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Mazarin

Name: Cardinal Jules Mazarin

Nickname/Alias: born: Giulio Raimondo Mazarini

Achievements: Ran 17th century France.

Born: July 14, 1602; Pescina, Abruzzi, Kingdom of Naples (now Italy)

Died: March 9, 1661; Vincennes, France (Aged 58)

Field & Discipline: Politics; Religion; Statesman; Cardinal

Language: French

Father: Pietro Mazarini

Mother: Ortensia Bufalini

Siblings: Anna Maria; Margarita; Michele; Girolama; Cleria

Spouse: None

Children: None

Education: Jesuit College, Rome; University of Alcala, Spain

Life & Times:

In 1624, at 22, Mazarin was made infantry captain in the Papal army and took part in the war in the Valtelline, in Italy.  He joined the Papal diplomatic service in 1626 as secretary to the papal legate, Cardinal Barberini. 

In 1630, Barberini sent him to Paris to meet with French minister [negotiated with] Richelieu*  and try to negotiate an end to the Mantuan War of Succession (1628-30) between Spain and France.  Mazarin was overwhelmed by the capabilities of Richelieu and decided to dedicate his services him. 

In October, 1630, in a much praised display of bravado, Mazarin stopped the fighting at Casale in Monferrato by galloping between the armies of Spain and Savoy (France) shouting, "Peace! peace!" 

In 1633, Mazarin returned to Rome where he took minor orders and received two canonries at the churches of St. John in Lateran and Santa Maria Maggiore.

In 1634, Barberini, impressed by Mazarin's diplomatic skills, named him ambassador to the French court.  For the next two years, he worked alongside Richelieu, and soon won the respect of those in power in France.  In 1638, Louis XIII made him a French Royal Candidate for the post of cardinal and granted him ecclesiastical pensions and benefits.  He was naturalized as a French subject in 1639, and made a cardinal in 1641.

Mazarin's prime ambition was to put an end to the rivalry among the Catholic powers of Europe. When Richelieu died in 1642 and  Louis XIII a year later, Anne of Austria, regent for her five-year-old son Louis XIV, turned to Mazarin as her principal adviser and he was officially appointed first minister of France, a powerful position. 

He continued the anti-Hapsburg policies of Richelieu and in the Peace of Westphalia, in 1648, brought a successful conclusion to French participation in the Thirty Years' War.  In the agreement, peace was restored in Germany, France gained Alsace (except Strasbourg) and confirmed its possession of the bishoprics of Metz, Toul and Verdun

In internal affairs, Mazarin also continued Richelieu's policies, but  lacked his predecessor's ruthlessness, relying instead on subtlety and persuasion. 

But despite his diplomacy, opposition from the judicial hierarchy and groups of dissident nobles over increased taxation to meet the cost of the wars led to the civil wars of the Fronde (1648-53), the last major attempt prior to the French Revolution to challenge the growing absolutism of the Crown.  (Major players in the Fronde uprising were the [opposed by] La Rochefoucauld* and the Duchesse de [opposed by] Longueville* )

Because he was convinced the followers of [opposed followers of] Jansen* were involved in the Fronde (denied by Jansenist leader [opposed] Arnauld*), Mazarin allowed the papal persecution of the Jansenists in Paris during the 1650s.  The persecution resulted in the dismissal of many pupils and priests from the two Jansenist convents of Port-Royal ([persecuted] Jacqueline Pascal* was one of them) and, in 1657, the burning of [opposed] Blaise Pascal*'s satirical "Provincial Letters.”  

The Fronde was finally suppressed in 1653, the year Mazarin was made Bishop of Metz.  Louis XIV was crowned the following year.

Mazarin's triumph over the nobles of the Fronde brought an end to the political importance of both the French Parliament and the nobility itself.  Mazarin guided the young King Louis in affairs of government and helped him administrators, including [rival was] Colbert* and [served by] Fouquet*. 

Hostilities between France and Spain continued until 1659, when Mazarin, through skilful negotiation with the German states, the Netherlands, and finally England (to which he gave the fort of Dunkirk, which [offered sanctuary to] Charles II* sold back to France a few years later), forced Spain to sign the Peace of the Pyrenees. 

Through this pact, France obtained the provinces of Roussillon and Artois and various Flemish towns. 

A lover of learning and the arts, Mazarin spent a great deal of his own money on a mansion in Paris where, with the help of his librarian [librarian was] Naude*, he established a magnificent library of some 40,000 books.  (Today, the mansion houses the Bibliotheque Nationale.) 

Mazarin also amassed a collection of art to rival that of  the King. He founded the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture and gave patronage and pensions to men of letters, including [patron of] Moliere*, [patron of] Descartes*, and [patron of] Corneille*.  He also played an important part, aided by Italian designer [employed] Torelli*, in introducing Italian opera to France.  He organized a free lottery for the public, offering substantial prizes.

Extra Connections: [librarian was] Dupuy* was also his librarian. 

Was a friend of [a pal of] Christina of Sweden*   

Made [honored] James Graham Marquis of Montrose*, a Marshall of France

His niece was a patron of [niece patron of] La Fontaine*

He supported [supported] Tonti’s* insurance scheme

He ignored an approach by [ignored] Racine*

Helped career of [helped career of] Vauban*

Assessment: With his triumph over the nobles in the Fronde, he succeeded in consolidating massive power for [strengthened position of] King Louis XIV*

Oneliner: Cardinal Mazarin, Louis XIV’s first minister

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