Mazarin : The Crisis of Absolutism in France

Mazarin was the model statesman of the early modern period in French history. This book follows his career from pupil of the Jesuits, through legate in Paris and Avignon, to service for Louis XIII and beyond. Mazarin's role in the survival of absolute monarchy during the upheavals of the Fronde and his guidance of the young Louis XIV are given full weight. His crucial part in many diplomatic exchanges, and in particular those which brought an end to the Thirty Years War and the Franco-Spanish War, is examined in detail. His life is placed in the context of a study of the times, highlighting the rapidly changing nature of government. CONTENTS PREFACE PART I: GIULIO MAZARINI, PAPAL DIPLOMAT 1 THE YOUNG ROMAN 2 THE POLITICS OF ROME 3 MANTUA: CRISIS AND OPPORTUNITY 4 EARLY FAME 5 NUNCIO EXTRAORDINARY 6 THE CALL OF FRANCE PART II: FRENCH SERVICE 7 CARDINAL MAZARIN 8 ANNE, QUEEN MOTHER AND REGENT 9 THE ADOPTED LAND: POVERTY AND DISORDER 10 PUBLIC FINANCE, PRIVATE ENTERPRISE 11 PREMIER MINISTRE 12 ROYAL ABSOLUTISM: THEORIES AND TRADITIONS PART III: THE FRONDE 13 CLOUDY SKIES 14 THE GATHERING STORM 15 THE CHAMBRE ST LOUIS 16 THE DECLARATION OF SAINT- GERMAIN 17 THE FIRST CIVIL WAR 18 DIVIDE AND RULE 19 THE WAR OF THE PRINCESSES 20 THE FIRST EXILE 21 MAZARIN RETURNS 22 THE DEFEAT OF CONDÉ 23 UNFINISHED BUSINESS 24 THE FRONDE CONSIDERED PART IV: WAR AND PEACE 25 TOWARDS WESTPHALIA 26 THE LONG HAUL 27 GERMAN APPROACHES 28 THE ENGLISH ALLIANCE 29 PEACE WITH SPAIN 30 ARBITER OF PEACE PART V: MONEY MATTERS 31 FOUQUET 32 THE GREATEST PRIVATE FORTUNE PART VI: CONSCIENCE AND POLICY 33 THE GREAT AGE OF SOULS 34 THE CHALLENGE OF PORT ROYAL 35 THE LAST YEAR 36 A CHRISTIAN DEATH GLOSSARY NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX Mazarin was the model statesman of the early modern period in French history. Geoffrey Treasure follows his career from pupil of the Jesuits, through legate in Paris and Avignon to service for Louis XIII and beyond. He examines in detail Mazarin's crucial part in many diplomatic exchanges and in particular those which brought an end to the Thirty Years War and the Franco-Spanish war. Treasure places Mazarin in the context of a study of the times, highlighting the rapidly changing nature of government as well as social and cultural developments. Mazarin follows the career of Guilio Mazarini, the Roman-born first minister of France, from pupil of the Jesuits, through legate in Paris and Avignon, to service for Louis XIII and beyond. Mazarin's role in the survival of absolute monarchy and his guidance of the young Louis XIV are given full weight, as are his crucial parts in many diplomatic exchanges. His life is placed in the context of a study of the times, highlighting the rapidly changing nature of government. A superbly written and engrossing study of one of the major political leaders of 17th-century Europe. Treasure gives the reader a vivid picture of the times of Mazarin, as well as an insight into his life One day in 1915 the peace of the mountains and wooded valleys of the Abruzzi was shattered by an earthquake which killed more than 30,000 people.