Day of the Dupes

On November 10, 1630, the Kingdom of France was ruled by Louis XIII. As king of the powerful nation, Louis the Just found himself head-deep in both a political and personal conflict. The king's mother and his chief advisor, Cardinal Richelieu, were locked in a great conflict of both wills and ideology. The king's mother had reigned as regent until 1617. Despite viewing her reign as brilliant and unparalleled, the kingdom held a much different opinion of the King's mother's ruleHaving advised the king for much of his thirteen-year regency, Cardinal Richelieu found himself in the middle of political turmoil between the King and his mother, as well as a great power struggle that would be remembered for centuries as the Battle of the Dupes.

***

Marie de’ Medici sat in Luxembourg in the opulent palace in which she spent most of her time. Her son, Louis, had recently been extremely ill, and despite the arrival of some of the greatest medical practitioners of the age, Louis still remained bedridden and weak. Marie had no great misunderstanding of her son's vast limitations; however, despite all of Madame de’ Medici's ambition for the throne, she still possessed a great love for her son, as all good mothers do.

Louis would be remembered as the Just after his reign; however, this would be due more to the people on his council than to the king himself. Cardinal Richelieu was the king's chief advisor and, in the eyes of many within the council, the true ruler of the land in everything but name. Marie sat in her quarters on the cold November night with a great snarl upon her face, thinking of her current political rival

That dog will get exactly what's coming to him if he thinks he can take my son away from me. Thought the former queen.

Marie had called for a meeting with the king in order to discuss the ever-growing role of Richelieu in the kingdom and in Louis's own personal affairs. The queen paced around her room as her many servants ran frantically about, trying to pack for the ex-regent's trip to the small palace at Versailles. She had a tendency to overstep her boundaries in the affairs of the young king.

“Madam, would you like me to pack your silver-brocaded robe, or would you rather have the black satin one?” the young servant asked.

The hot-headed mother of the king snapped around. “You dolt, can't you see what I'm thinking? Pack it all. I don't know how long my son will take to come around.” she exclaimed.

If he's even capable of coming to a decision of his own since that slimy cardinal has slithered so far into his ear. She thought quietly to herself, not daring to utter such blasphemy towards the king.

“Yes, Madame. Sorry for interrupting.” The servants were used to this kind of behavior and treatment and knew it was better to simply agree and do as the regent mother said.

Marie continued her regimented pacing, thinking not only of the rascal Richelieu, but also of the long history she had with her beloved son. She had seen the king as just a babe. She had wiped his bare ass and fed him from her own bosom. She had raised the prince from before the time when he knew of his predetermined position in life, all the way to learning under her supervision the role of royalty and the makings of being a good ruler.

When the esquires and servants had finished loading her traveling possessions into the caravan, Marie found herself remembering all the diplomatic journeys her boy had taken with her. How long ago it all seemed. She climbed into the gold-laced carriage that stood ready to set off for the king's palace. Marie had been preparing for her encounter with the king for the better part of 1630 and was ready to make her son choose between her and the cardinal. In Marie's mind, this was all but a foregone conclusion. The mother had instilled a great sense of familial duty in Louis from a very young age.One night, while reading from her Bible, as she did for her son every evening, they came across the story of the Judgment of Solomon. Marie remembered the conversation with her son. She had replayed that conversation in her mind with pride countless times.

“What would you do mother if someone tried to take me?”

“Anything and everything necessary to get you back my son.”

“Mother, I know you'd let the old King Solomon take you before he took me.”

“How are you so sure?”

“Because like you say, you and I are all we have and all we can trust.”

“Thats exactly right.”

It was little moments like this that Marie would return to in times of doubt. She knew her son loved her, and it hurt her more than any physical pain she could imagine to feel him drifting away from her and toward the cunning cardinal. She let sleep overtake her in the rocking carriage as dreams of her dear son and the love she bore for him filled her mind.

***

Marie was awoken as the great procession of royal carriages passed through the gates of Versailles. Even with all the strategic and political acumen she possessed, she forgot such matters as she drew nearer, only caring about the embrace of her beloved son.

Louis stood at the doors of the palace, waiting for his mother. While he had to maintain his kingly image, it was hard for him to contain the smile on his face at the sight of the woman he utterly adored. Marie walked as quickly as was socially acceptable up the great stairs and warmly embraced her son.

