Jean Francois Paul de Gondi

Jean François Paul de Gondi was born into a noble Florentine family that had settled in France under Catherine de' Medici. He was the nephew of Jean-François de Gondi, the first archbishop of Paris, who appointed him as his coadjutor in 1643. He was ordained as a priest in the same year and consecrated as a bishop in 1644. He inherited the title of Cardinal de Retz from his elder brother, who died in a hunting accident. ¹ He was a brilliant and eloquent preacher, but also a restless and ambitious politician. He opposed the policies of Cardinal Richelieu and Cardinal Mazarin, and became one of the leaders of the Fronde, a series of civil wars that challenged the authority of the young Louis XIV. He allied himself with the Parlement of Paris, the nobles, and the people against the royal power. He was arrested by Mazarin in 1652 and imprisoned in various castles until he escaped in 1654. He then went into exile in Rome, where he was received by Pope Innocent X. He renounced his archbishopric in 1662 and returned to France in 1664, after making peace with Louis XIV. ¹² He is best known for his Mémoires, which he wrote during his imprisonment and exile. They are a vivid account of his life and times, full of anecdotes, portraits, and insights into the political and social turmoil of 17th century France. They are considered a masterpiece of French literature and a valuable source of historical information. He also wrote other works, such as La Conjuration du comte de Fiesque, a historical essay inspired by an Italian source, and Histoire de la mère et du fils, a novel about the relationship between Anne of Austria and Louis XIV. ¹² He died of apoplexy in Paris on August 24, 1679. He was buried in the Church of Saint-Denis-du-Saint-Sacrement, where his tomb can still be seen today. ²