The Russian fate of the Duke de Richelieu. Cardinal Richelieu Full name of Duke de Richelieu

We can safely say that Odessa had few mayors like Richelieu. Selfless and noble, courageous and completely devoid of personal vanity, Richelieu in 11 years turned Odessa into a city that could compete with European capitals.

Resignation for unauthorized fire extinguishing

At birth, Richelieu received a name that you will not immediately remember - Armand Emmanuel Sophia-Septimani de Vignereau du Plessis, Comte de Chinon, 5th Duke of Richelieu. He was the great-great-grandson of the famous Cardinal Richelieu and the grandson of the Marshal of France. Young Armand's career promised to be brilliant - at the age of 17 he became the first chamberlain at court. However, the young man was shy and completely devoid of love for court life. During the Great French Revolution, Richelieu fled to Russia, to which emigration was in great fashion among Europeans. Having learned that the Russian army was preparing to storm Izmail, the Frenchman wished to take part in this operation. He obtained permission from Potemkin, and showed such courage during the battle that he received a golden sword as a reward. Richelieu decided to settle in St. Petersburg and began to study Russian. His name was changed into Russian and he became Emmanuel Osipovich de Richelieu.

Early in his career, although he served Russia faithfully, he had to experience the fickleness of the Russian character. One day, a strong fire broke out in the vicinity of the capital and Richelieu, who had the rank of general, rushed to put it out with his cuirassiers. Paul I harshly reprimanded him, stripped him of all his titles and sent him into retirement, since the Frenchman began to fight the fire without receiving the appropriate order.

Made Odessa a city of freedom

When Alexander I ascended the throne, everything changed. He invited Richelieu to choose his own position, and he went as mayor to a provincial town in the south of the empire. In March 1803, Richelieu arrived in Odessa, which was then considered the “cesspool of Europe” and the “republic of swindlers.” Richelieu had a difficult task - to make a European city out of this dubious settlement.

The treasury allocated insignificant funds to the new mayor for the construction of Odessa. But despite this, under Richelieu wide streets were laid out, gardens were laid out, a cathedral, a Catholic church, a synagogue, hospitals, a theater, a market and a commercial gymnasium were built. Some of these buildings still exist today, and they were built and designed by the famous architect Thomas de Thomon. Within a few years, Odessa was known throughout Europe. Representatives of various nationalities lived well in the city, worked and traded. As the historian Vasily Nadler wrote: “In Odessa there was no place for the exclusive domination of any nationality, everyone was equally equal, equally free, and the result of this ... was the unheard of rapid growth of the city.”

The mayor personally buried the “plague victims”

Richelieu himself was a very modest man. He wore an old overcoat and did not hesitate to visit peasant huts and Jewish shops. Information has been preserved that every resident of Odessa could freely express their wishes and complaints to the mayor. Richelieu visited construction sites, received subordinates and petitioners, and even managed to visit archaeological excavations. By the way, it was thanks to Richelieu that the famous acacias appeared in our city. The mayor ordered them from Italy and even planted them on the city streets with his own hands.

In 1812, Richelieu was left practically without funds, as he donated all his savings to defend the country, which became his new homeland. A year later, a plague epidemic began in Odessa, and Richelieu again demonstrated not only his nobility, but also fearlessness - he fearlessly visited the sick and found words of consolation for everyone. When the frightened workers refused to bury the plague-ridden corpses, the mayor himself took a shovel and dug graves.

In 1814 Richelieu returned to France. He soon became the country's prime minister and a member of the French Academy. He was not destined to see his beloved Odessa, where he sincerely aspired all his life, - he died on May 17, 1822 at the age of 55.