“Oh dear mother you are looking healthy as though its summertime and not a cold day in november”

"You flatter me, but it's you whose health looks so renewed after being so ill.”

“Come, mother. Let me show you around the palace. There's been much done since your departure.”

Marie looked proudly at her son. Despite what anyone else might have said about his rule, Marie considered her son every bit as great as kings of old such as Philip the Fair and Saint Louis. They strode through the palace, and Marie listened as her son explained the great paintings, tapestries, and luxuries he had added to the kingdom. Had you asked Louis, he would have told you how proud he was of the enjoyment his mother took from it all. Had you asked Marie, she would have told you she had only seen her son.

The pair rounded the corner of the great dining hall and passed through a long corridor that served as the entrance to Louis's personal headquarters. Marie glanced to the left at his chambers and to the right at a great table that served as a meeting place for his council. They entered the council room, and to Marie's disappointment, the foul cardinal was already seated there, waiting like a fox for its prey to come to it.

“Why, hello there, Madame. You look as beautiful as ever,” the cardinal said in a genuine manner. Marie could only take it as a mock.

“Monsieur Richelieu, what a pleasant surprise to see you once again,” the queen lied as she let the tall, thin man bend his crooked back to kiss her hand.

“Mother, you know there isn't a day that goes by now that I don't have the cardinal in my keep.”

Marie looked with disgust at the cardinal's long beak of a nose.

“Why, of course, son. It's just like I taught you as a little one. Always keep smart men around for guidance.”

“You do me a great deal of kindness, my lady,” the composed cardinal said.

“Why, of course, Monsieur. I hope you'll understand, however, that a smart man is not what's needed for a simple dialogue between mother and son.” Marie did everything in her power to say this with an even head and not betray her true feelings toward the man.

Louis gave a simple nod of his head to the cardinal, signaling that it was okay for him to leave.

“Of course. I should let the two of you reconvene. It's been such a long time since the king has been in good health and able to speak to someone in lighter, less political terms.”

Marie thought about how carefully the cardinal had chosen his words to lull her son into not thinking about the affairs of the kingdom. Marie and Richelieu were equals in manipulation. Both cared for Louis, just in their own ways.

“I bid you both adieu.”

Louis turned toward his mother. She looked him in the eyes and saw his whole upbringing flash before her. The image of him running through the great gardens came to mind. His hair had been long then, as Marie had never wanted to cut or alter a single part of her son's growing body. She remembered teaching him his histories and his frustration at not being able to remember the great kings who had reigned over France. She was reminded of those same eyes as he looked at her as a speechless babe. She held the same love for her son now as she had when all he had in the world was her.

***

Louis sat across from his mother, looking back at her. He noticed how she would sometimes become blank and unflinching when staring at him. He loved his mother dearly and always would. However, he had realized that since taking power, she had become a figure who stood over his shoulder, judging his every move. He loved her, yes, but the talk of her controlling him and refusing to let him govern his own kingdom made him feel increasingly like the child he used to be. Cardinal Richelieu often told him as much in private. The cardinal frequently advised the king to distance himself from his own mother. Louis was not as oblivious to this political maneuvering as either his mother or the cardinal believed. However, he still fell prey to folly and laziness and, at times, sided with the more persistent of the two: the cardinal.

“Mother, what is it that you traveled here to Versailles to speak about?” said the king.

“My dear, it is a matter of grave importance not only for France, but for our own family as well.” Marie controlled her emotions as she began her prepared speech.

“Son, there is nothing more in this lifetime that I want than to see you succeed in ruling this kingdom. I've done my best to teach you everything I've known since the time you were able to speak. I've given you accounts of history and taught you the importance of family and the necessity of strengthening our line.”

“I know, Mother, and there's nothing I could ever do to repay such great affection.” Louis said this almost rehearsedly; his mother had never given him the luxury of forgetting it.

“Your continued support of me is more than enough, my son.” Marie swallowed deeply, and the sound echoed through the great walls of the council room.

“Now a mother must come to one of the hardest points of raising a son: telling him when he has gone astray. Right now, you're letting that cardinal run all of France instead of you.”

