Author: [ROUSSE, JEAN]
Title: Lettre D'Un Religieux Envoyée a Monseigneur le Prince de Condé à S. Germain en Laye Contenant la Verité de la Vie & Moeurs Du Cardinal Mazarin: Avec Exhortation Audit Seigneur Prince D'Abandonner Son Party
Description: A Paris: Chez Rolin De La Haye, Ruë D'Escosse, Prés Le Puits Certain, 1649. First Edition; 1st Printing 2nd State. Disbound. Some spots of foxing. Light soiling to some pages. Slight wear to pages. ; The Mazarinades were a significant form of political propaganda during the Fronde, a series of civil wars in France between 1648 and 1653. These pamphlets, named after Cardinal Mazarin, were a response to widespread dissatisfaction with his financial policies, foreign origins, and perceived corruption during the regency of Anne of Austria and the minority of Louis XIV. Over several thousand Mazarinades were published, blending satire, personal attacks, and political critique to challenge Mazarin’s authority. They became a powerful tool for expressing the grievances of various factions, including the parlement of Paris and discontented nobles, against what they saw as centralized despotism and foreign influence. The historical context of the Mazarinades lies in the broader unrest of the Fronde, which was fueled by financial crises, heavy taxation, and noble resistance to Mazarin’s consolidation of power. These pamphlets were not just tools of rebellion but also an early example of mass media influencing public opinion. They accused Mazarin of embezzlement, undermining French institutions, and even immoral behavior, turning him into a symbol of everything wrong with the government. While the Fronde ultimately failed to remove Mazarin from power, the Mazarinades left a lasting legacy as an early form of political journalism that foreshadowed later revolutionary discourse. One notable Mazarinade is Lettre d’un religieux envoyée à monseigneur le prince de Condé, attributed to Jean Rousse, the curé of Saint-Roch. Published in January 1649, this pamphlet is addressed to Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé, urging him to distance himself from Mazarin. It condemns the cardinal’s life and morals as corrupt and unworthy of French leadership while appealing to Condé’s sense of loyalty to France. The letter reflects the broader themes of the Fronde by portraying Mazarin as a foreign usurper enriching himself at France’s expense and calling for his removal in favor of more virtuous governance. This pamphlet was widely circulated at the time and survives in multiple editions, indicating its contemporary impact. It was printed in Paris by Rolin de La Haye. With its blend of moral exhortation and political critique, Lettre d’un religieux exemplifies how the Mazarinades sought to influence key figures like Condé while shaping public opinion against Mazarin. Today, it remains an important artifact for understanding 17th-century political culture and the role of print media in resistance movements. Moreau 1895; 22 x 17 cms; (1), 11 pages. Very Good with no dust jacket .

Keywords: History & Topography Rare & Antiquarian Books


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