Celebrity Astrology: Wealth in the Horoscope of Cardinal Richelieu

September 26, 2006 by  

wealthinhoroscoperichelieu Celebrity Astrology: Wealth in the Horoscope of Cardinal Richelieu

Finding the level of wealth and the sources for money in the natal horoscope has always been fascinating to me. Most of us will end up at a similar economic level that we were born into, plus or minus some amount. In other words, we will probably never leave the class into which we were born. Some would argue that money and class are two separate topics, but when I say class, in this article I refer to the level of economic prosperity. One of the challenges in looking at a natal horoscope with regard to wealth is that we must realize that we are not looking at an absolute prediction. This means that the horoscope will show gain or loss relative to the level at birth. This is why we typically do not see huge changes in class one way or another. Most horoscopes show preservation of the financial status quo with minor variations up or down.

This is why, when we do see a horoscope with strong promises of wealth, we sit up and pay attention. One such horoscope is that of the Cardinal Richelieu, France’s first Prime Minister, way back in the 17th century. Today, he is best known for his Machiavellian ability to direct the government of France (largely considered for its benefit), however, he made a fortune as Cardinal. He had come from minor nobility, so he was a better positioned for the gain of wealth than most people in France at that time. Regardless of this, however, his horoscope still indicates a clear ascent to wealth.

horoscopemoneycardinalrichelieu Celebrity Astrology: Wealth in the Horoscope of Cardinal Richelieu

We must look to Richelieu’s second house of wealth, which in this chart is in 27° Scorpio. Scorpio is ruled by Mars, which in Richelieu’s chart is just inside the first house in its own sign, triplicity, term, and face. Thus, Mars is incredibly strong in Richelieu’s chart, and its prominent position in an angle shows that it is well able to act. This alone bodes well for Richelieu’s finances throughout his life, compared to the level toward which he was born.

However, the fact that his financial success is represented by a malefic (albeit a very strong malefic), the success will come but with difficulty, or through martial means. This means through strife, aggression, and war. The fact that Mars is in the first house of the self, shows that Richelieu will gain his great wealth through his own efforts, and also through who he is. So, who is he? As someone with Mars in the first house, he is going to be warlike, and will lead a martial, or militaristic life. Indeed, the fact that Richelieu became a Cardinal was largely an accident, as he had been planning to go into the military. So we can see that Richelieu will make his wealth through being warlike. This was very much the case, as he spent his career attempting to unify a fragmented country and raised money for the state by whatever means necessary.

What will be the source of Richelieu’s wealth? We already know that he would make his money himself, but of course that money still has to come from somewhere. Mars, in addition to ruling the first house (or most of it), also rules the sixth house and the seventh house. So he will make money through his servants, subordinates, and people working his lands. Those are all meanings associated with the sixth house. He also made money through partners and colleagues, and from his open enemies, which are all associated with the seventh house. Richelieu was given lands and high honors, and later founded the town of Richelieu, near which he built a large château. Likewise, he was given some rewards from the estates of the Protestant Huguenots, whom he helped persecute while in office.

His association with the Royal Court, however, was the chief reason for his wealth. We will notice that Mars is squared by Venus in Leo in the 10th house. Richelieu began his career at court via the French queen, who approved of his strict Roman Catholicism. The 10th house, of course, is the house of the King — with Venus being a female kind of King, or a queen. And yet the reception between Venus and Mars is difficult, with Mars being in Venus’s detriment, and Venus not caring for Mars much at all. Too, the fact that the aspect linking the two is a square, shows that there is tension and difficulty in this alliance. In his first two years of service to the queen, Cardinal Richelieu was exiled along with the queen from the French court, and only negotiated her return to the court with great difficulty. But once he returned to the Royal Court, he quickly ascended to become the King’s chief minister. The good ending of the story likely comes from the fact that Mars is so strong and dominates this Venus-Mars connection.

The Part of Fortune also has a role to play in Richelieu’s acquisition of wealth. It is in 3° Taurus, and therefore is disposited by Venus. This is the same Venus that is the source for Richelieu’s wealth. We are told by ancient authors that aspects to the Part of Fortune, especially from its dispositor (if it is strong), are highly beneficial for the acquisition of fortune. Here, Venus squares the Part of Fortune exactly. With a square, we again see that there are difficulties in the acquisition of the fortune, and the road to riches is not without some serious bumps. Mars opposes the Part of Fortune, giving the impression that Richelieu’s warlike personality and life was not without its financial costs. By the time Richelieu died, while still extremely wealthy, he was perhaps the most hated man in France. This reminds us that the Part of Fortune does not deal only with the financial fortune, but also with the overall fortune in life.

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