270 Readings in European History 333. Edict of 1626 ordering the demolition of the feudal castles in France. I promised your Majesty to employ all my industry and all the authority which it should please you to give me to ruin the Huguenot party, to abase the pride of the nobles, to bring back all your subjects to their duty, and to ele- vate your name among foreign nations to the point where it belongs. Two years after Richelieu became minister the king issued an edict ordering the destruction of all the for- tresses in the interior of the kingdom, in which the unruly nobles had been wont to defy the royal power. Whereas formerly the assemblies of the estates of this realm and those of notable persons chosen to give ativice to ourselves, and to the late king, our very honorable lord and father, on important affairs of this realm, and likewise the assembly of the estates of the province of Brittany held by us in the year 16 14, have repeatedly requested and very humbly supplicated our said lord and father and ourselves to cause the demolition of many strongholds in divers places of this realm, which, being neither on hostile frontiers nor in important passes or places, only serve to augment our expenses by the maintenance of useless garrisons, and also serve as retreats for divers persons who on the least provoca- tion disturb the provinces where they are located ; . . . For these reasons, we announce, declare, ordain, and will that all the strongholds, either towns or castles, which are in the interior of our realm or provinces of the same, not situated in places of importance either for frontier defense or other considerations of weight, shall be razed and demol- ished ; even ancient walls shall be destroyed so far as it shall be deemed necessary for the well-being and repose of our subjects and the security of this state, so that our said subjects henceforth need not fear that the said places will cause them any inconvenience, and so that we shall be freed from the expense of supporting garrisons in them. Richelieu was much interested in the encouragement of science, art, and literature. The French Academy,
