The Duke of Richelieu is a special title in France in the peerage. It was created in 1629 specifically for Cardinal Armand Jean du Plessis de Richelieu. He was a clergyman, so he had no heirs to whom he could pass this title. As a result, he passed to his great-nephew.
First Richelieu
The first Duke of Richelieu was born in 1585. He also remained in history under the nickname Red Cardinal. In 1616, he received the post of Secretary of State, was the head of the French government from 1624 until his death in 1642
The future Duke Armand de Richelieu was born in Paris, his father was one of the organizers of the flight of Henry III from the rebellious French capital. When his family managed to return to Paris, he studied at the College of Navarre with the future king.
He was a prominent figure during the regency of Marie de Medici. After Louis XIII took power, he was sent into exile. He returned to court only in 1622, becoming a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Two years later, Louis XIII appointshim as his first minister to save a country in dire straits.
Richelieu manages to uncover a conspiracy against the king, aimed at killing him, he is pursuing a balanced foreign policy. In an effort to create a centralized state, the Duke de Richelieu fought against the aristocracy, developed trade, fleet, finance and foreign economic relations. In history and literature, he remained one of the most influential ministers in the history of France.
Marshal of France
The second Duke de Richelieu was the great-nephew of Armand du Plessis - Armand Jean de Vignero du Plessis, who was not remembered for anything remarkable in history. What can not be said about his son, the third Richelieu, - Liou Francois Armand de Vignero du Plessis. He was born in 1696 and received the title of Duke of Richelieu when he was 19 years old.
Surprisingly, it was at the insistence of his father that Louis was first imprisoned in the Bastille. He spent 14 months behind bars, so his father tried to reason with him after too early and stormy love affairs. In 1716 he was imprisoned again. Now because of the murder in the duel of Count Gase.
In 1719, the Duke of Richelieu became one of the participants in the Cellamare conspiracy. Its participants tried to remove Philip II from the post of regent. But they were discovered, Louis spent a few more months in the Bastille. He decided to join the conspiracy because of dissatisfaction with the political course of the regent. He was against the conflict with Spain and rapprochement with England. Like many French aristocrats at that time, he dreamed of a revanchist war against the British, believingSpain is one of the main allies in the international arena.
In 1725 he was appointed ambassador to Vienna and then to Dresden. In this field, he showed himself to be a skilled diplomat who was able to benefit his country. For example, it was Richelieu who pointed out the strategic importance of Courland, which led to the crisis of 1726. It was from Courland that Richelieu hoped, if necessary, to threaten St. Petersburg, making Russia as cautious as possible in an alliance with Austria.
In 1733 he distinguished himself in the Rhine company for the Polish inheritance, he was especially successful at the siege of Philippsburg.
Military successes
Later he took part in the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. In 1757 the Duke of Richelieu ended his military career by devastating Hanover. During this campaign, he forced the Duke of Cumberland to sign a surrender convention, but was recalled to France the same year.
According to the official version, the reason was the massive robberies in which French soldiers participated, on the sidelines it was rumored that the Duke of Soubise and Louis XV himself were very jealous of his military success.
In the biography of the Duke of Richelieu there are many military successes and victories, while in history he is referred to as a "half-forgotten" generals. Richelieu did not lose a single battle, and during the Seven Years' War, King Frederick II of Prussia did not dare to start a direct battle against him. The French army was sure that Richelieu would definitely defeat the British if he remained a commander.
At the same timethe duke himself was an opponent of universal service, the concept of which was discussed in the middle of the 18th century. He believed that artillery was capable of destroying a clumsy army in a matter of hours, and tried to substantiate this thesis even with the help of mathematical calculations. The talent of the Duke de Richelieu du Plessis was highly appreciated by Suvorov.
Mayor of Odessa
The son of Louis Francois (Louis Antoine) is not remembered for anything remarkable, but his grandson played an important role in the fate of one of the cities of modern Ukraine - Odessa. Armand-Emmanuel du Plessis Richelieu was born in 1766.
He became the fifth Duke of Richelieu, great-great-great-nephew of the famous Cardinal Richelieu. In 1783, he became a chamberlain under King Louis XVI, having received this court position, he begins to build a successful career.
Perhaps he could achieve a lot in France, but in 1789 the French Revolution happens. Richelieu is forced to emigrate. He leaves first for Austria, and then goes to Russia, where he enters military service.
In the military field, he was very useful. In 1790, he participated in the assault on Izmail, the next year he was even awarded the Order of St. George of the fourth class with the wording "For excellent courage." So highly appreciated was his contribution to the capture of Ishmael. He also receives a named weapon for bravery.
Resettlement Project
In 1792, Richelieu proposes to the Russian Empress Catherine II a project for the mass resettlement of migrants from France in the Azov region. But this idea didn't getsupport. The aristocrats who fled from the French Revolution themselves refused to settle in unknown lands without any tangible prospects. For them, it was too far from the already familiar Russian cities - Moscow and St. Petersburg.
