Armand-Jean du Plessis, duc de Richelieu 1585 – 1642

Biography

Armand-Jean du Plessis, duc de Richelieu, was born on September 9, 1585, in Paris into an aristocratic family of distinguished standing. Throughout his life, he served France as a clergyman, cardinal, noble, and statesman, holding positions of considerable influence and responsibility. His career reflected both his ecclesiastical commitments and his dedication to the French crown, allowing him to shape the spiritual and political landscape of his era.

After more than five decades of service to both Church and state, Cardinal Richelieu passed away on December 4, 1642, in his native city of Paris. His death resulted from tuberculosis, an illness that claimed many lives during the seventeenth century. His life’s work left a lasting impact on France, and he was honored with interment at the Chapelle Sainte-Ursule de la Sorbonne in the Quartier de la Sorbonne, a fitting resting place that reflected his contributions to French religious and intellectual institutions.