RETZ, JEAN FRANcOIS PAIJI. DE GONDI, Cardinal de, 1614-79; b. 3lontmirail, France, of a rich and noble family. By his father he was compelled to enter the church, with the intention that he should become archbishop of Paris, a position which had already been held by two members of his house. In his studies he displayed great brilliancy and penetration, but his private life was dissolute. fie became connected with the comte the Soissons, and engaged to some extent in political intrigue; but, after the death of that nobleman, resumed his theological studies and was made coadjutor of the archbishop of Paris, his uncle, by Louis XIII. on his death-bed. He devoted him self to his duties with zeal, and gained great popularity by his profuse distribution of alms. On the breaking out of the faction of the Fronde (q.v.) he at first was of great assistance to the royal cause, but was distrusted by the court, and became at last the leader of the popular party, though he did not openly declare himself as such. Though ambitious, it was admitted that he acted in these troubles with dignity and moderation.
In 1650 he was gained over by Mazarin and rewarded with a cardinal's hat. After the close of the war and the return of the court to Paris, in 1652, a mission to Rome was offered to Gondi if be would leave his see; he was still greatly distrusted by the royalists; and as he hesitated was arrested and imprisoned at Vincennes. He resigned his archbishopric, which lie had'attained on his uncle's death, and was allowed to retire to Nantes, whence he made his escape into Spain and repaired to Rome. Here he revoked his resignation and succeeded in bartering the archbishopric for profitable benefices. After some years of exile lie became reconciled to Louis XIV. and returned to France, but abstained altogether from further political intrigue. He sold his estates, paid his debts, which were enormous, and devoted the rest of his life to works of charity and religion. His Memoirs are described by Voltaire as displaying an air of grandeur, an impetuosity and inequality of genius, which are the picture of his conduct.