The first monument to Odessa - the Duke de Richelieu

In 1822, news of the death of the Duke de Richelieu arrived in Odessa. Count Langeron proposed starting a fundraiser to erect a monument to the former Odessa mayor and governor-general of the Novorossiysk region. All Odessa residents responded to this proposal - from merchants and nobles to ordinary people. It was decided to entrust the creation of the monument to one of the most famous sculptors Ivan Martos, the author of the monument to Minin and Pozharsky in Moscow. When the sculptor described the future monument, he gave the following explanation: “The figure of the Duke of Richelieu is depicted in the moment of walking...”. This perfectly characterized the active nature of the “Odessa Duke.” The statue of the Duke was cast in bronze by one of the most famous foundry masters in St. Petersburg. Three brass bas-reliefs were installed on the monument, which symbolize “Agriculture”, “Trade” and “Justice”.
The opening of the first Odessa monument took place on April 22, 1828. The day before there had been a heavy downpour and city officials were very worried that the event would have to be postponed. However, already in the morning, the bright southern sun smiled at the residents of Odessa in the clear blue sky. First, a solemn liturgy was served in the Transfiguration Cathedral, and then the procession, led by the Governor-General of the Novorossiysk Territory Mikhail Vorontsov, headed to Primorsky Boulevard. All of Odessa came to the opening of the monument, and a multi-colored human sea swayed in all directions around the boulevard.
Russian, English, French and Austrian flags were placed on the pedestal of the monument in recognition of Richelieu’s services in the construction of the Odessa port. The opening of the monument was announced by cannon salvoes from ships that were docked in the harbor, and the monument to one of the best mayors of Odessa henceforth became its symbol.

Written specifically for the forum “In Richelieu’s living room” www.richelieu .forum 24.ru

The author was prompted to write this article by the very sad fact that, oddly enough, there is very little publicly available information about the life of the Duke de Richelieu - Duke of Odessa, Governor-General of Novorossiysk and Prime Minister of France. As a result of this situation, his figure inevitably became overgrown with a number of myths, legends and simply tales. Some of them are quite similar to the one that Odessa residents once told Mark Twain: about the death of the forgotten and impoverished Richelieu in Sevastopol - and the gullible writer included the duke’s story in a similar form in his own book “Simps Abroad”. When writing this article, the author relies on the biography of E. de Varesquiel “The Duke of Richelieu”, on the “Diary of my trip to Germany” by the Duke himself, the memoirs of his wife and other sources, one listing of which would constitute a separate article. While working on his book, Vareskiel himself also studied 40 boxes of archives relating to the Duke, which have been in the Richelieu Foundation in the Sorbonne Library since 1932 - and which, surprisingly, no one had systematically used before Vareskiel. Meanwhile, these documents shed new light not only on the life of Armand-Emmanuel, but also on the history of the Restoration before the arrival of Villele.

Myth:

Duke Richelieu is a native of Bordeaux.

Reality:

Armand-Emmanuel was born on September 24, 1766 in Paris, in the house of Marshal de Richelieu "Hotel d'Antin", on the Rue Neuve-Saint-Augustin. In the parish of Saint-Roc there is a record of his baptism, dated September 25, 1766.

The Duke also had an older brother, Camille, Marquis de Pontcourlet, who was born on 27 February 1765 and died in June 1767. After his death, Armand-Emmanuel, Comte de Chinon became sole heir.

Fact not fully clarified:

Duke Richelieu studied at the Du Plessis College.

Reality:

Usually they forget to add that this is the Sorbonne. The Comte de Chinon studied there from 1774 to 1782. He was 15 years old when he left college.

Fact not fully clarified:

The reasons for the strange marriage with Rosalia Rochechouart.

Reality:

An absolutely typical marriage in this era. Alliances were concluded by families without the participation of children in the negotiations, while the children were often at a very young age and immediately after marriage they found themselves either in a monastery or abroad for several years. The organization of the Comte de Chinon's marriage was carried out by the head of the family, Marshal de Richelieu, who was guided by the cardinal's ban on entering into alliances with families that were not sufficiently noble. Regarding this alliance, the marshal thought through everything to the smallest detail. Richelieu's fortune was still enormous, but burdened with incredible debts, which no one paid attention to and which no one had seriously addressed before Armand-Emmanuel. The debts only accumulated - the men of the Richelieu family loved to throw money down the drain. In this regard, the dowry of a rich bride looked much more reliable. Of great importance was the position of the Rochechouard family in society and the fact that the cardinal’s grandmother was from the Rochechouard family. The Marshal, apparently, had a fixed idea about the appearance of a new cardinal in the family: even having married for the third time at the age of 84, he dreamed of the birth of a son whom he could make a cardinal - more talented than his unloved son, Duke de Fronsac ( Duke's father). In the absence of one, all hopes for reviving the family's glory were placed on the shoulders of Armand-Emmanuel, the beloved grandson, whose talents delighted the marshal, and whose lack of family vices was rather disappointing.

Immediately after the marriage, Armand-Emmanuel went abroad.

