Henri Coiffier de Ruzé, Marquis of Cinq-Mars

Henri Coiffier de Ruzé, Marquis of Cinq-Mars (1620 - September 12, 1642) was a "favourite" of King Louis XIII of France who led the last and most nearly successful of the many conspiracies against the king's powerful first minister, the Cardinal Richelieu.

Related Topics:
1620 - September 12 - 1642 - Louis XIII of France - Conspiracies - Cardinal Richelieu

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Cinq-Mars was the son of Marshal Antoine Coiffier-Ruzé, marquis d'Effiat, a close friend of Richelieu, who took the boy under his protection on his father's death in 1632.

Related Topics:
Antoine Coiffier-Ruzé, marquis d'Effiat - 1632

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In 1642, Louis had no "favourite" (a close friend, usually a lover at court, who usually had a major influence on the King's decisions). Richelieu had introduced the young Cinq-Mars to Louis, hoping Louis would take Cinq-Mars as a lover. The cardinal believed Cinq-Mars was easy to control. Instead, the marquis tried to convince the king to have Richelieu executed, and when Cinq-Mars took matters into his own hands, Richelieu had him imprisoned and then beheaded in Lyon, together with François de Thou. Although the king approved the execution, the death of Cinq-Mars appears to have driven a wedge between him and the cardinal.

Related Topics:
1642 - Marquis - Beheaded - Lyon - François de Thou

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