Jules Mazarin

Upon the death of Cardinal Richelieu, Mazarin was appointed as his successor as chief minister to King Louis XIII. He inherited the ongoing Thirty Years' War and the complex web of French domestic and foreign policy, becoming the de facto ruler of France.

The Parlement of Paris and nobles rebelled against Mazarin's centralizing policies and tax increases, sparking the Fronde civil wars. Mazarin was forced to flee Paris twice (1651 and 1652) as the revolt threatened the monarchy's authority.

Mazarin oversaw French participation in the Peace of Westphalia negotiations that ended the Thirty Years' War. France gained territories including Alsace and confirmed its dominance in European affairs, though Mazarin's diplomatic maneuvering was criticized for not securing more gains.

Mazarin negotiated the Treaty of the Pyrenees with Spain, ending the Franco-Spanish War (1635

Mazarin died at Vincennes, leaving Louis XIV to assume personal rule. His death marked the end of the era of cardinal-ministers and the beginning of Louis XIV's absolute monarchy. Mazarin's vast art collection was bequeathed to the king.