Reality:

The marriage contract of the future spouses was signed by the king at Versailles on April 14, 1782. The religious ceremony took place on Saturday 4 May in the salons and chapel of the Hotel d'Antin. After her, the newly-made wife Adelaide-Rosalia wisely returned to her parents on Grenelle Street. Armand-Emmanuel left only in August, after 4 months.

Details of the foreign voyage:

Foreign trips were then in great fashion, and young Frenchmen usually used them to laugh and make jokes about other countries and customs, as well as to shock others with their incredible self-importance. For Count de Chinon, they were a source of new knowledge; he continued his self-education, visiting statesmen, writers, etc. At the age of 15, Armand-Emmanuel made a stunning impression on those around him. Wherever he went, he aroused admiration everywhere. According to Abbot Gaudin, the residents of Bordeaux, negatively disposed towards the marshal and his luxuries, were amazed that a 15-year-old boy behaved like a 40-year-old man, wise, educated and virtuous, fluent in foreign languages ​​and easily talking about war and trade . The experience of conversations with foreign traders that took place in Bordeaux would later be very useful to Armand-Emmanuel in his service in Russia. In Geneva he takes Italian lessons. In Florence he meets the last Prince Stuart, in Rome he communicates with King Gustave III of Sweden, who previously lived in Paris under the name of Count of the Hague, and with Cardinal Bernie. Of particular note is the fact that in Italy, Armand-Emmanuel was introduced to the Austrian Emperor Joseph II. He hated the French for their arrogance and bragging, however, he highly appreciated the good manners and education of the young Count de Chinon and communicated with him with great pleasure both in Italy and in Vienna. Later, Richelieu in his “Diary” will leave a very detailed portrait of Emperor Joseph and a critical assessment of his state activities - the rank of his interlocutor never overshadowed the duke’s cold mind. From his youth, Armand-Emmanuel showed those traits that characterize a future statesman: political caution, pragmatism, respect for the differences and characteristics of other countries and nations. In Vienna, Count de Chinon was received in the best society: Prince de Ligne, Prince Kaunitz, Marshal Lassi, etc. Everyone was amazed that the young Frenchman was so modest, pure, restrained and balanced, which was completely inconsistent with his 15-year-old age - examples The French had never given such behavior before. The Duke will always love Viennese society more than all others for its hospitality and courtesy, and prefer the unbridledness of Paris. The respectable society and the coldly moralizing tone of the Germans were consistent with his character. But the meeting in Berlin with Frederick the Great, seventy-two years old, deaf and contemptuously considering the marshal “the Marquis of Comedy” (which the marshal himself will never know), will not go so smoothly.

Fact not fully clarified:

The number of languages ​​that this polyglot spoke.

Reality:

Two dead ones - Latin and ancient Greek. Live (except, of course, French): German, English, Spanish, Italian, later Russian and a little Turkish. Comte de Langeron noted in his memoirs the ease with which Richelieu mastered languages. He owed this ease to his excellent memory and hard work - it served as an excellent means for him to understand the world, and everywhere he was wonderfully received.

Duke had a modest appearance that did not attract the attention of women.

Reality:

Everyone who knew Marshal de Richelieu in his youth - the greatest libertine and heartthrob of his era - was amazed at the external resemblance of his grandson to him. Moreover, with the flattering difference that the marshal was of average height, and at the end of his life he even climbed into huge heels - Duke is described in testimonies from various countries as tall. According to Langeron, the young Count de Chinon was slender, with a graceful figure, with a pleasant face, the main decoration of which were huge black eyes, full of fire and giving his face an expression that was both spiritual and piquant. His skin color was very dark, his hair curled in natural curls, it was very black and turned gray early. The Prince de Ligne notes delightful beauty and ideal softness. Later, he addressed his congratulations on the success and awards for the battle of Izmail to “the bravest and most beautiful of the volunteers.” And he will note that Richelieu was created from the material to please the ladies.

Armand-Emmanuel discovers the truth about his wife:

The memory of Mademoiselle de Rochechouart did not leave the Comte de Chinon during the two years of his trip. At the castle of Verezhan, Madame de la Bouteliere noticed that during dinner, Armand-Emmanuel took a portrait of “his beautiful young wife” from his pocket, placed it on his lap and secretly looked at it with admiration.

