Cardinal Mazarin, born Giulio Mazzarino in 1602, was an Italian diplomat and cardinal who became the chief minister to King Louis XIV of France. He played a crucial role in the political landscape of France during the mid-17th century, particularly during the Fronde, a series of civil wars in France. Mazarin's policies helped stabilize the country and strengthen the monarchy. Mazarin succeeded Cardinal Richelieu as chief minister in 1642 and continued his predecessor's work in centralizing power. He was instrumental in negotiating the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, which ended the Thirty Years' War. His tenure laid the groundwork for the absolute monarchy that characterized Louis XIV's reign.