MAZARIN, JULES (Ital. Giulio Nazarinx), cardinal and chief minister of France during the minority of Louis XIV., was born July- 14, 1602, at Rome, or, some say, at Piscina in the Abruzzi. The social position and occupation of his father are points in dispute. Mazann studied law si Rome and at the Spanish universities, where he contrived to unite industry with amorous gayety-. Afterwards he entered the pope's military service, perhaps about 1624. Having accompanied a papal legate to the cdurt of France, he became known to Richelieu about 1628, who perceived his great political talents, and engaged Win to maintain the French interests in Italy-, which he did while still employed ny the pope as vice-legate to Avignon (1632) and nuncio to the French court, an oflice to which he was appointed in 1634. The Spaniards complained ot his partiality for France, and the pope was obliged to recall him. The subtle Italian was not thus to be check mated. In 1639 he openly entered the service of Louis XIII., and was naturalized a Frenchman; and in 1641 received a cardinal's hat, through the influence of Richelieu, who, when dying, recommended Mazarin to the king as the only person capable of carry ing on his political system. Mazarin's position was one of great difficulty amidst the intrigues, jealousies, and strifes of the earlier years of Louis XIV.'s minority. The queen-mother, Anne of Austria, was at first particularly hostile to him; but although she was declared sole reoent and guardian of the young king, Mazarin kept his place as minister, and soon lade himself indispensable to her, partly by his wonderful business qualities, and still more by the exquisite charm of his manner, so that, although with greater smoothness, he ruled with ahnost as unlimited a sway as Richelieu. The parlia ment, thinking to regain political power, resisted the registration of edicts of taxation; but Mazarin caused the leaders of the opposition to be arrested, upon which the disturb ances of the Fronde (q.v.) began. The court retired to St. Germain; Mazarin was out lawed by the parliament; but by the truce of Ruel he still remained rninister The feel ing against him, however, became still more inflamed when, at his instigation, the queen-regent caused the princes of Condo and Conti and the duke of Longueville to be arrested in Jan., 1650. Mazarin went in person at the head of the court troops to the
insurgent provinces; and after the victory at Rethel showed so much insolence that the nobles and the people of the capital made common cause against hitn, and he thought it necessary to secure his safety by flight to the Netherlands, whilst the press teemed with violent publications against him, known as 3fazarinades. After the rebellion of the prince of Conde he ventured to return to France; but Paris making his removal a con dition of its submission, he retired again from the court, and it was not till Feb. 8, 1653, that he made a triumphant entry into the capital, where he was received with significant silence. Yet in a short time he was popular, and had acquired his former power. Under him the influence of France amongst the nations was increased, and in the internal gov ernment of the country those principles of despotism were established on which Louis XIV. afterwards acted. The administration of justice, however, became very corrupt, and the commerce and finances of the country sunk into deep depression. It is adinitted that as a financial administrator .he was far inferior to Richelieu. Mazarin died at Vin cennes, March 9, 1661. He was very niggardly and very avaricious, and had acquired in various ways, fair and foul, an immense fortune, amounting to 12,000,000 byres, which he offered to the king shortly before he died, afraid, it is thought, that it might be rudely seized from his heirs. Louis declined the restitution, which was perhaps what the wily minister expected. He was privately married to Anne of Austria. Sec the Memoirs of Mazarin's contemporaries, Retz, Mme. Motteville, La Rochefoucault, Turenne, Grammont, etc. • ,SVele de Louis XIV:, by Voltaire; Hine. de Longueville, etc., by Victor Cousin; and A. 'Renee's Les Nikes de Hazarin.