ABSTRACT
Cardinal Richelieu’s European policy has always been presented as the best expression of his vision of the State.1 Yet French historians have, paradoxically, neglected many aspects of his action in this field. This could be the manifestation of Gallic indifference to diplomatic history but, concerning relations with England, this lack of interest is perhaps best explained by the secondary place held by the kingdom of Charles I on the international scene. When one analyses French diplomacy during the Thirty Years War, one looks at the enemies − the Empire and Spain − or at the allies − the United Provinces and Sweden − and not at Stuart Britain, which was only implicated from afar in the conflict then tearing the continent apart.
