THE CATEGORY OF «PEACE» IN RICHELIEU’S «POLITICAL TESTAMENT»: GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract

The presented article discusses the general characteristics of the category of «peace» in the «Political testament» of Cardinal Richelieu. The «Political testament» reflects the key issues of the state development of France of the 30-40 s. XVII century. The scale of the questions covered and problems, the level of theoretical understanding of the actual material gives this work special significance. Not studied for a long time at a complex level, quoted selectively and template, the «political will» today receives proper coverage in the works of representatives of French historiography. Of particular importance is the consideration of the category of «peace» in the «Political testament». When characterizing the methodological foundations of the presented article, the author defines the category of «peace» as including all aspects of the development of religion (ideology) and political means of achieving political goals that are not related to the war. The category of “peace” in the interpretation of the author also acts as a common views on the state and law. Thus, the category of «peace» is considered in a wider angle. Based on the proposed definition, the author traces the possibilities of its application as part of the analysis of the text of the «Political testament». When assessing the content side of the «peace» category, the degree of ratio of moral aspects in it with the problems of achieving a political goal, the need to also take into account elements of general historiographic discussions regarding the key aspects of the “peace” category in the “Political testament”. The difference between Richelieu and Machiavelli is, from the author’s point of view, one of the key aspects that allow us to understand at the methodological level the cardinal’s interpretation of the category of “peace” in full. The positions of modern French historiography of the researched question are also analyzed. The author concludes that when analyzing the category of «peace» in the «Political testament», the cardinal’s negative attitude towards militarism in “pure form” becomes obvious. Richelieu’s goal was to create an «ideal», closed and not accessible for external and internal hostile influences of the political space embodied in the state, withdrawn from the «reasonable policy of the mind». In the light of this, it retains the cognitive character and methodological significance in the analysis of the «peace» category model of the three -term characteristics of Richelieu, the French historian Rolan Munier, which allows him to see him as «prelates», «noble» and «man» of King Louis XIII. This model also allows us to outline further prospects for the study of the problems of the «peace» category in the «Political testament», taking into account the considerations expressed by the author.