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Profiles in Power
Richelieu
'A devil and a popish one at that': until the mid-twentieth century this was the familiar Anglo-Saxon view of the latest subject in Profiles in Power, Armand Jean Duplessis, Cardinal and Duc de Richelieu (1585-1642). Cold, clever and ruthless, Richelieu governed the destinies of France for eighteen years until his death, in spite of his uncertain hold on the loyalties of Louis XIII and of many attempts by his aristocratic enemies to unseat him. Modern historians present a more sophisticated, and usually more sympathetic picture: Richelieu the firm, selfless and far-seeing statesman, restorer of France's greatness after her disastrous civil wars, and founder of the absolute monarchy that reached its zenith under Louis XIV.
Now, in this incisive study, R. J. Knecht uses the wealth of recent research on Richelieu's career to examine the nature of his achievement and to reassess the man behind the masks — no simple task, since Richelieu's mastery of propaganda has exercised a profound influence on his reputation even into our own time.
The first part of the book provides a broadly chronological survey of Richelieu's ministerial career. Thereafter, separate chapters focus on such key aspects of it as Richelieu's relations with the high nobility and with the protestants; his conduct of foreign affairs and war; his influence on the economy, overseas development and taxation; his use of propaganda; his patronage of letters and the arts; and his part in the development of royal absolutism in France.
The Richelieu revealed in these compelling pages — the most concise and up-to-date assessment of his career at present available in any language — is more convincingly human than the chill Olympian figure of legend. Professor Knecht shows us a man under constant pressure, terrible to his enemies but vulnerable in his relations to the king; a man who knew how to fawn as well as to strike, and whose hold on power was always less confident than his exercise of it. This background of continual tension, uncertainty and unease exposes, and helps to explain Richelieu's failings — yet his achievements seem all the more formidable in the light of it.
Now, in this incisive study, R. J. Knecht uses the wealth of recent research on Richelieu's career to examine the nature of his achievement and to reassess the man behind the masks — no simple task, since Richelieu's mastery of propaganda has exercised a profound influence on his reputation even into our own time.
The first part of the book provides a broadly chronological survey of Richelieu's ministerial career. Thereafter, separate chapters focus on such key aspects of it as Richelieu's relations with the high nobility and with the protestants; his conduct of foreign affairs and war; his influence on the economy, overseas development and taxation; his use of propaganda; his patronage of letters and the arts; and his part in the development of royal absolutism in France.
The Richelieu revealed in these compelling pages — the most concise and up-to-date assessment of his career at present available in any language — is more convincingly human than the chill Olympian figure of legend. Professor Knecht shows us a man under constant pressure, terrible to his enemies but vulnerable in his relations to the king; a man who knew how to fawn as well as to strike, and whose hold on power was always less confident than his exercise of it. This background of continual tension, uncertainty and unease exposes, and helps to explain Richelieu's failings — yet his achievements seem all the more formidable in the light of it.
- GenresHistory
259 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1991
About the author
Robert J. Knecht
19 books10 followersRobert Jean Knecht was Emeritus Professor of French History at the University of Birmingham, where he has taught since 1956. A fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a member of the Société de l'Histoire de France, Professor Knecht was Reviews Editor of the journal French History and was a member of its editorial board. He was also Chairman of the Society for Renaissance Studies and Chairman of the Society for French History. He was also a member of the Advisory Board of the Centre for the Study of the Renaissance at the University of Warwick. He has also published extensively in the field of French history, his principal work being on the reign of Francis I.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 20, 2026
Thanks to Alexandre Dumas and the many adaptations of his work, Armand Jean du Plessis, the Cardinal-Duke of Richelieu, enjoys a presence in the popular imagination unique among seventeenth-century European statesman. It is from his famous novel that we have the image so prevalent today of Richelieu as a mustache-twirling Machiavellian mastermind ruling France through his dominance of a weak-willed king. Nor was Dumas the only one to find the cardinal such an effective antagonist for their work, as writers from Alfred de Vigny to Eric Flint have found him too appealing a villain not to employ. As a result, the figure familiar to people today is more fiction than fact, a caricature of one of the most important individuals in France’s long history.
Robert Knecht is cognizant of the obstacles such imagery poses to understanding Richelieu as both a person and as a political figure. His response is to provide a dry factual account that summarizes Richelieu’s life while considering the ways he directed policy and reshaped France. The youngest son of a minor nobleman, young Armand was preparing for a military career when his family’s need to preserve their revenue led him to join the clergy. Though quickly consecrated as a bishop, Richelieu aspired for more, and found it in 1615 though his service as almoner to Anne of Austria, Louis XIII’s wife. In less than two years he was elevated to Secretary of State, with responsibility for the kingdom’s foreign policy.
Richelieu’s rise was far from smooth, as it was dependent on the patronage of key figures at court. He became a casualty of court intrigues when his patron, Concino Concini, was assassinated and Concini’s ally, the queen-mother Marie de’ Medici, was overthrown. Banished to Avignon, Richelieu returned two years later when Marie’s escape and rebellion led Louis to summon him to negotiate a settlement with her on behalf of the crown. His success helped him to resume his ascent, and within a few years he was an indispensable advisor to the king. Knecht rejects the image of a domineering cardinal lording over a meek king, presenting Louis instead as a ruler who valued Richelieu’s talents as a minister, with a genuine bond of friendship forming over time between the two men.
