Changes

== Government Reform==

Richelieu made sweeping changes to the way that France was governed he expanded the standing army and the navy. He also made sure that they were regularly funded by the Royal Treasury for the first time. Richelieu was eager to remove the influence of the nobility from the bureaucracy and he opened the civil service to commoners. However, many of these bought their positions and this lead to nepotism and corruption in the later years of Richelieu’s <ref> Collins, p. 115</ref>. The Cardinal did make the bureaucracy more efficient and made sure that the royal budget was balanced. His most important reforms were in local government. Traditionally the local notables had been free to do what they like, they were expected to administer their district. This was a relic of feudalism and Richelieu believed that it was not suitable for a modern state. He persuaded Louis XIII to appoint an ‘intendant’ or official to every district and they would administer the area. This did much to reduce the influence of the local notables but they still had immense powers. The appointment of government officials did much to curb the authority and freedom of provincial nobles. Richelieu administrative reforms did much to change France from a feudal to a modern state. However, this was arguably not finished until the French Revolution. Richelieu also had many castles and fortresses demolished and this reduced the ability of the nobility to defy their monarch, however they were still able to recruit large private armies from among their tenants and retainers. The new administration also meant more taxes for the peasantry and there were many peasant uprisings during the Cardinal’s ministry<ref>Bergin, p. 116</ref>.

==Huguenots==

The Huguenots, were perhaps the strongest faction in the country and they had a significant army and were supported by Charles I of England. Richelieu attempted to revoke many of the privileges that were granted to the Huguenots under the Edict of Nantes. This led to a rebellion and Richelieu besieged one of their main strongholds La Rochelle. This siege was personally directed by the Cardinal and he imitated the siege tactics of Alexander the Great to capture the strategic port. The Huguenots continued their rebellion but the Cardinal was implacable and the Royalist army defatted the French Protestants in battle <ref> Levi, p. 113</ref>. This forced the Huguenot leader to seek terms with the king. Richelieu adopted a conciliatory policy towards them was influenced by personal philosophy ‘First, all means to conciliate; failing that, all means to crush’ <ref> Richelieu, Political Statement. (1663), p. 13</ref>. If the Huguenots had not obeyed the Cardinal’s will he would have waged a total war against them. Richelieu, eventually appointed the Huguenot leader to a senior position in the army and integrated some Huguenot soldiers into the Royal army. The Cardinal at the same time, under the Peace of Alais, the Protestants still had religious freedom but they were shorn of their military and political rights.