Memoirs Of Marshal Duke De Richelieu. Eo 1793. Complete.

RICHELIEU (Armand Jean du PLESSIS, cardinal of). Memoirs of Marshal Duke of Richelieu to serve as a reference to the history of the courts of Louis XIV, the minority and the reign of Louis XV, etc. - Work composed in the Library and on the papers of the Marshal, and on those of several courtiers of his contemporaries. In Paris / Lyon / London, at Buisson / Bruysset Frères / J. Deboffe, 1793. 9 vols. in octavo format ((207 x 128 mm) of 2 ff. n.fol;, 1 engraved frontispiece n.fol. and 428 pp.; 2 ff. n.fol. and 378 pp.; 2 ff. n.f. fol., 1 engraved frontispiece n.fol. and 399 pp.; 2 ff. n.fol. and 426 pp.; 2 ff. n.fol., 391 pp. and 1 folding table in fine; 2 ff. n.f. fol. and 408 pp.; 2 ff. n.fol. and 395 pp.; 2 ff. n.fol. and 412 pp.; 2 ff. n.fol. and 528 pp. Uniform bindings from the period of full glazed and flamed blond sheepskin, Jansenist boards, smooth spines decorated with a double gilt framing fillet, double gilt fillets, gilded casters, large gilt fleurons, carmine morocco title pieces, turquoise morocco volume number pieces, gilt title, Golden volume number in the center of a golden oval, golden palette at the tail, play of small oblique golden threads on the cuts, yellow and speckled edges. Very largely original edition, complete with the 9 volumes constituting it, in decorative contemporary bindings. ''We find in this work very curious original pieces.'' (in Quérard). The whole is embellished with two engraved frontispieces, a folding plate, two folding tables as well as a folding map (plan of Menorca). Initially intended for the profession of arms, Richelieu was forced to take holy orders in order to keep the benefit of the bishopric of Luçon for his family. Temporarily minister of foreign affairs in 1616, he was cardinal in 1622 and principal minister of Louis XIII in 1624. He remained in office until his death in 1642, when Cardinal Mazarin succeeded him. The function exercised by Richelieu with Louis XIII is often referred to as "prime minister", although the title was only used unofficially at the time to designate the king's principal minister whose action also included many political, diplomatic and colonial dimensions as well as cultural and religious ones. Renowned for his skill and even for his character considered devious, often criticized for his uncompromising firmness, he renewed the vision of reason of state and made it the keystone of his methods of government and his conception of diplomacy and policy. Fighting abroad against the Habsburgs, and internally against the nobility and the Protestants, he severely repressed both murderous duels and peasant anti-tax revolts. Richelieu is considered one of the major founders of the modern state in France. His action is a hard fight for a strengthening of royal power. Through its action, the monarchy asserted itself in a new form which would later be designated by the term absolutism, and this in a triumphant manner under the personal government of Louis XIV (1661-1715), then in a more peaceful manner under that of of Cardinal de Fleury (1726-1743). Quérard VIII, Literary France, p. 34 - Brunet IV, Manual for the bookseller and book lover, 23908. Tiny marks of use affecting the dishes. Friction on several title documents. Fading brown spots affecting the front pages of the fifth and ninth volumes. Notebooks sometimes oxidized. Presence of foxing or light stains in the body of works. Last Table leaf of Volume IX missing. Otherwise, good condition.