister The Chief Minister and the King Richelieu's Power Base Chapter 3: Richelieu's Triumph The Day of Dupes Richelieu the Man Chapter 4: Richelieu and the High Nobility Chapter 5: Richelieu and the Huguenots Chapter 6: Richelieu's Foreign Policy (1624–35) The Valtelline Crisis The Mantuan War The Swedish Alliance Chapter 7: Richelieu and War (1635–42) The Army under Richelieu The Turn of the Tide Chapter 8: Richelieu, Taxation and Popular Unrest The Sinews of War Opposition Suppression Chapter 9: Richelieu and Absolutism Parlements and Estates Office-Holders and Intendants Chapter 10: Richelieu and the Economy The Navy Trade Industry Chapter 11: Richelieu as a Propagandist Chapter 12. Richelieu as Patron of Letters and the Arts Patron of Letters Richelieu as Builder Richelieu as Patron of the Arts Richelieu as art Collector Epilogue Bibliographical Essay Glossary List of Dates Map 1: France in 1630 Map 2: Central Europe c. 1618 Index