Madame de Boigne, in the words of her father, described Armand-Emmanuel's meeting with his wife after his return from abroad. She may have over-dramatized the story, but she is definitely accurate in some details. According to her, everything happened at the foot of the stairs of the Hotel d'Antin.

“The old marshal and the Duke de Fronsac placed between them a small monster, hunchbacked in front and behind, only 4 feet tall, which they presented to the Comte de Chinon as the girlfriend of his life. He retreated three pairs of steps and fell unconscious on the stairs. He was carried to his rooms. He said he was too ill to appear at the salon, wrote to his relatives about his firm determination to never fully consummate this marriage, for which he felt a fierce disgust, already at night he demanded post horses, and they took the desperate man along the road to Germany...”

All descriptions of the Duchess that have come down to us are consistent. Madame de La Tour du Pin claims that Rosalia finally became hunchbacked at the age of 14, when she was fully formed. Count Leon de Rochechouart does not at all spare his relative, describing her as “hunchbacked in front and behind, hunchbacked like a Polichinelle, with a huge nose, huge hands and very short stature.” The less cruel Comte de Saint-Prix says the same thing. According to him, the Comte de Chinon found her in such a state that it was impossible to disguise her appearance. Any art turned out to be powerless in the face of such disfavor of nature. This tragedy will last the entire life of the Duke de Richelieu. On May 3, 1814, having seen the Duchess de Richelieu in the Elysee Palace, the amazed Alexander I wrote to one of his adjutants: “I now understand the behavior of the Duke de Richelieu towards his wife. Oh! my dear, she is ugly and terrible. I believe him that she has a lot of soul and wonderful qualities, but at the age of twenty it took inhuman courage to see such ugliness.”

At the same time, Madame de La Tour du Pin notes her talent as a musician, angelic voice, versatile education, delightful character and high spirit. A romantic nature, Adelaide Rosalia felt a deep and sincere affection for her husband, which at the end of her life would become something of a secretly revered cult. He lived most of his life away from her.

To be continued…

(and it should not be soon due to the huge volume of material being studied))))

Odessa. Duke Richelieu. Armand Emmanuel du Plessis.

Legendary character from the history of Odessa. Full name - Armand Emmanuel du Plessis, Duke de Richelieu, also called simply Duke, (25.9.1766 - 17.5.1822), great-great-grandson of the famous cardinal. The last representative of this genus. After the French Revolution he emigrated from the country. In 1802 he became the mayor of Odessa.

Odessa. Duke Richelieu.

During the time of Richelieu, Odessa was formed as a city of European style. It acquired the layout that to this day defines the face of the city - three axial highways leading to Primorsky Boulevard.

In 1802, Odessa had 9 thousand inhabitants, 39 industrial establishments, 1564 houses, and in 1813 - 35 thousand inhabitants and 2600 houses; income from commercial and industrial turnover increased tenfold or more, although the city at that time suffered a lot from the Russian-Turkish War (1806 - 1812), from the war with Napoleon and from the plague of 1812 - 1814. Memories of the Duke’s activities are still preserved, “characterizing both a not entirely clear (especially at the beginning) idea of ​​the region entrusted to him, as well as his humanity and culture, which were very rare in those days at the highest administrative posts in Russia.”

Odessa. Duke Richelieu.

After the defeat of Napoleon (in 1814) and the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, Richelieu returned to Paris, where he became Minister of Foreign Affairs, and later twice Prime Minister of France (1815-18 and 1820-21).

Having left public service, in January 1822 he wrote in a letter that he intended to return to Odessa in the summer. But on May 16, 1822, at the age of 56, Armand Emmanuel Richelieu died of a cerebral hemorrhage.

The Duke monument was unveiled on April 22, 1828. This is one of the best works of the great Russian sculptor of Ukrainian origin Ivan Martos.

Many people know Cardinal Richelieu or the Red Cardinal from the book “The Three Musketeers”. But those who have not read this work have probably watched its film adaptation. Everyone remembers his cunning character and sharp mind. Richelieu is considered one of the statesmen whose decisions still cause debate in society. He left such a significant mark on the history of France that his figure is put on a par with.

Childhood and youth

Cardinal's full name is Armand Jean du Plessis de Richelieu. Born September 9, 1585 in Paris. His father, Francois du Plessis de Richelieu, was the highest judicial official in France, worked under Henry III, but also had the chance to serve. Mother Suzanne de La Porte came from a family of lawyers. He was his parents' fourth child. The boy had two older brothers - Alphonse and Heinrich, and two sisters - Nicole and Francoise.

