MAZARIN, Jui.Es (1602-61). A Cardinal and Prime Minister of France during the minority of Louis XIV. Ile was born July 14, 1602. at Piscine, in the Abruzzi, Italy, his father being of the household of Philip Colonna. lie was educated in the Jesuit College at Rome. and later accompanied Jerome Colonna to the Spanish University of where he studied law, but also indulged in gambling and love-making—practices which were continued at Salamanca. On returning to Rome, Mazarin became a doctor of canon and civil law, and en tered the Pope's military service as a captain of infantry in the Colonna regiment. His talents, however, were more diplomatic than military, and after being employed on several political missions in Italy he accompanied the Papal legate to the Court of France, and there, about 162S, became known to Richelieu, who perceived his peculiar talents and engaged him to maintain the French interests in Italy. This he did while still employed by the Pope as vice-legate to Avignon (1632) and nuncio to the French Court, an office to which he was appointed in 1634. The Spaniards complained of his partiality for France, and the Pope was obliged to recall him. In 1639, however, he openly entered the service of Louis XIII.. 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 carrying on his political sys tem. Mazarin's position was one of great diffi culty amid the intrigues, jealousies, and strifes of the earlier years of Louis NIV.'s minority. The Queen mother, Anne of Austria, was at first hostile to him, but although she was declared rule ngent and guardian of tbe young King, Mazarin kept his place as Minister, and soon made hiffiself indispensable to her by his won derful business qualities, while the exquisite charm of his manner eventually gained her heart. It is said, in fact, that a secret marriage took Pince between the Queen Regent and her Prime Minister. hut this has never been absolutely
proved. The result of the close alliance between the Queen and himself was that Mazarin ruled with almost as unlimited sway as Riehelieu hart done. The Parlement of Paris, thinking to con quer political power, resisted the registration of edicts of taxation: but Mazarin caused the lead ers of the opposition to be arrested, upon which began the disturbances of the Fronde (q.v.). 'Twice compelled to retire from Court, he made a triumphant entry into the capital in 1653, and in a short time had regained his former power.
In the internal government of the country those principles of despotism were established on which Louis NTS'. afterwards acted. Mazarin continued Riehelien's foreign policy. waging war vigorously against the Ilapsbui7 power in Aus tria and Spain; his most important diplomatic acts were in connection with the Peace of West phalia in 1648, and that of the Pyrenees in 1659. The administration of justice in France under Mazarin became very corrupt, and the comm cm) and finances of the vountry underwent a great depression. As a financier Mazarin was far in ferior to Richelieu. He was avaricious, and en riched himself at the expense of the country. He died at Vincennes. March 9, 1661. Ilis magnifi cent library he bequeathed to the College Mezarin at Paris. The best idea of Mazarin is obtained from his correspondence, published by Ch6ruel, "Lettres du cardinal Mazarin pendant son minis in the Collection, de documents in rd sue rhistoire de France, first series (Paris, 1872-94). Consult, also: Mason, Iluzarin IS86) Cousin, Jeuncsse de .11a,:urin (Paris, 1865) ; Per kins, ['ranee Under (New York, 1894) ; Cheruel, Histoire de France sous le ministire de lla aria, 1651-1661 (Paris, 1882).