Cardinal Mazarin by Arthur Hassall

Author:Arthur Hassall
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ozymandias Press

THE CLOSE OF THE FRONDE

1651-1653

Rebellion of Condé—The court at Poitiers—Mazarin and Turenne join the court—Campaign on the Loire—Battles of Jargeau, Bléneau, and Étampes—The battle of Saint-Antoirie—Coudé supreme in Paris — The parlement at Pontoise — Mazarin leaves France—Turenne and the Lorrainers—Louis XIV. enters Paris, October 21, 1652—End of the Fronde in Paris—Military operations on the frontier—French successes—Mazarin’s return to Paris—Servien and Fouquet superintendents of finance—Mazarin wins over the bourgeoisie —His relations with the parlement, clergy, and the nobles—The marriages of his nieces—Provence and Burgundy pacified—The revolt in Bordeaux—The Ormée —Its suppression—Triumph of the monarchy—The end of the Fronde—Success of Mazarin’s diplomacy.

At the time of the celebration of Louis XIV.’s majority (September 7, 1651) the king’s Council included Orleans, the Marquis of Châteauneuf, who always hoped to be Mazarin’s successor, Molé, and la Vieuville, superintendent of the finances. While Mazarin remained at Brühl, Condé, with his brother Conti, Nemours, Rochefoucauld, and Viole, was at Chajitilly. Already, influenced by the Duchess of Longueville, he had decided on rebellion, and the political situation of France seemed to favour his plans. Oliver Cromwell, successful in England, was disposed to foment troubles in France, if not actually to seize some of her northern ports. Spain was bidding for an English alliance.

In the south Condé was received with enthusiasm, and the families of la Force, la Rochefoucauld, la Trémoille, and Rohan embraced his cause. Daugnon, who held the fortress of Brouage, and was governor of La Rochelle, and who hoped to form La Rochelle, with Ré and Oléron, into an independent principality, supported him. Condé’s schemes were extensive. He proposed to carry the war to the Loire, to effect a junction with the Duke of Nemours, who commanded troops in the north of France, while Turenne, supreme at Stejiay, would march through Champagne and perhaps occupy Paris. The crisis was serious, for France was still split into a number of selfish, unpatriotic factions, while the almost universal hatred of Mazarin was a serious obstacle to the development of the tendency towards the triumph of the monarchy. At first the Council showed unexpected vigour. On September 26, 1651, Louis XIV. and the court left Paris for Fontainebleau, and in October proceeded with a small army into the province of Berri. Success attended the efforts of the king’s party. In Saintonge, where Harcourt commanded, Cognac was relieved (November) and La Rochelle was seized, while in Berri the king occupied Bourges and established the royal authority. The court then proceeded to Poitiers. By the end of the year a considerable step had been taken towards the suppression of the rebellion. All danger from Lower Poitou had disappeared, and Daugnon had made terms with the court. Condé’s hopes of seizing La Rochelle and Sajntonge were defeated, and some of his supporters urged him to make peace. Condé, however, was more obstinate than ever in his determination to secure his own supremacy. He handed over Bourg, a town in Guienne, to Spain, and the king at once sent to Paris a declaration depriving Condé of his governments and honours.

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