Since childhood, the boy had poor health, so he preferred reading books to playing with his peers. At the age of 10 he entered the College of Navarre in Paris. Learning was easy for him; by the end of college, he was fluent in Latin and spoke Italian and Spanish. At the same time, I became interested in ancient history.

When Arman was 5 years old, his father died of a fever. He was 42 years old. Francois left the family a lot of debt. Back in 1516, Henry III gave Armand's father the position of Catholic clergyman, and after his death this was the only source of finance for the family. But according to the conditions, someone from the family had to enter the clergy.

It was originally planned that the youngest of three sons, Armand, would follow in his father's footsteps and work at court. But in 1606 the middle brother renounced the bishopric and entered a monastery. Therefore, at the age of 21, Armand Jean du Plessis de Richelieu had to take this fate upon himself. But at such a young age they were not ordained to the clergy.

And this became his first intrigue. He went to Rome to the Pope for permission. At first he lied about his age, but after being ordained, he repented. Richelieu soon defended his doctorate in theology in Paris. Armand Jean du Plessis de Richelieu became the youngest court preacher. Henry IV referred to him exclusively as "my bishop". Of course, such closeness to the king haunted other people at court.

Therefore, Richelieu's court career soon ended, and he returned to his diocese. But, unfortunately, after the religious wars, the Luzon diocese was in a deplorable state - the poorest and most ruined in the area. Arman managed to correct the situation. Under his leadership, the cathedral, the residence of the bishop, was restored. Here the cardinal began to show his reforming abilities.

Policy

In fact, Cardinal Richelieu was different from his “evil” literary prototype. He was a truly talented and smart politician. He did a lot for the greatness of France. Once he visited his tomb, he said that he would give such a minister half the kingdom if he helped rule the other half. But Dumas was right when he portrayed Richelieu in the novel as a lover of espionage intrigue. The cardinal became the founder of Europe's first serious espionage network.

Richelieu meets her favorite Concino Concini. He quickly gains their trust and becomes a minister in the Queen Mother's cabinet. He is appointed Deputy of the States General. He shows himself to be an inventive defender of the interests of the clergy, capable of extinguishing conflicts between the three classes. Because of such a close and trusting relationship with the queen, Richelieu makes a lot of enemies at court.

Two years later, he, who was 16 years old at that time, conspires against his mother’s lover. It is noteworthy that Richelieu knows about the planned murder of Concini, but does not warn him. As a result, Louis sits on the throne, his mother is sent into exile to the castle of Blois, and Richelieu is sent to Luson.

Two years later, Marie de' Medici escapes from her place of exile and makes plans to overthrow her own son from the throne. Richelieu finds out about this and becomes an intermediary between the Medici and Louis XIII. A year later, a peace treaty was signed between mother and son. Of course, the document also stipulated the return of the cardinal to the royal court.

This time Richelieu bets on the king, and soon he becomes the first Minister of France. He served in this high position for 18 years.

Many believe that the main goal of his reign was personal enrichment and an unlimited desire for power. But that's not true. The Cardinal wanted to make France strong and independent and sought to strengthen royal power. And even despite the fact that Richelieu held clergy, he participated in all the military conflicts that France entered into at that moment. To strengthen the country's military position, the cardinal intensified the construction of the fleet. This also helped the development of new trade links.

Richelieu carried out a number of administrative reforms for the country. The French prime minister banned duels, reorganized the postal system, and created positions that were appointed by the king.

Another significant event in the political activities of the Red Cardinal was the suppression of the Huguenot uprising. The presence of such an independent organization was not to Richelieu's advantage.

And when in 1627 the English fleet captured part of the French coast, the cardinal personally took charge of the military campaign and by January 1628, French troops took the Protestant fortress of La Rochelle. 15 thousand people died from hunger alone, and in 1629 this religious war was put to an end.

Cardinal Richelieu contributed to the development of art, culture and literature. During his reign, the Sorbonne was revived.

Richelieu tried to avoid direct French involvement in the Thirty Years' War, but in 1635 the country entered the conflict. This war changed the balance of power in Europe. France emerged victorious. The country demonstrated its political, economic and military superiority, and also expanded its borders.

Adherents of all religions acquired equal rights in the empire, and the influence of religious factors on the life of the state sharply weakened. And although the Red Cardinal did not live to see the end of the war, France owes victory in this war primarily to him.

