Le cardinal de Richelieu, par Philippe de Champaigne.
1635
Creation of the Académie Française (French Academy)
The rise of literary salons and Cénacles under the reign of Louis XIII prompted his minister, Cardinal Richelieu, to create the Académie Française in 1635, of which he would be the patron. Its mission, as specified by Letters patent of Louis XIII; to be guardians of the French language and to write its dictionary, the ninth edition of which is in the process of being completed.