The Chief Minister: Policies and Critics

Abstract

The greatest problem faced by any government in early modern Europe was how to mobilise the resources of the state in time of war without arousing excessive discontent among the population at large. The two Cardinal ministers faced this problem throughout their period in office. One fact stands out as of supreme importance: the duration of the war against Spain (1635–59). There were several other significant wars, too.¹ Richelieu’s ministry began in the last phase of Louis XIII’s struggle against the military power of the Huguenots, which led to further fighting in 1625–6 and 1627–9. In short, there were only two years of real peace during the entire ministries of Richelieu and Mazarin (1660–1).