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Retz, Pierre de Gondi de

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Retz, Jean Francois Paul de Gondi

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a French cardinal, was born at Lyons in 1533. After entering the ecclesiastical life, he received many favors from Catherine de' Medici, and advanced rapidly. He was made bishop of Langres in 1565, and was transferred to the see of Paris in 1570, and became grand-almoner, chancellor, and chief of the council of Charles IX. He was several times ambassador to the Holy See, and in 1587 was created cardinal. He refused to take the oath of allegiance, and explained his reasons in a letter, to which the writers of the League replied with passion. In 1592 he was sent by Henry IV on an embassy to the pope. He died Feb. 17, 1616. Retz was an honest but parsimonious man, and possessed little genuine talent. — Biog. Universelle, s.v.