Louis François Armand du Plessis, duc de Richelieu
Encyclopedia
Armand de Vignerot du Plessis (13 March 1696 – 8 August 1788) was a French soldier
, diplomat
and statesman
. Joining the army, he participated in three major wars and eventually rose to the rank of Marshal of France
.
He was the son of Armand Jean de Vignerot du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu
, who in turn was a great-nephew of the prominent French statesman, Cardinal de Richelieu
who had dominated France in the early 17th century.
. Louis XIV of France
was his godfather. In his early days, he was thrice imprisoned in the Bastille
: in 1711 at the instance of his stepfather, in 1716 in consequence of a duel
, and in 1719 for his share in the Cellamare Conspiracy
of Giulio Alberoni
against Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
, the regent for Louis XV of France
.
Apart from his reputation as a man of exceptionally loose morals, he attained, in spite of a deplorably defective education, distinction as a diplomat
and general
. As the French ambassador to the court of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles VI
, in Vienna
from 1725 to 1729, he negotiated in 1727 the preliminaries of peace.
. The following decade during the War of the Austrian Succession
he fought with distinction at Dettingen
and Fontenoy
, where he directed the grapeshot
upon the British columns, and three years afterwards he made a brilliant defence
of Genoa
.
he expelled the British from Minorca
by the capture of the stronghold of San Felipe
. On his return to France he was hailed by Madame Pompadour who told him "your star has risen and it shall never be dimmed".
While waiting for suitable employment, the Duc took command of the French forces on the southern coast around Toulon
. In 1757 following Frederick the Great's sudden invasion of Bohemia, he was given command of a relief force that was to relieve the Siege of Prague
. However this was cancelled when an Austrian army defeated Frederick at Kolin
forcing him to break off the siege and withdraw from Bohemia.
the commander of the Army of Westphalia which had orders to invade Hanover
but was moving extremely slowly. It was decided to replace him with Richelieu. Arriving shortly after the Battle of Hastenbeck
with the Anglo-German Army of Observation retreating rapidly from him, the Duc lead his army in pursuit.
His army now occupied most of Hanover, capturing the capital
in the autumn. His orders were to smash the Army of Observation and occupy all of Hanover, before turning east and launching an attack on the Prussian fortress of Magdeburg
. Instead Richelieu, fearing that his army was not in a condition to face battle, concluded the Convention of Klosterzeven
which allowed the enemy escape destruction. He was heavily criticised for this in Paris, where the terms were considered far too lenient.
The Duc then led his army into winter quarters at Halberstadt
postponing the attack on Magdeburg. Early in the new year he suddenly resigned his command, and retired to France - handing over to the Comte d'Clermont. He was widely accused of corruption during his six months as commander in Hanover. He and his officers were suspected of having stolen three quarters of the money he was supposed to raise in taxes from the occupied territories, as well as stealing the pay of his soldiers.
His pillaging campaigns in Hanover
procured him the sobriquet of the petit père de la maraude.
, whom he had known since the King was a child. The relationship later cooled a little, however, when he opposed Louis's mistress, Madame de Pompadour
.
After de Pompadour's death in 1764, his position in court was restored and he developed an amiable friendship with the King's last mistress, Madame du Barry
. However, he was again not welcome at court when Louis' grandson, Louis XVI
, succeeded to the throne in 1774. This was because the new Queen, Marie Antoinette
, disliked both Madame du Barry and Richelieu's nephew, the overly ambitious Duc d'Aiguillon
.
on him.
He was married three times. At the age of fourteen, against his will, he was forced to marry Anne Catherine de Noailles. In 1734, as a result of the intrigues of Voltaire
, he married Marie Élisabeth Sophie de Lorraine, the daughter of Anne Marie Joseph de Lorraine. She became the mother of his heir, Louis Antoine Sophie de Vignerot du Plessis
. When he was eighty-four years old, he married as his third wife an Irish lady.
Mme de Polignac and the Marquise de Nesle fought a duel over him. In 1729, he began an affair with Émilie du Châtelet
, and although it ended, they continued to be frequent correspondents for over a decade.
