RICHEBOURG 40 RICHELIEU private structures, most of them in New England, and including many of the most notable modern educational buildings of hat section. RICHEBOURG, JULES EMILE, a French dramatist; born in 1833, in Meuvy, Haute Marne. In 1850 he made his first appearance in Paris and after a short experience in a commercial house, ob- tained a place on the staff of "Figaro." He produced, in 1862, a five-act drama, "Nights in the Place Royale." In the fol- lowing year he was yet more successful, with a comedy vaudeville called "A Mod- ern Household." His first successful novel, "Lucienne," appeared in 1858, and from that time he turned out many melo- dramatic tales. He became literary and dramatic critic of "Le Petit Journal," a member of the Directory of the Societe des Gens de Lettres, and a knight of the Legion of Honor. He died in Bougival, France, Jan. 26, 1898. RICHELIEU, ARMAND JEAN DU- PLESSIS, CARDINAL, DUC DE, a French statesman; born of a noble but impoverished family in Paris, Sept. 5, 1585. CARDINAL RICHELIEU Richelieu was educated for the army, but abandoned a military career for the Church, in order to keep in the family the bishopric of Lugon, to which he was consecrated at 22. Representative of the Poitou clergy at the States-general in 1614, he attracted the notice of the queen- mother, and rose in 1616 to be secretary at war and foreign affairs ; but the down- fall of Marshal d'Ancre, the queen-re- gent's favorite, in April, 1617, sent him back to his diocese. At length in August, 1620, the queen-mother and the young king were reconciled, mainly through the agency of the celebrated Capuchin Father Joseph — "l'eminenee grise" of later days, till his death in 1638, the intimate friend of Richelieu. The latter showed much tact and patient forbearance in his measures; he formed an alliance with the powerful Due de Luynes, and in 1622 was named cardinal, in 1624 Minister of State. This position he retained to the end of his life, in spite of countless court in- trigues, and ere long the most powerful open and secret opposition from the queen, Gaston, Duke of Orleans, and a host of minor intriguers, first among whom was the too famous Duchesse de Chevreuse. His first important measure was the blow to Spain of an alliance with Eng- land, cemented by the betrothal (1625) of the king's sister, Henrietta, with Charles, then Prince of Wales. In the Valtelline War he cleared the country of the Spanish and papal troops, but was unable to pursue his advantage, and had to submit to the terms of the peace of Monzon (1626). His next task was to destroy the political power of the Hugue- not party. After a 15 months' siege, which he conducted in person, concentrat- ing all his energy on the task, the great stronghold of La Rochelle was starved into submission, Oct. 30, 1628. He next turned to crush Rohan and the Langue- doc rebels, and destroyed the proud walls of Montauban, last refuge of Huguenot independence. Early in 1630 he entered Italy with a splendid army, himself in command, and soon reduced Savoy to sub- mission. Meanwhile he plunged into dark and tortuous intrigues with the Italian princes, the Pope, and with the Protes- tants in the N. against the House of Austria. He promised a large subsidy to Gustavus Adolphus, and, through the masterly diplomacy of Father Joseph at the Ratisbon Diet in June, 1630, succeeded in persuading Ferdinand to dismiss Wal- lenstein. The first treaty of Cherasco (April, 1631), ended the Italian war, the second gave France the important stra- tegic position of Pinerolo. Just before this final triumph Riche- lieu had successfully surmounted the greatest danger of his life — a great com- bination formed for his downfall by the queen-mother, Gaston of Orleans, the House of Guise, Bassompierre, Crequi, and the Marillacs. She tried to bully the king by her violence, but Richelieu fol- lowed his master to Versailles, and again had the whole power of the realm placed