Personal life

The Spanish infanta became the wife of King Louis XIII. Cardinal Richelieu was appointed her confessor. The girl was a statuesque blonde with blue eyes. And the cardinal fell in love. For Anna's sake, he was ready to do a lot. And the first thing he did was set her and the king at odds. The relationship between Anne and Louis became so strained that the king soon stopped visiting her bedroom. But the confessor often went there, they spent a lot of time talking, but, as it turned out, Anna did not notice the cardinal’s feelings.

Richelieu understood that France needed an heir, so he decided to “help” Anna in this matter. This infuriated her; she understood that in this case “something would certainly happen” to Louis and the cardinal would become king. After this, their relationship deteriorated sharply. Richelieu was offended by the refusal, and Anna was offended by the offer. For many years, Richelieu haunted the queen; he intrigued and spied on her. But in the end, the cardinal managed to reconcile Anna and Louis, and she gave birth to two heirs for the king.

Anne of Austria was the cardinal’s strongest feeling. But perhaps just as much as Anne, Richelieu loved cats. And only these furry creatures were truly attached to him. Perhaps his most famous pet was the black cat Lucifer, who appeared to the cardinal during his fight against witches. But Mariam, an affectionate snow-white cat, was my favorite. By the way, he was the first in Europe to have an Angora cat; it was brought to him from Ankara, he named her Mimi-Poyon. And another favorite had the name Sumiz, which translated meant “person of easy virtue.”

Death

By the autumn of 1642, Richelieu's health had deteriorated sharply. Neither healing waters nor bloodletting helped. The man regularly lost consciousness. Doctors diagnosed purulent pleurisy. He tried his best to continue working, but his strength was leaving him. On December 2, the dying Richelieu was visited by Louis XIII himself. In a conversation with the king, the cardinal announced a successor - he became Cardinal Mazarin. He was also visited by envoys from Anne of Austria and Gaston of Orleans.

His niece, the Duchess de Aiguillon, did not leave his side in recent days. He admitted that he loved her more than anyone in the world, but he didn’t want to die in her arms. Therefore, he asked the girl to leave the room. Her place was taken by Father Leon, who confirmed the death of the cardinal. Richelieu died on December 5, 1642 in Paris; he was buried in a church on the territory of the Sorbonne.

On December 5, 1793, people burst into the tomb, destroyed Richelieu’s tomb in a matter of minutes, and tore the embalmed body to pieces. The boys on the street were playing with the mummified head of the cardinal, someone tore off a finger with a ring, and someone stole the death mask. In the end, these are the three things that remain from the great reformer. By order of Napoleon III, on December 15, 1866, the remains were solemnly reburied.

Memory

• 1844 – Novel “The Three Musketeers”, Alexandre Dumas
• 1866 – Novel “The Red Sphinx”, Alexandre Dumas
• 1881 – Painting “Cardinal Richelieu at the Siege of La Rochelle”, Henri Motte
• 1885 – Painting “Rest of Cardinal Richelieu”, Charles Edouard Delors
• 1637 – “Triple Portrait of Cardinal Richelieu”, Philippe de Champagne
• 1640 – Painting “Cardinal Richelieu”, Philippe de Champagne

• 1939 – Adventure film “The Man in the Iron Mask”, James Whale
• 1979 – Soviet TV series “D’Artagnan and the Three Musketeers”,
• 2009 – Action adventure “Musketeers”,
• 2014 – Historical drama “Richelieu. Robe and Blood, Henri Elman

- “the home Duke of Odessa”, as the poet Yuri Mikhailik once very aptly called him. People came and went, time broke monuments, destroyed graveyards and houses, but this monument stood against all odds. Although, it must be admitted, there was a moment when the fate of “Duke” literally hung in the balance. An ardent fighter against “rootless cosmopolitans,” then director of the public library and “local historian,” V.A. Zagoruiko worked diligently to dismantle this symbol of the city.

What is the phenomenon of Richelieu's personality?

Why did the mostly irresponsible and not overly grateful human memory make an exception for him? The answer to this question was directly and unequivocally voiced back in pre-revolutionary Russia:

“Humanity and culture - very rare in the highest administrative posts of the empire - precisely constituted the essence of Richelieu as a leader and a person.”

