RETZ, Jean Francois Paul de Gond*, CARDINAL DE, French politician: b. Montmfrail, 19 Sept. 1613; d. Paris, 24 Aug. 1679. His in structor was the celebrated Vincent de Paul. In 1643 he received a doctorate at the Sorbonne, and was appointed coadjutor of the .archbishop of Paris: Although preferring military service be .found•he could gratify his ambitions in the church ind.his impassioned eloquence won him the favor of the Parisians. Aiming at political influence he incurred the enmity of Richelieu, and; after his death, of Mazarin. The Fronde, or the party opposed to the court and Mazarin, received the coadjutor as a man whose genius and popularity made him a valuable accession, Mid. De 'Reel embraced their cause with zeal. The various insurrections of the people and the Frondeurs obliged Mazarin to leave France, whereupon De Retz seemed to have it in his power thenceforth to hold the reins of govern ment. But Mazarin soon returned from his banishment, more powerful than ever. The Fronde, which had never been firmly united, and the 'members of which, with the exception of Conde 'and De Retz; were weak and wavering, was dissolved; and soon after the latter, not without the management of his enemy Mazarin, had obtained the cardinal's hat, he was unex pectedly seized and confined in • the castle of Vincennes, whence he was subsequently removed to Nantes. Here he found means to escape,
and, perpetually pursued by officers of Mazarin, wandered for eight years through Europe. After the death of Mazarin in 1661 he 'was allowed to return to France, after having prom ised never to take part again in political com binations. He now resigned his archbishopric, governed the abbey of Saint Denis, lived retired, restricted his wants, .paid his immense debts, and distributed pensions to hiS friends. Recon •iled with all parties he lived the retired and quiet 'life of • a philosopher. His posthumous
(1718) give an interesting picture Of his character. They were praised by Vol taire and were drawn upon by Dumas for con temporaneous pictures in his < Vingt Ans
The best edition of 'his works is that in the