Jean Francois Paul de Gondi Cardinal de Retz

Retz, Cardinal de ( Jean-Françcois-Paul de Gondi) (1613–79), Abp. of Paris. He was forced into an ecclesiastical career by his family, who had held the see of Paris since 1570. In 1643 he was appointed Coadjutor-Abp. of Paris to his uncle and in 1652 made a cardinal. Soon afterwards, at the insistence of J. Mazarin, he was imprisoned. On his uncle's death in 1654, the King made him sign a resignation of the archbishopric, but the Pope refused to accept it. Retz escaped from prison and went to Rome. After Mazarin's death, in 1661 he returned to Paris and resigned his see in exchange for the abbey of Saint-Denis, held in commendam.

Jean François Paul de Gondi Retz, Cardinal de , 1613-79, French prelate and political leader. He was made (1643) coadjutor to his uncle, the archbishop of Paris. An enemy of Cardinal Mazarin, chief minister for the regent Anne of Austria , Retz was prominent in the Fronde against him. To win Retz's support, Anne nominated him (1651) to be made cardinal; he received the red hat in 1652. At the close of the Fronde, Retz was imprisoned (1652). When his uncle died (1654), he became archbishop of Paris but was not allowed to take office. He appealed unsuccessfully to the pope. After Mazarin's death (1661) he resigned his see in return for several rich abbeys. He occasionally represented the court at Rome. His memoirs (1717; tr., 4 vol., 1723) are classic.

Bibliography: See biography by J. H. Salmon (1969).