Page "Cardinal Richelieu" Paragraph 14

After the death of the King's favourite, the duc de Luynes, in 1621, Richelieu began to rise to power quickly.

Next year, the King nominated Richelieu for a cardinalate, which Pope Gregory XV accordingly granted on 19 April 1622.

Crises in France, including a rebellion of the Huguenots, rendered Richelieu a nearly indispensable advisor to the King.

After he was appointed to the royal council of ministers on 29 April 1624, he intrigued against the chief minister, Charles, duc de La Vieuville.

On 12 August of the same year, La Vieuville was arrested on charges of corruption, and Cardinal Richelieu took his place as the King's principal minister the following day, although Cardinal de la Rochefoucauld nominally remained president of the council ( Richelieu was officially appointed as president in November 1629 ).