After his project was not approved, Richelieu occupied the post of governor of Volyn for some time, and after the accession of Emperor Paul I in 1796, who took the throne after the death of Catherine II, he left for Vienna.
In 1797, Paul appointed Richelieu commander of His Majesty's regiment. The hero of our article leads the cuirassiers. He held this position until the end of 1800.
Leading Odessa
In 1803, Richelieu returned to Russia after Alexander I became emperor, with whom they were on friendly and warm terms. The head of state appoints him the mayor of Odessa. This becomes a defining decision both in the life of Richelieu and in the history of the city itself.
Under the Duke of Richelieu, Odessa simply flourished. In 1804, the emperor approved his proposal to temporarily remove tax time from the city. Richelieu manages to achieve this by proving the expediency of free transit of any goods that are brought to Odessa by sea and even then sent to Europe. Under the Duke of Richelieu in the 19th century, Odessa became a major sea and trade port.
Economic recovery of the city
The hero of our article seeks the opening of a commercial school and a gymnasium, private boarding schools in order to train specialists on the spot for the development and prosperity of the city. From a provincial town Odessa turns intoone of the key cities in southern Russia.
The efforts of Richelieu are noted in the imperial environment, in 1805 he was appointed governor-general of the entire Novorossiysk Territory. Under him, a noble institute is founded, which in the future will serve to open the Richelieu Lyceum. This event takes place in 1817. Richelieu ordered the design of the theater building from the famous architect de Thomon, its construction was completed in 1809.
In 1806, Richelieu commanded the Russian troops in the war against the Turks, he was sent to capture Ishmael. But the assault ends in failure.
Return to France
In 1814, Richelieu returned to France, where he served as prime minister in the government of Louis XVIII.
It is noteworthy that he takes this post at the initiative of the Russian monarch Alexander I. Richelieu remains Prime Minister until 1818, in 1820 he returns to this position to finally leave it a year later.
In the French Academy, Richelieu takes the place of Antoine Arnaud, a supporter of Napoleon Bonaparte, who was expelled after the defeat of his leader.
Richelieu's personal life
At the age of 15, Richelieu marries the 13-year-old daughter of the Duke de Rochechouart named Rosalia. Relations in this marriage between the newlyweds were very peculiar. For example, immediately after the solemn ceremony, Richelieu went on his honeymoon alone (accompanied by one tutor).
He spent a year and a half wandering, and when he returned, he visited his wife once, and left again. This went on for almost the entiretheir married life. Finally, for many years, they were separated by the duke's forced emigration. According to close friends and relatives, the husband and wife at the same time respected each other, but there were no other feelings between them.
In 1818, Richelieu died childless. He was buried in Paris in the Sorbonne church, which was built by his ancestor, the famous cardinal. The remains are still buried today in a sealed crypt. After his death, the title of duke passed to his nephew.
Monument in Odessa
In Odessa they were so grateful to their mayor that they immortalized his image. The monument to the Duke de Richelieu in Odessa was inaugurated in 1828.
As soon as it became known about his death, Count Lanzheron urged residents to raise money for the construction of the monument. The monument was commissioned by Count Vorontsov in 1823. The sculptor Ivan Petrovich Martos worked on it. It was one of the last creations of this master.
The monument itself is a bronze statue, on which Richelieu is depicted in a Roman toga and holding a scroll. On the sides are three high reliefs made of brass, which symbolize trade, agriculture and justice. The monument to the Duke of Richelieu in Odessa was founded in the summer of 1827.
The high reliefs and the sculpture itself were cast in St. Petersburg. The massive pedestal is the work of the architects Boffo and Melnikov. The monument is made in the style of classicism.
The sculpture is slightly taller than human height. On April 22, 1828, the monument was inaugurated.
Fatemonument
The monument to Richelieu suffered during the Crimean War. A joint French and British squadron bombarded both the port and the city itself. As a result, one of the cores exploded in the immediate vicinity of the monument on the square itself. The pedestal was damaged by shrapnel from a shell.
When the war ended, a cast-iron patch was installed over the damaged area, stylized as a cannonball.
You can still visit the monument at 9 Primorsky Boulevard. Behind the sculpture are government buildings, which form a semicircular square, behind them begins Catherine's Square. Many experts note that the monument blends in very well with the environment, and is combined with the buildings and the Potemkin Stairs.
Odessites are famous for their humor, they did not bypass the sculpture of Richelieu. They advise visitors to look at the Duke from the hatch. Indeed, when viewed from the water manhole located to the left of the monument, the folds of clothing resemble male genitalia.
Today, this particular monument remains one of the most famous and significant symbols of Odessa, which many locals are still proud of.
Richelieu in the 19th and 20th centuries
After the Odessa mayor, none of the Dukes of Richelieu left a significant mark either in French or in Russian history. In 1822, the title went to Armand Emmanuel's nephew, Armand François Odet de La Chapelle de Saint-Jean deJumilac.
In 1879 passed to his nephew, whose name was Marie Odette Richard, he died a year later. The last Duke of Richelieu was his son Marie Audet Jean Armand, who died in 1952.