“Mother, you know the love I have for you, but I would be more careful in the way you address your king.”

Good, Marie thought. It's nice to see Louis remember the lessons I've taught him about having a backbone.

“Yes, of course, Your Majesty. My feelings have betrayed me.”

“Go on,” Louis said.

“The cardinal is someone who simply does not have your best interests in mind. He stands so close to you only for his own gain. Of course, I'm not the one saying this, my king. It's the common folk. They make a mockery of your reign and say that it is he who truly rules. They give credit for all of your great decisions to Monsieur Richelieu.”

Louis sat back in his great chair. He wondered whether this was true or simply his mother trying to take the place of his most trusted advisor.

“But, Mother, Richelieu makes so many of these great plans. He is the architect of so many of my most important rulings.”

“Yes, my lord, but that is simply what he wants you to believe. He plants this idea of his greatness in your mind. The man is very sneaky like that. However, these lies he tells to elevate himself and diminish you are utterly false.”

This was not the first time Louis had considered such a possibility. Many of his other advisors had expressed great concern about the cardinal's true intentions. They often spoke of the man's natural knack for bending the truth.

“I know, Mother. I've heard much of the same talk.”

“Good. Then you must know it is time for action. You cannot let your own subjects think you are weak or controlled. At the start of your reign, they spoke of how methodical and strategic you were. Now they lament the loss of those qualities and claim that you have fallen under the intellect of the cardinal.” Marie used this final line of attack to target her son's deep desire to be viewed as an intellectual.

Louis pondered over this. For all his good qualities as a leader and as a man, he still fell victim to the influence of others. He had a deep desire to be liked by his peers and by those he ruled over. He wanted to go down as a great king. He wanted it to be told to his future grandchildren what a great mind he had been.

“Ive given great thought to this over the past ears mother. I've seen the cardinal get closer and closer to the power I hold. Some have brought this up, however it is your words which truly make me decide on this matter. I will send Cardinal Richelieu to a remote province where I will still let him think he has power. But mother, I truly thank you for coming here. You and your love for me are the one thing I can account for in this ife.”

Marie, blushing, ran over to her son and embraced him. She knew she had used a less-than-favorable tactic to achieve the outcome she desired, but she believed the result was for the best.

Louis showed the ex-regent to her quarters. Marie hugged her son goodbye and lovingly watched him walk out the door, leaving her to rest. Little did Marie know that this was the last time she would embrace the person she loved most in this life.

***

Marie awoke suddenly to a tight grip on both of her wrists. She was being thrust from her bed by two great men whom she recognized as her son's personal bodyguards.

“Unhand me now!” she screamed at the top of her lungs.

She kicked, yelled, and fought the two great men as they continued to drag her down the vast corridors that lay within the castle walls. They continued until they reached the doors of the palace. Standing there was her own son, Louis, his face bright red and tears in his eyes.

“Tell these men to let go of me right now, Louis. I'm the king's mother, for Christ's sake.”

“I'm sorry, Mother,” Louis managed with a great sigh. “I'm sorry. I had to. I have to... I can't have you here. It's just as if I were a child again. I can't. I'm sorry.”

“Louis, Louis!” Marie cried as she was pushed into the chariot. The two guards bolted the door. Marie tried pushing and kicking at it as she yelled for her son. Louis turned around, no longer able to look at his mother. Marie reached for him through the bars of the chariot and cried out once again for her boy.

On November 11, 1630, the king, Louis the Just, had exiled his own mother.

***

Here are the last recorded written words of Marie de’ Medici, the exiled queen:

My beloved son Louis,

Not a day goes by that I have not thought of you, that I have not envisioned you and all the stages of life that I have had the pleasure of watching you grow through. These walls of exile have been hard on me and have made me age at a much greater rate. I am not much longer for this earth, and the guards posted on the tower have allowed me this final privilege.

I'm sorry, Louis. I never let you truly come into your own. I stood over you for too long, and I see now why you did what you had to do. From the little I hear of the outside world, I hear what a great king you have become. Nothing makes me prouder than knowing that all I taught you has gone toward a lasting legacy.

I hope there is still love for me in your heart, Louis, and I hope you will remember me for the mother I was, not the shadow over you that I became.

I love you, son,

Marie