marthajefferson:history meme: 06/?? relationship | Queen Anne of Austria and Cardinal Jules Mazarin
marthajefferson:history meme: 06/?? relationship | Queen Anne of Austria and Cardinal Jules Mazarin gifs from La Reine et Le Cardinal (2009)The Italian Cardinal Mazarin had been introduced to the court by his illustrious predecessor Richelieu. Mazarin was a skilled worker, sophisticated, and clever; Queen Anne perceived him at first as the continuator of Richelieu’s politics. But his very humble appearance and manner, his gentle and kind ways contrasting with the imperiousness of Richelieu, had contributed to his elevation. Louis XIII even chose Mazarin as the godfather of the Dauphin. Anne’s affection for him was the best guarantee of his continuance in office.In 1643, Louis XIII died –a year after Richelieu passed away. His successor, Louis XIV, was only five years old at the time and Queen Anne ruled in his place. To general surprise she entrusted the government to the chief minister, Cardinal Mazarin. He helped Anne to expand the limited power her husband had left. Everyone expected a change of politics; return of former friends disgraced by Richelieu, and peace with Spain but the Queen took the opposite stance, outcasts remained where they were, and the war with Spain continued. These unexpected choices were the causation of rumors. Anne was so fond of him and so intimate in her manners with the cardinal that there were long-standing rumors that they were lovers and that the Dauphin was their offspring.The precise manner of their relationship is still unclear. Certain letters of Anne to Mazarin, and admissions made by Anne to Mme de Brienne and recorded in the Memoirs of Loménie de Brienne, prove that the Queen Regent was deeply attached to the cardinal. Still, “my sensibilities have no part in it”, she said to Mme de Brienne. Few historians give credence to Anne’s assertion on this point, and some even go so far as to accept the allegations of the Princess Palatine in her letters, according to which Anne of Austria and Mazarin were secretly married. No evidence validates this statement.Mazarin complimented the Queen in any circumstance, offering her subtle and precious gifts. Anne was coquette, Mazarin offered her perfumes; Anne was gourmand, Mazarin ordered Portuguese oranges, delivered so that the queen was the first to be able to taste them. Mazarin many attentions on Ann indicate that if not love, the relationship held some mutual affection.They both used codes in their letters. For example, they referred to each other by the number 16 for him, and 15 for her. Anne even sealed her letters to the Cardinal with a specific seal representing their entwined initials. Around this seal, other signs were visible, S crossed by a line, “closed S”, an allusion to the old French word meaning ‘fermesse’, firmness, evoking the continued commitment in love.From a letter Anne wrote while Mazarin and her were separated, “I do not know how long I have to wait until you return, since everyday new obstacles prevent it. All I can tell you is that I worry and handle this delay with great anticipation, and if 16 knew everything 15 suffers on this subject, I am sure he would be touched. I feel much tired right now that I do not have the strength to write long nor to know what I am writting. I received your letters almost daily, and without them, I do not know what would happen to me.”The very extensive correspondence during 15 years seems to leave no doubt about the affectionate link between the Queen and the Cardinal, and the several troubles during the Regency (with scheme and coup like the Fronde) created an unique bond of loyalty between them, and also with the King Louis XIV. However, it’s still difficult to determine if the relationship of Anne & Mazarin was more than just platonic.They both worked as co-rulers of France during the regency of Anne, and later Mazarin directed French policy alongside the monarch Louis XIV to guide him to absolutism until the cardinal’s death in 1661. Queen Anne died 5 years later and her son declared about her: “More than a Queen, she was a great King.” -- source link
Tumblr Blog : marthajefferson.tumblr.com