Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why did Jules Mazarin leave papal service for French service?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Jules, Cardinal Mazarin
Jules, Cardinal Mazarin, detail of a portrait by Philippe de Champaigne; in the Musée Condé, Chantilly, France.
Jules Mazarin left the service of the Holy See primarily because his professional ambitions in Rome were frustrated by the influence of the Spanish faction within the papal court.1
Having developed a deep admiration for Cardinal de Richelieu and a strong devotion to the French nation during his diplomatic missions, Mazarin found his path to advancement blocked in Rome. Consequently, he accepted an invitation to return to Paris in 1640, transitioning into the service of France, where he had already been recommended for a cardinalate by Louis XIII.1