Duke of Richelieu
The title of Duc de Richelieu, peer of France, was created on November 26, 1629 for Armand Jean du Plessis de Richelieu ( 1585-1642 ); he was chief minister of Louis XIII ..
Transferability
Since the Duc de Richelieu was prince of the Church, he could not transmitted to offspring his title. However, he got the right to him to the eldest son of his great-nephew, Armand Jean du Plessis de Vignerot, grandson of his eldest sister Françoise (1577-1615), wife of René de Vignerot, Mr. ( " seigneur " ) of Pontcourlay († 1625).
Armand Jean de Vignerot added his name to the Cardinal ( du Plessis ) was added, took his coat of arms and received in 1697 the appointment of the Duc de Richelieu and peer of France.
The title was passed twice. 1822 and 1879 Armand Emmanuel du Plessis, duc de Richelieu, had no children, but received the right to have the title " Duc de Richelieu " on the son of his half-sister Simplice, née d' Antoine- Pierre de La Chapelle de Saint -Jean de Jumilhac, merges with the possibility of transmitting to his younger brother, if he should die without male issue; this actually happened, so that the title fell to his nephew.
The title became extinct in 1952 with the 7th Duc de Richelieu and Alice Heine ( 1858-1925 ), in 1880 and 1889, the widow of Prince Albert I of Monaco married. According to the Testament of 1930, the majority of the assets of the Duc de Richelieu fell (especially Castle Richelieu and written documentation of the family) to the University of Paris and today forms the basis for the distribution of a large number of academic awards of the University.