The French monarchy in 1643: the legacy of Richelieu and Louis XIII; the establishment of the Regency
When Louis XIV became king in 1643, he was only four years old. France had been shaped by two powerful men before him — King Louis XIII and his chief minister Cardinal Richelieu — and a Regency government took over to rule in his place.
Real World
Richelieu's siege of La Rochelle in 1627–28, which destroyed the Huguenots' last fortified stronghold, ended Protestant military independence in France and is the clearest illustration of the policy of centralisation that Louis XIV inherited in 1643.
Exam Focus
When assessing Richelieu's legacy, structure your answer around political, religious, and foreign policy dimensions separately — examiners reward organised analytical coverage.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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