Cardinals are senior officials of the Roman Catholic Church, usually bishops, who run a diocese or archdiocese and serve as counsel to the pope. When a pope dies, cardinals from around the world assemble in the Vatican into the College of Cardinals and elect the next pope. Historically, cardinals have also played a significant role in secular and political affairs, particularly in Europe. Some of history’s most famous cardinals include:

Cardinal Wolsey (1473 to 1530)

Henry VII recognized the churchman son of a butcher and cattle dealer for his excellent managerial skills and brought him to court. Thomas Wolsey was still the court chaplain when Henry was succeeded by his son in 1509. At first, the new king, a chap named Henry VIII, relied on Wolsey to enforce royal policy and keep the nobility in check. In return, Chancellor Wolsey was lavished with estates, titles and an incredibly luxurious lifestyle. But about 10 years into his reign, the King had fallen in love with Anne Boleyn and gave Wolsey an important assignment: Persuade the pope to grant Henry a divorce from his marriage with Catherine of Aragon. Wolsey failed in his mission. He was sacked and had most of his titles and lands stripped. But it could have been much worse. Wolsey died in 1530 while being escorted to the Tower of London.

Cardinal Richelieu (1585 to 1642)

England wasn’t the only European state to be a run by an influential cardinal under the aegis of the king. Cardinal Richelieu, born Armand-Jean du Plessis into a family of minor nobility, rose to become the most powerful politician in France. The regent, Marie de Medici, brought the ambitious Richelieu to court in 1515. Within a couple of years, he was made the French equivalent of Secretary of State and Defense. When Richelieu’s patron, Marie, fell from grace, Richelieu hitched his star to King Louis XIII. For almost 20 years, Richelieu ran France, attacking Huguenots (French protestants), rebuilding the military, ruthlessly raising money for the king and advancing the theory that the king’s power was absolute. Richelieu was also a skilled diplomat.

Cardinal Mazarin (1602 to 1661)

Cardinal Richelieu had a precocious protégé: the Italian papal nuncio (ambassador) and military advisor Jules Mazarin (née Giulio Mazzarino). Richelieu secured Mazarin promotion to cardinal. And when Richelieu checked out of this world, Mazarin took over his post as chief minister of France. Within a year, King Louis XIII was dead and his son, Louis XIV, was too young to take over. So Mazarin acted as Queen Anne’s co-ruler during the regency. When Louis XIV came of age, he kept Mazarin on board. Like his predecessor, Mazarin waged a form of aggressive diplomacy aimed at isolating France’s greatest rival, the Habsburg Empire, and clearing the way for French expansion. Mazarin called off the dogs and promised Huguenots that their rights would be restored—promises that he didn’t keep. Mazarin was also an avid collector of jewelry and art and assembled the core of what would become the Louvre Museum collection.

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