Nobody has done more for Odessa and Odessa residents than Duke. Even M.S. Vorontsov, who, despite all his scale, followed in line with the undertakings of his outstanding predecessor, developed and supplemented them. It was Richelieu who opened the city to Europe and the world, which says it all completely.

Taking advantage of unlimited powers, the friendly disposition of the monarch, and significant budgetary funds, Duke laid the foundations for the infrastructure of Odessa as the largest point of transit trade between East and West. It was he who established grain exports, invited and helped settle agricultural colonists from Germany, France, Switzerland and other countries, turned Odessa into a European city, freed it from exorbitant taxes, and formulated the idea of ​​porto-franco, which was implemented under his successor, Langeron. Respecting the interests of both state and regional, Richelieu ensured that the grain trade between Russia and Turkey did not stop even when they were in a state of military conflicts! It was he who saved the city and the region from a fierce plague; Risking his life, he personally visited plague-ridden neighborhoods and houses, encouraging the townspeople and truly sharing his last piece of bread with them. It was Duke who gave all the money he earned while serving in Russia to create in Odessa the most significant educational institution in the South - the Lyceum, the second in the state after Tsarskoye Selo. It was he who built the city hospital and the theater, in which the best opera troupes in the empire performed. It can be argued that on this southern outskirts of Russia, at his instigation, a truly European port city arose with all the attributes - self-government, a stock exchange, a commercial court, quarantine, transport maritime offices, insurance and banking institutions, charitable, educational, cultural institutions, etc.

Eleven years (1803 - 1814) Richelieu lived in small rooms, at the first stage “furnished” with stools and trestle beds without varnish, in an environment devoid of a hint of luxury. His working day lasted almost 17 hours. He actually carried out all the paperwork himself, and he drafted response documents in the languages ​​in which he was addressed. Duke ate very modestly, and maintained a small office at his own expense. Walking or driving around the city every day, he delved into all the smallest matters, talking with merchants, contractors, military men, doctors, artisans, guests of the city, foreign consuls, common people, and attended all public and private balls. Seriously concerned about the problem of landscaping Odessa and the surrounding waterless territories, Richelieu personally ordered expensive seedlings from abroad and then constantly inspected literally every planted tree, strictly punishing those responsible for negligence.

All the information presented takes on a different meaning if we consider that Duke is a refined representative of an aristocratic family as noble as he is ancient, and that one of his ancestors is the famous cardinal, the all-powerful minister of Louis XIII, somewhat compromised, however, by Dumas’s father in “The Three Musketeers” " Upon the death of Cardinal de Richelieu in 1642, his family castle on the banks of the Loire and the duchy passed to his great-nephew, Armand Richelieu, who was a peer of France, commander of the fleet and troops stationed throughout the Levant. This circumstance gave rise to confusion with two different Armand de Richelieu. In any case, as you understand, our Duke simply did not physically exist in 1642, since he was born 124 years later, in 1766.

What kind of family ties, in turn, connect these two different Armans?

Everything here is quite simple. The cardinal's great-nephew transferred all his regalia and possessions to his son, Louis Francois de Richelieu, a French marshal widely known for his numerous alcove adventures. This loving marshal left the title to his son, Duke Fronsac, and he left the title to his heir, Count Chinon, our Odessa Duke. Thus, Duke Armand-Em Manuel du Plessis de Richelieu simultaneously bore the titles of Count of Chinon and Duke of Fronsac. So it turns out that Duke is the great-great-great-nephew of Cardinal Richelieu.

Such a grandiose and enviable pedigree did not prevent the Kherson military governor and the first Odessa mayor from being, perhaps, the most humane of all the administrators Odessa knew. Apparently, France did not know a better prime minister than Richelieu, and it was this primary post that he occupied after returning to Paris. When Duke died (1822), Emperor Alexander Pavlovich, who sincerely considered Richelieu a close person and confidant, said to the French ambassador:

“I mourn the Duke of Richelieu as the only friend who told me the truth. He was a model of honor and truthfulness."

At the same time, the words were heard in the French Academy: “He did not call for good, but knew how to prepare it and bring it closer.”

I would like to emphasize another extremely significant point in the biography of our city. If Duke had not chosen the then nondescript and seedy Odessa as the administrative center of a huge region - and yet it could well have settled on the then much more developed Nikolaev, Kherson or, say, on any of the ports of Crimea, its brilliant future would have been in big question...