
The series Mazarin (1978) recounts the rise of Jules Mazarin, first an Italian diplomat and later France’s chief minister after Richelieu. The story shows how he earns the trust of Anne of Austria and becomes the political mentor of the young Louis XIV. Over the course of the episodes, Mazarin faces court intrigues, the hostility of powerful nobles, and the turmoil of the Fronde, which threatens royal authority and forces him into several periods of exile. Despite pamphlets and conspiracies, he manages to restore order and prepare the emergence of the future Sun King. The series thus portrays a skilled statesman, often contested but essential in shaping absolute monarchy.
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Air Date: 1978-12-09
Richelieu, dying, entrusts Mazarin with the mission of continuing his political work. After the cardinal’s death, fol...
Air Date: 1978-12-16
Mazarin governs alongside Anne of Austria, continuing the authoritarian policies inherited from Richelieu. The great ...
Air Date: 1978-12-23
Mazarin decides to strike hard by arresting Condé, Conti, and Longueville, a dramatic move meant to crush the emergin...
Air Date: 1978-12-30
Mazarin, now the main target of the Fronde, watches the political situation turn sharply against him. The princes, th...
Air Date: 1979-01-06
As France slowly recovers from the turmoil of the Fronde, the young Louis XIV—still politically guided by Mazarin—gro...
Air Date: 1979-01-13
As talks with Spain intensify, the path to peace becomes clear: Louis XIV must marry the Infanta Maria Theresa. Mazar...