Concino Concini

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Concino Concini, Count della Penna, Marquis and Maréchal d'Ancre (Florence, 1575 - Paris, 24 april 1617), was an Italian politician, best known for being a minister of Louis XIII of France.

A nobleman native of Florence, he came to France in the train of Maria de Medici, wife of King Henri IV, and married the queen's lady-in-waiting, Leonora Dori, known as "Galigaï". The favour his wife enjoyed with the queen, combined with his wit and boldness, made his fortune. In 1610, he purchased the marquisate of Ancre and the position of first gentleman-in-waiting. Then he obtained successively the governments of Amiens and of Normandy, governor of Péronne, Roye and Montdidier and in 1613 the baton of marshal of France.

From then first minister of the realm, he abandoned the policy of Henri IV, compromised his wise legislation, allowed the treasury to be pillaged, and drew upon himself the hatred of all classes. The nobles were bitterly hostile to him, particularly Condé, with whom he negotiated the Treaty of Loudun in 1616, and whom he had arrested in September 1616. This was done on the advice of Cardinal Richelieu, whose introduction into politics was favoured by Concini.

By 1617, Louis XIII, incited by his favourite Charles de Luynes, was tired of Concini's tutelage. The baron de Vitry, head of the royal guards, received in the king's name the order to imprison him. According to some authors, young Louis XIII agreed that Concini could be killed if he resisted. Apprehended on the bridge of the Louvre, Concini was killed by guards after allegedly calling out "À moi!" ("To me!") for help, which was interpreted as resistance. According to other authors, Concini was deliberately assassinated near the Louvre, the result of a secret plot organised by Louis XIII king of France and the Duke of Luynes Charles d'Albert, which was then executed by the Baron of Vitry, Nicolas de L'Hospital. According to these sources, Concini was eliminated because he was a powerful politician, a true menace to Louis XIII, having a personal army of 7,000 soldiers and important supporters and contacts among the aristocrats of France.

After his murder, the Queen Mother was ordered to retire to Blois.

Concini's wife, Leonora, was arrested, imprisoned in Blois and accused of sorcery. She was beheaded and her body subsequently burned at the stake on July 8 of the same year in Place de Grève, Paris. Concini's son, Henry, born in 1605, fled France, but was killed in 1631 in Florence.

The Concinis' chattels and estates, in particularly the castle of Lésigny and the palace of Rue de Tournon were confiscated by King Louis XIII and the Duke of Luynes.

In 1617-1618, many rumours, fake news and pamphlets were distributed in Paris to justify Concini’s murder.

In 1767, there appeared at Brescia a De Conemi vita, by D. Sandellius. On the role of Concini, see the Histoire de France, published under the direction of Ernest Lavisse, vol. vi. (1905), by Mariejol.

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Categories: 1617 deaths | Italian people

Concino Concini

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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