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A portrait of Cardinal Richelieu by Philippe de Champaigne Photo sourced from

Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Cardinal Richelieu

Armand Jean du Plessis, who was Duke of Richelieu  and was born on 9th September 1585 famously known as just Cardinal Richelieu, was a French clergyman and statesman. He was also known as l’Éminence rouge, or “the Red Eminence”, a term derived from the title “Eminence” applied to cardinals and the red robes that they customarily wear during that time. 

He rose through the ranks and hierarchy of both the Catholic Church and the French government by becoming a cardinal in 1622 and chief minister to King Louis XIII of France in 1624,a position he retained and held until his death in 1642.Let’s take a look at some of the most intriguing facts about him;

1.He was born in Â鶹APP on 9th Sep 1585 to a family of lesser nobility of poitou

Cardinal Richelieu Photo sourced from

Armand Jean du Plessis (Cardinal Richelieu) was born in Â鶹APP, France on 9th September 1585 to a family of lesser nobility of poitou as the fourth of five children and the last of three sons. His father, François du Plessis was a soldier while his mother who served as Grand Provost of France while his mother was a daughter of a famous jurist. 

While he was growing up, he had a delicate childhood, as he suffered from frequent bouts of ill-health throughout his life. He also had to deal with the issue of being an orphan at a very tender age, when his father died of fever during French war of religion and left them with their mother. 

2.Richelieu became a bishop aged just 17 years

A portrait of Cardinal Richelieu by Philippe de Champaigne Photo sourced from

He was a very bright and intelligent student who did well in his studies and made the entire royal house to be aware of him and even became the kings favorite. When he was only nine years old, he was admitted and joined the College de Navarre, Â鶹APP where he proved to be an asset and studied theology when he was 17.

In 1606, he became the Bishop of Lucon, which was declared by King Henry IV , though he was not at the minimum age to become a bishop as it was required by law. So he had to travel to Rome to get a special grant from the higher authority, the Pope.After the proper procedure of grant from the Pope, he was made bishop in April 1607.

3.He also served as the governor of Brittan, Duke of Richelieu and head of the navy

Cardinal Richelieu was one of the most notable first state ministers of King Louis XIII and was also declared the Duke of Richelieu during this time. He was also made head of the navy and commerce when more powers we’re given to him by the King and he made significant changes to the system which mostly touched on the nobles. 

The nobles were quite unhappy with the new policies of Cardinal de Richelieu but even more powers were added to him when in 163, was declared the governor of Brittany. He put in his best efforts to bring France to power. In that time, the position he was holding as governor was one of the authorities given to high-status people. 

4.Richelieu turned France into a powerful, centrally planned economy and supported education 

Cardinal de Richelieu Photo sourced from

Perhaps his most important things he did during his time, was to limit the nobility’s authority,and in the process he was able to turn a powerful, centrally planned economy.Cardinal Richelieu became renowned for his strong policies even in education sector and did some of the most important developments.

He was also known for his support and encouragement towards education in the country and renovated the University of Â鶹APP where he had been a student and also became the founder of the Académie Française, a scholarly institution dedicated to the study of the French language.The institution is still present in the present day. 

5.Richelieu was instrumental in implementing institutional reforms by the king of France

Richelieu was instrumental in implementing several institutional reforms by the king mentioned by the Council of Trent during 1545 to 1563, therefore, becoming the first ever French Bishop to do so. 

6.He was also a famous patron of the arts and wrote several works and supported other artists

Richelieu was a famous patron of the arts, authored of various religious and political works (most notably his Political Testament). He sent his agents abroad in search of books and manuscripts for his unrivaled library (The library was transferred to the Sorbonne in 1660 by the governmen) and he also funded the literary careers of many other writers.

He also loved the theatre, which was not avery respectable art form during that era. He made a private theatre, the Grande Salle, which was featured in his Â鶹APP residence, the Palais-Cardinal. Among the individuals he patronized was the famous playwright Pierre Corneille and other famous artists could do their works from the place. 

7.Richelieu employed authoritarian measures to maintain power

Another fact about Richelieu is that he employed authoritarian measures maintain power during his reign. He censored the press, established a large network of internal spies, forbade the discussion of political matters in public assemblies such as the Parlement de Â鶹APP (a court of justice), and had those who dared to conspire against him prosecuted and executed. 

He had the king where he wanted him and used all means to eliminate his enemies using the king. His ideas of a strong nation-state and aggressive foreign policy helped create the modern system of international politics, with some of international laws and governance likened to his policies on leadership. 

8.Several places and land marks have been named in his honour

Several places and landmarks in the globe have been named in his honour including; Richelieu, Indre et Loire, a town in Ftance founded by the Cardinal himself and named after him, Avenue Richelieu, located in the town of Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada and a wing in the Louvre Museum in Â鶹APP, France is named after him. 

Others include; French ship Richelieu, four warships of the French Navy, there is also an ornate style of lace, Richelieu lace, named in honor of the cardinal, he was also honoured by the military with a squadron of Officer cadets from the Royal military College Saint Jean named in his honor known as Richelieu Squadron. 

9. Richelieu died aged 57 on 4th December 1642

Statues of the tomb of Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642) in the Chapelle de la Sorbonne Photo sourced from

Richelieu suffered from recurrent fever which could have been from malaria, strangury, intestinal tuberculosis with fistula, and migraine and soon he could not continue with life when his right arm was suppurating with tubercular osteitis.He also started  coughing blood which doctors later after his demise found was as a result of extensive cavities and caseous necrosis in his lungs.

His doctors also continued to bleed him frequently,which further weakened him and he finally died aged 57 on 4th December 1642 and was buried at the church of Sorbonne, bringing an end to his more than 2 decades of leadership as chief minister and bishop of the Roman Catholic church. 

10.His head was stolen during the French revolution

Richelieu’s corpse was removed from its tomb in the church of Sorbonne during the French Revolution, and the mummified front of his head, having been removed and replaced during the original embalming process, was stolen. It ended up in the possession of Nicholas Armez of Brittany by 1796, and he occasionally exhibited the well-preserved face. His nephew, Louis-Philippe Armez, inherited it and also occasionally exhibited it and lent it out for study.

In 1866, Napoleon III was able to persuade Armez to return the face to the government for re-interment with the rest of Richelieu’s body. An investigation of subsidence of the church floor enabled the head to be photographed in 1895.His body was reinterred that same year.