Was Richelieu a Catholic Cardinal who worked to support the interests of the state?

Answer 1

Yes, Armand Cardinal de Richelieu (d. 1642) was of noble birth and at the age of 22 was made bishop of a diocese where his family exercises hereditary influence. During the next twenty years, he was the power behind the French throne. The policies that he pursued, particularly foreign policy in which explicit religious considerations had no place, did, however, extend to his making war against the Huguenots (French protestants) but purely for dynastic reasons.