Repentant Rebel: Rohan in French Service
The Duc de Rohan, write D.C. Norwood and G.A. Rothrock, returned from his Venetian exile to be given an important command by Cardinal Richelieu.
After the crushing defeat of the last Huguenot uprising in France in 1628-29, King Louis XIII and his Cardinal-Minister, Richelieu, imposed a mild peace settlement - hoping that generosity and restraint would win the loyalties of former malcontents; in no instance was this policy better vindicated than in the case of the foremost leader of the revolt, the Duke of Rohan.
In the early summer of 1629 the Duke left France for exile in Venice, his military reputation generally undiminished since the failure of the Huguenot rebellion had owed more to domestic factionalism and lack of foreign support than to deficiencies of command; and though he left France in some disgrace as a defeated rebel, he had made his peace with his King.
That the French crown respected him, despite his earlier political opposition, was soon demonstrated when opportunity arose to employ him in connexion with Franco-Spanish problems in the southern Alps - the Valtelline and the Grisons.
That his formidable talents could be recruited to the service of the crown in time of need testifies to the wisdom of the government’s moderation in 1629.
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