He was also the lover of the famous courtesan
and novelist Claudine Guérin de Tencin
, he had another affair with Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans, the daughter of the regent of France, Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
, and with her first cousin Louise Anne de Bourbon. Another mistress was Marie Sophie de Courcillon
, wife of Charles François d'Albert d'Ailly and later Hercule Mériadec de Rohan, Duke of Rohan-Rohan.
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
. Joining the army, he participated in three major wars and eventually rose to the rank of Marshal of France
Marshal of France
The Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements...
.
He was the son of Armand Jean de Vignerot du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu
Armand Jean de Vignerot du Plessis
Armand Jean de Vignerot du Plessis, 2ème duc de Richelieu was a French sailor and nobleman.-Life:The great-nephew of Cardinal de Richelieu , he became a general of the gallies in 1642. He was sent to Naples, which had risen up against the Spanish and proclaimed the Neapolitan Republic...
, who in turn was a great-nephew of the prominent French statesman, Cardinal de Richelieu
Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu
Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal-Duc de Richelieu et de Fronsac was a French clergyman, noble, and statesman.Consecrated as a bishop in 1608, he later entered politics, becoming a Secretary of State in 1616. Richelieu soon rose in both the Catholic Church and the French government, becoming a...
who had dominated France in the early 17th century.
Early life
Louis François Armand de Vignerot du Plessis was born in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
was his godfather. In his early days, he was thrice imprisoned in the Bastille
Bastille
The Bastille was a fortress in Paris, known formally as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison by the kings of France. The Bastille was built in response to the English threat to the city of...
: in 1711 at the instance of his stepfather, in 1716 in consequence of a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
, and in 1719 for his share in the Cellamare Conspiracy
Cellamare Conspiracy
The Cellamare Conspiracy of 1718 was a conspiracy against the then Regent of France, Philippe d'Orléans . "Created" in Spain, it was the brainchild of Antonio del Giudice, Prince of Cellamare.-Background and Plot:...
of Giulio Alberoni
Giulio Alberoni
Giulio Alberoni was an Italian cardinal andstatesman in the service of Philip V of Spain.-Early years:He was born near Piacenza, probably at the village of Fiorenzuola d'Arda in the Duchy of Parma....
against Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
Philippe d'Orléans was a member of the royal family of France and served as Regent of the Kingdom from 1715 to 1723. Born at his father's palace at Saint-Cloud, he was known from birth under the title of Duke of Chartres...
, the regent for Louis XV of France
Louis XV of France
Louis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
.
Apart from his reputation as a man of exceptionally loose morals, he attained, in spite of a deplorably defective education, distinction as a diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
. As the French ambassador to the court of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles VI
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...
, in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
from 1725 to 1729, he negotiated in 1727 the preliminaries of peace.
Early Military career
In 1733-1734, he served in a Rhine campaign during the War of the Polish SuccessionWar of the Polish Succession
The War of the Polish Succession was a major European war for princes' possessions sparked by a Polish civil war over the succession to Augustus II, King of Poland that other European powers widened in pursuit of their own national interests...
. The following decade during the War of the Austrian Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
he fought with distinction at Dettingen
Battle of Dettingen
The Battle of Dettingen took place on 27 June 1743 at Dettingen in Bavaria during the War of the Austrian Succession. It was the last time that a British monarch personally led his troops into battle...
and Fontenoy
Battle of Fontenoy
The Battle of Fontenoy, 11 May 1745, was a major engagement of the War of the Austrian Succession, fought between the forces of the Pragmatic Allies – comprising mainly Dutch, British, and Hanoverian troops under the nominal command of the Duke of Cumberland – and a French army under Maurice de...
, where he directed the grapeshot
Grapeshot
In artillery, a grapeshot is a type of shot that is not a one solid element, but a mass of small metal balls or slugs packed tightly into a canvas bag. It was used both in land and naval warfare. When assembled, the balls resembled a cluster of grapes, hence the name...
upon the British columns, and three years afterwards he made a brilliant defence
Siege of Genoa (1747)
The Siege of Genoa took place in 1747 when an Austrian army under the command of Count Schulenberg launched a failed attempt to capture the capital of the Republic of Genoa....
of Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
.
Siege of Minorca
In 1756 during the Siege of MinorcaSiege of Minorca
The Siege of Fort St Philip took place in 1756 during the Seven Years War.- Siege :...
he expelled the British from Minorca
Minorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
by the capture of the stronghold of San Felipe
St. Philip's Castle
St. Philip's Castle was a fortress guarding the entrance to the port of Mahón...
