Concino Concini
Concino Concini, marquis d'Ancre (Florence, 1575 – Paris, 24 April 1617), was an Italian politician, best known for being a minister of Louis XIII of France, as the favourite of his mother.
Life
A nobleman native of Florence, Concini went to France with Maria de Medici, wife of Henri IV, and married the queen's lady-in-waiting, Leonora Dori, known as "Galigaï". It is generally thought that the favour his wife enjoyed with the queen, combined with his wit and boldness, contributed to make Concini's fortune. In 1610, he purchased the marquisate of Ancre and the position of First Gentleman-in-waiting. Then he obtained successively the governments of Amiens and of Normandy, governor of Péronne, Roye and Montdidier and, in 1613, the baton of Marshal of France.
From then first minister of the realm, he abandoned the policy of Henri IV, compromised his wise legislation, allowed the treasury to be pillaged, and drew upon himself the hatred of all classes. The nobles were bitterly hostile to him, particularly Henry II de Bourbon, Prince of Condé, with whom he negotiated the Treaty of Loudun in 1616, and whom he had arrested in September 1616. This was done on the advice of Cardinal de Richelieu, whose introduction into politics was favoured by Concini.
