1. Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642):
- Cardinal Richelieu served as the chief minister to Louis XIII from 1624 until his death in 1642. He is considered one of the most influential figures in shaping French absolutism.
- Richelieu's goal was to strengthen the monarchy and centralize power in the hands of the king. He believed that a strong monarchy was essential to maintain stability and order in the kingdom.
- Richelieu implemented several policies to achieve his goal. He suppressed internal rebellions, such as the Protestant Huguenots, and weakened the power of the nobility by reducing their privileges and controlling their military power.
- He also expanded France's territories through military conquests and diplomatic alliances, increasing the country's prestige and influence in Europe.
2. Cardinal Mazarin (1602-1661):
- Cardinal Mazarin succeeded Richelieu as the chief minister to Louis XIII and later served as the advisor and guardian to Louis XIV until his death in 1661.
- Mazarin continued Richelieu's policies and further consolidated the power of the monarchy. He suppressed the Fronde, a series of rebellions by the nobility and the bourgeoisie, which threatened the stability of the kingdom.
- Mazarin also negotiated the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, which ended the Thirty Years' War and gave France significant territorial gains.
- He accumulated vast wealth and power, but he also faced criticism and resentment from the French nobility, who resented his foreign origin and influence over the king.
Together, Cardinal Richelieu and Cardinal Mazarin played crucial roles in transforming France from a decentralized feudal state to a centralized absolutist monarchy, paving the way for Louis XIV to establish his personal rule and become known as the "Sun King."