Such sovereigns had not only governed, but also impressed the imagination of the people; it was to them that the weak, oppressed by the great feudal lords, had little by little learned to apply for support and assistance; since the reign of Francis I., especially, in the midst of the religious struggles which had caused division amongst the noblesse and were threatening to create a state within the state, the personal position of the grandees, and that of their petty private courts, had been constantly diminishing in importance; the wise policy, the bold and prudent courage of Henry IV., and his patriotic foresight had pacified hatred and stayed civil wars; he had caused his people to feel the pleasure and pride of being governed by a man of a superior order.

Cardinal Richelieu, more stern than Henry IV., set his face steadily against all the influences of the great lords; he broke them down one after another; he persistently elevated the royal authority; it was the hand of Richelieu which made the court and paved the way for the reign of Louis XIV.

The Fronde was but a paltry interlude and a sanguinary game between parties.

At Richelieu's death, pure monarchy was founded.
[Illustration: RICHELIEU----180] In the month of December, 1622, the work was as yet full of difficulty.
There were numerous rivals for the heritage of royal favor that had slipped from the dying hands of Luynes.

The Prince of Conde, a man of ability and moderation, "a good managing man (_homme de bon menage_)," as he was afterwards called by the cardinal, was the first to get possession of the mind of the king, at that time away from his mother, who was residing at Paris.