FRONDE, the name given to a political faction in France during the minority of Louis XIV., which was hostile to the court and the prime-minister, Mazarin, and caused great domestic troubles from the year 1648 to 1654. The grasping and despotic policy of Mazarin, to whom Anne of Austria, the queen-regent, had abandoned the reins of government, had . given offense to all classes. The princes and nobles saw themselves excluded from all high offices in the state, and their place supplied by foreigners; the parliament was threatened in its political rights, and the people groaned under the burden of taxes and administrative abuses. Parliament, therefore, commenced a course of determined opposition, refusing to register the royal edicts, more especially the dis graceful financial measures. Although the young king, then only nine years old, was obliged by several "beds of justice" (q.v.) to compel the registration of the edicts, and to forbid the opposition of the parliament, the latter did not on that account change its bearing towards the court. Mazarin, therefore, adopted violent measures. On the 26th Aug., 1648, he ordered the president, Potier de Blancmenil, and the councilor, Peter Broussel, to be arrested. The people took up arms, dispersed the Swiss guard, and on the 27th Aug. (la journee des barricades), erected barricades in the streets around the palais royal. The court now yielded, repealed several taxes, and promised a better administration of justice. This victory gave parliament courage; those members who continued to keep a sharp lookout on the court measures, and were styled by the adherents of Mazarin censurers (literally, " slingers")—formed the majority. The court now resolved to suppress the movement, in which the populace of the capital had also taken part, by force of arms, and, on the 6th Jan., 1649, removed secretly to St. Germain, leaving Paris to be blockaded by the prince of Conde with 7,000 men. The parliament, whose cause was now publicly espoused by the prince of Conti, the dukes of Longueville, Beaufort, Orleans, Bouillon, Elbeuf, Vend6me, Nemours, the cardinal De Betz, and the marechal de la Motile, called upon the people to resist, and even negotiated with the stadt-holder of the Netherlands for an auxiliary corps. In this critical position, the court, on the 11th Mar., concluded a compact at Ruel, in which both parties missed their object. After the return of the court to Paris in Aug., a new turn was given to the contest, the princes of the blood disputing the power with Mazarin. This. on the 18th Jan., 1650, led to the sudden arrest of Conde, Long-ueville,
and Conti. This arbitrary proceeding roused the provinces. Marshal Turenne assumed the title of lieut.-gen. of the royal army for the liberation of the princes, united himself with the archduke Leopold, and took several fortified towns, but was finally completely defeated by Mazarin's troops at Rhetel, on the 15th December. )laza rin returned in triumph to Paris, but found all parties against him, and his removal was insisted upon so urgently, that he was obliged to release the princes, and flee to the Neill erlands. A disgraceful system of intrigue was now substituted for force of arms, which totally changed the position of parties, and converted the contest which had begun for the interests of the people into a court cabal. Turenne was gained over by the queen regent, De Retz by cardinal Mazarin, and .Conde was obliged to flee for safety into Guicnne. Meanwhile, Louis XIV., who had now attained his 14th year, endeavored to induce the prince of Conde to return; but the latter, mistrusting these overtures, repaired to Bordeaux in 1651, where he had many adherents, whence he commenced a regular war against the court, which might-have had dangerous conseqpences, had not Turenne opposed the prince. On the .July, 1652, an engagement took place between the two pat ties.in the neighborhood of Conde was on the eve of being defeated, when the gates of Paris were opened to him by the courage and zeal of his sister, the, duchess of Longueville, and thus a new turn was given to the contest. Paris itself, weary of these fruitless dissensions, now entered into negotiations with the court, demanding the final removal of Mazarin, who had meanwhile returned. This demand was complied with by Louis XIV., and a general amnesty proclaimed. Conde, who refused to enter into the compact, relying upon an army of 12,000 men placed at his disposal by Charles, duke of Lorraine, quitted Paris on the 15th Oct., 1652, and repaired to Champagne; and finally, finding no one disposed to take up arms in his cause, enterqd the Spanish service, for which he was declared a traitor. Soon after, Diazarin returned to Paris,_ and was again intrusted with the reins of government. Thus the royal power came forth victorious from this long contest, which, though it seemed to commence for the popular interests, gradually changed into a miserable party strife among the nobles. Compare Ste-Aulaire's Jlistoire de in. Fronde (3 vols., Par. 1827). .