Why did Louis XIII continue to support Richelieu after the Day of the Dupes?

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Full-length portrait of Cardinal Richelieu by Philippe de Champaigne, showing him in red clerical robes holding a red book, standing beside a balustrade with a draped curtain behind. — Cardinal Richelieu As both statesman and churchman, Cardinal Richelieu was the acknowledged architect of France's greatness in the 17th century. In 1640, when this full-length portrait was painted (likely by Philippe de Champaigne), he was embroiled in a dispute with the pope and other religious controversies along with many other consequences of expanding French power across Europe. He would die two years later, facing conspiracies against his life and suffering ill health.

Louis XIII continued to support Cardinal Richelieu after the Day of the Dupes because he recognized that the cardinal’s efforts to centralize authority and suppress political intrigue were fundamentally aligned with the king's own interests.1

Although Louis XIII initially agreed to dismiss Richelieu on November 10, 1630, he ultimately chose to reject the demands of his mother, his wife, and his confessor. The king realized that Richelieu was an essential instrument for securing absolute obedience to the monarchy and managing the various factions that threatened the stability of the crown. Throughout their partnership, Richelieu remained a devoted servant who understood that his own power was entirely dependent on royal favor, making him a reliable agent for the king’s objectives at home and abroad.1