florida state university college of visual arts, theatre and dance ...

Conclusion
Undoubtedly, Louis XIII’s decision to turn the church of the French Oratory into a sign
of his sovereign will made an impact on those to whom it was directed, albeit temporarily. By
the end of the 1620s Maria de’ Medici was again seeking power and authority. Her goal was to
make Michel de Marillac, the keeper of the seals and her personal favorite, the principal minister
at the expense of Louis’s current choice, Cardinal Richelieu, who had effectively held this
position since his entry to the royal council in 1624. 126 The Queen Mother’s persistent pursuit of
the ministerial change led to a confrontation with Louis on 11 November 1630, known as the
Day of Dupes, at which time Maria was forced to choose reconciliation with Richelieu or
exile. 127 Thinking she could rally support from sympathetic European courts, Maria chose the
latter and, failing to find the needed assistance, she ultimately died in obscurity in Cologne in
1643.
The leader of the French Oratory gained renown and influence at the French court
through his connections to Maria de’ Medici. Bérulle not only facilitated the diplomatic
arrangements necessary for the marriage of Henriette of France, the sister of Louis XIII, to
Charles Stuart, the heir to the English throne, he also helped negotiate a number of treaties
between France and Spain. 128 Despite these achievements and the honor of a cardinalate in 1627,
Bérulle’s religious motivation caused him to clash with Richelieu, leading the minister to greatly
diminish his fellow cardinal’s influence at court. 129
Although Maria de’ Medici never achieved the power she sought and Pierre de Bérulle
failed to create a united Catholic Europe, the church of the French Oratory remained an
important institution for the French court. The royal status conferred by Louis XIII naming it the
royal chapel made the church a popular place during the rest of his reign and that of Louis XIV,
during which time the king’s mother, wife, and brother were all frequent visitors. 130 It fulfilled
its duties as a palace chapel by hosting numerous members of the court, who came to participate
in religious ceremonies, and by funeral services for many important figures, including Maria de’
Medici and Louis XIII. More importantly, the church became the first of several examples
through which Louis XIII, exercising his sovereign rule, would use ecclesiastical architecture to
demonstrate his political policies.
71