. On his return to France he was hailed by Madame Pompadour who told him "your star has risen and it shall never be dimmed".
While waiting for suitable employment, the Duc took command of the French forces on the southern coast around Toulon
Toulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
. In 1757 following Frederick the Great's sudden invasion of Bohemia, he was given command of a relief force that was to relieve the Siege of Prague
Siege of Prague
The Siege of Prague was an unsuccessful attempt by a Prussian army led by Frederick the Great to capture the Austrian city of Prague during the Seven Years' War. It took place in May 1757 immediately after the Battle of Prague. Despite having won that battle, Frederick had lost 14,300 dead, and his...
. However this was cancelled when an Austrian army defeated Frederick at Kolin
Battle of Kolin
-Results:The battle was Frederick's first defeat in this war. This disaster forced him to abandon his intended march on Vienna, raise his siege of Prague, and fall back on Litoměřice...
forcing him to break off the siege and withdraw from Bohemia.
Invasion of Hanover
The French ministers were deeply unhappy with d'EstreesLouis Charles César Le Tellier, duc d'Estrées
Louis Charles César Le Tellier known as the Duke of Estrées was a French military commander and Marshal of France.-Biography:...
the commander of the Army of Westphalia which had orders to invade Hanover
Invasion of Hanover (1757)
The Invasion of Hanover took place in 1757 during the Seven Years' War when a French army under Louis Charles César Le Tellier, duc d'Estrées advanced into Electorate of Hanover and neighbouring German states following the Battle of Hastenbeck. French forces overran most of Hanover forcing the Army...
but was moving extremely slowly. It was decided to replace him with Richelieu. Arriving shortly after the Battle of Hastenbeck
Battle of Hastenbeck
The Battle of Hastenbeck was fought as part of the Invasion of Hanover during the Seven Year's War between the allied forces of Hanover, Hesse-Kassel and Brunswick and the French...
with the Anglo-German Army of Observation retreating rapidly from him, the Duc lead his army in pursuit.
His army now occupied most of Hanover, capturing the capital
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
in the autumn. His orders were to smash the Army of Observation and occupy all of Hanover, before turning east and launching an attack on the Prussian fortress of Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
. Instead Richelieu, fearing that his army was not in a condition to face battle, concluded the Convention of Klosterzeven
Convention of Klosterzeven
The Convention of Klosterzeven was a 1757 convention signed at Klosterzeven between France and the Electorate of Hanover during the Seven Years' War that led to Hanover's withdrawal from the war and partial occupation by French forces. It came in the wake of the Battle of Hastenbeck in which...
which allowed the enemy escape destruction. He was heavily criticised for this in Paris, where the terms were considered far too lenient.
The Duc then led his army into winter quarters at Halberstadt
Halberstadt
Halberstadt is a town in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and the capital of the district of Harz. It is located on the German Half-Timbered House Road and the Magdeburg–Thale railway....
postponing the attack on Magdeburg. Early in the new year he suddenly resigned his command, and retired to France - handing over to the Comte d'Clermont. He was widely accused of corruption during his six months as commander in Hanover. He and his officers were suspected of having stolen three quarters of the money he was supposed to raise in taxes from the occupied territories, as well as stealing the pay of his soldiers.
His pillaging campaigns in Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
procured him the sobriquet of the petit père de la maraude.
Political career and intrigue
His real public career began ten years after his service in the Rhine campaign. After the wars, he plunged again into court intrigue. Initially, He was the best friend of King Louis XV of FranceLouis XV of France
Louis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
, whom he had known since the King was a child. The relationship later cooled a little, however, when he opposed Louis's mistress, Madame de Pompadour
Madame de Pompadour
Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour, also known as Madame de Pompadour was a member of the French court, and was the official chief mistress of Louis XV from 1745 to her death.-Biography:...
.
After de Pompadour's death in 1764, his position in court was restored and he developed an amiable friendship with the King's last mistress, Madame du Barry
Madame du Barry
Jeanne Bécu, comtesse du Barry was the last Maîtresse-en-titre of Louis XV of France and one of the victims of the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution.-Early life:...