Though he had reached the pinnacle of power and enjoyed a good relationship with his king, Richelieu never entirely lost sight of the precariousness of his position and used his position to accrue wealth and a power base in part as a hedge. He was far from unique in this respect, as officeholders were expected to enrich themselves using the positions for which they paid. The summary Knecht provides of the operations of the seventeenth-century French state compliments his description of the cardinal’s activities nicely, as it provides a helpful context for understanding Richelieu’s approach to government. It also provides valuable perspective for understanding one of the central questions surrounding Richelieu’s career, which is the extent to which he contributed to the growth of absolutism in government. While Knecht does not present his subject as the inventor of the absolutist system, he does see the increasing use of intendants as an important step in the growth of royal power throughout the country.
This Knecht addresses in one of nine chapters in which he examines his subject topically. These range from descriptions of his foreign policy and management of France’s wars to policies towards the Huguenots and his cultural patronage. What emerges from these pages is a picture of the cardinal not as some sinister ogre, but a statesman of ambition facing constant challenges on a number of fronts. Though his efforts enjoyed varying degrees of success, Knecht makes a convincing case that throughout Richelieu was consistent in his intent to do what he thought was best for Louis and his realm, an interpretation that helps to explain how he was able to remain in power for as long as he did.
Whether Richelieu’s policies were successful, or even beneficial for France, is another matter altogether. That Knecht’s assessment of their value is far more measured reflects the balanced judgment he provides of his controversial subject. Shearing away his subject’s fictional image, what Knecht provides is a portrait of a statesman who did much to realize his aspirations for his country, even as in the process he sowed some of the seeds for its future crises. While the book expects a little too much of the reader’s background knowledge to serve as an introductory biography of the cardinal, it is an effective examination of how Richelieu gained and employed political power to make France into the nation that would dominant Europe for the next two and a half centuries.
Robert Knecht is cognizant of the obstacles such imagery poses to understanding Richelieu as both a person and as a political figure. His response is to provide a dry factual account that summarizes Richelieu’s life while considering the ways he directed policy and reshaped France. The youngest son of a minor nobleman, young Armand was preparing for a military career when his family’s need to preserve their revenue led him to join the clergy. Though quickly consecrated as a bishop, Richelieu aspired for more, and found it in 1615 though his service as almoner to Anne of Austria, Louis XIII’s wife. In less than two years he was elevated to Secretary of State, with responsibility for the kingdom’s foreign policy.
Richelieu’s rise was far from smooth, as it was dependent on the patronage of key figures at court. He became a casualty of court intrigues when his patron, Concino Concini, was assassinated and Concini’s ally, the queen-mother Marie de’ Medici, was overthrown. Banished to Avignon, Richelieu returned two years later when Marie’s escape and rebellion led Louis to summon him to negotiate a settlement with her on behalf of the crown. His success helped him to resume his ascent, and within a few years he was an indispensable advisor to the king. Knecht rejects the image of a domineering cardinal lording over a meek king, presenting Louis instead as a ruler who valued Richelieu’s talents as a minister, with a genuine bond of friendship forming over time between the two men.
Though he had reached the pinnacle of power and enjoyed a good relationship with his king, Richelieu never entirely lost sight of the precariousness of his position and used his position to accrue wealth and a power base in part as a hedge. He was far from unique in this respect, as officeholders were expected to enrich themselves using the positions for which they paid. The summary Knecht provides of the operations of the seventeenth-century French state compliments his description of the cardinal’s activities nicely, as it provides a helpful context for understanding Richelieu’s approach to government. It also provides valuable perspective for understanding one of the central questions surrounding Richelieu’s career, which is the extent to which he contributed to the growth of absolutism in government. While Knecht does not present his subject as the inventor of the absolutist system, he does see the increasing use of intendants as an important step in the growth of royal power throughout the country.
This Knecht addresses in one of nine chapters in which he examines his subject topically. These range from descriptions of his foreign policy and management of France’s wars to policies towards the Huguenots and his cultural patronage. What emerges from these pages is a picture of the cardinal not as some sinister ogre, but a statesman of ambition facing constant challenges on a number of fronts. Though his efforts enjoyed varying degrees of success, Knecht makes a convincing case that throughout Richelieu was consistent in his intent to do what he thought was best for Louis and his realm, an interpretation that helps to explain how he was able to remain in power for as long as he did.
Whether Richelieu’s policies were successful, or even beneficial for France, is another matter altogether. That Knecht’s assessment of their value is far more measured reflects the balanced judgment he provides of his controversial subject. Shearing away his subject’s fictional image, what Knecht provides is a portrait of a statesman who did much to realize his aspirations for his country, even as in the process he sowed some of the seeds for its future crises. While the book expects a little too much of the reader’s background knowledge to serve as an introductory biography of the cardinal, it is an effective examination of how Richelieu gained and employed political power to make France into the nation that would dominant Europe for the next two and a half centuries.
December 20, 2023
Hrozně nesympatické mi bylo rozřazení kapitol. Nebylo to totiž chronologicky, ale podle jednotlivých "rolí", které Richelieu zastával. Člověk se v tom pak hrozně ztrácí.
January 18, 2009
A primer biography on one of the more fascinating and colourful characters of the seventeenth century. A brilliant statesman who wouldn't let anything get in the way of serving and protecting France.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews