Cardinal Richelieu
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Armand Jean du Plessis, 1st Duke of Richelieu, commonly known as Cardinal Richelieu, was a French Catholic prelate and statesman who had an outsized influence in civil and religious affairs. He became
Portrait of Richelieu by Champaigne, 1642 (Musée des Beaux-Arts de Strasbourg)
The young Louis XIII, only a figurehead during his early reign, power actually resting with his mother, Marie de' Medici
Jean Warin, Cardinal de Richelieu 1622 (obverse), 1631
On the "Day of the Dupes" in 1630, it appeared that Marie de Médici had secured Richelieu's dismissal. Richelieu, however, survived the scheme, and Marie was exiled as a result.
Cardinal Mazarin
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Jules Mazarin, from 1641 known as Cardinal Mazarin, was an Italian Catholic prelate, diplomat and politician who served as the chief minister to the Kings of France Louis XIII and Louis XIV from 1642
Portrait by Pierre Mignard, 1658
Mazarin carrying the peace agreement to the armies at Casale, crying "Peace! Peace!" (18th century engraving)
Mazarin as a papal envoy in Paris (1632)
Portrait of Cardinal Jules Mazarin by Simon Vouet (before 1649, private collection)