. However, he was again not welcome at court when Louis' grandson, Louis XVI
Louis XVI of France
Louis XVI was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre until 1791, and then as King of the French from 1791 to 1792, before being executed in 1793....
, succeeded to the throne in 1774. This was because the new Queen, Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette ; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was an Archduchess of Austria and the Queen of France and of Navarre. She was the fifteenth and penultimate child of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa and Holy Roman Emperor Francis I....
, disliked both Madame du Barry and Richelieu's nephew, the overly ambitious Duc d'Aiguillon
Emmanuel-Armand de Richelieu, duc d'Aiguillon
Emmanuel-Armand de Vignerot du Plessis de Richelieu, duc d'Aiguillon was a French soldier and statesman and a nephew of Louis François Armand du Plessis, duc de Richelieu. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs under Louis XV.-Early life:Before the death of his father, he was known at court...
.
Marriages
The duke was such a renowned womaniser that it is said Choderlos de Laclos based the character Valmont in Les Liaisons dangereusesLes Liaisons dangereuses
Les Liaisons dangereuses is a French epistolary novel by Choderlos de Laclos, first published in four volumes by Durand Neveu from March 23, 1782....
on him.
He was married three times. At the age of fourteen, against his will, he was forced to marry Anne Catherine de Noailles. In 1734, as a result of the intrigues of Voltaire
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet , better known by the pen name Voltaire , was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, free trade and separation of church and state...
, he married Marie Élisabeth Sophie de Lorraine, the daughter of Anne Marie Joseph de Lorraine. She became the mother of his heir, Louis Antoine Sophie de Vignerot du Plessis
Louis Antoine Sophie de Vignerot du Plessis
Louis Antoine Sophie de Vignerot du Plessis , duke of Fronsac, then duke of Richelieu , prince de Mortagne, marquis du Pont-Courlay, comte de Cosnac, baron de Barbezieux, baron de Coze et baron de Saugeon, was a French nobleman and general.-Life:He was the son of Louis François Armand de Vignerot...
. When he was eighty-four years old, he married as his third wife an Irish lady.
Mme de Polignac and the Marquise de Nesle fought a duel over him. In 1729, he began an affair with Émilie du Châtelet
Émilie du Châtelet
-Early life:Du Châtelet was born on 17 December 1706 in Paris, the only daughter of six children. Three brothers lived to adulthood: René-Alexandre , Charles-Auguste , and Elisabeth-Théodore . Her eldest brother, René-Alexandre, died in 1720, and the next brother, Charles-Auguste, died in 1731...
, and although it ended, they continued to be frequent correspondents for over a decade.
He was also the lover of the famous courtesan
Courtesan
A courtesan was originally a female courtier, which means a person who attends the court of a monarch or other powerful person.In feudal society, the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...
and novelist Claudine Guérin de Tencin
Claudine Guérin de Tencin
Claudine Alexandrine Guérin de Tencin was a French salonist and author. She was the mother of Jean le Rond d'Alembert, philosophe and contributor to the Encyclopédie.- Early life :...
, he had another affair with Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans, the daughter of the regent of France, Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
Philippe d'Orléans was a member of the royal family of France and served as Regent of the Kingdom from 1715 to 1723. Born at his father's palace at Saint-Cloud, he was known from birth under the title of Duke of Chartres...
, and with her first cousin Louise Anne de Bourbon. Another mistress was Marie Sophie de Courcillon
Marie Sophie de Courcillon
Marie Sophie de Courcillon was a French noblewoman and Duchess of Rohan-Rohan as well as Princess of Soubise by marriage. She was the grand daughter of Philippe de Courcillon, better known as the marquis de Dangeau. She was praised for being a cultured woman for the age and held a fashionable...
, wife of Charles François d'Albert d'Ailly and later Hercule Mériadec de Rohan, Duke of Rohan-Rohan.
Issue
- Louis Antoine Sophie de Vignerot du Plessis (4 February 1736 – 1791) married Adélaide Gabrielle de Hautefort in 1765 and had issue; married Marie Antoinette de Gallifet and had issue;
- Jeanne Sophie Elisabeth Septimanie de Vignerot du Plessis (1 March 1740 – 14 October 1773) married Don Casimir Pignatelli, Count of Egmond, Duke of Bisaccia; no issue.