County and Duchy of Rethel

The County of Rethel (French: Comté de Rethel), promoted to Duchy of Rethel (French: Duché de Rethel) in 1581 and finally the Duchy of Mazarin (French: Duché de Mazarin) after 1659, was a historic county in the French region of Ardennes.

The duchy was abolished due to the French Revolution in 1789.

Originally, the city belonged to the Abbey of Saint-Remi and was administered by its advocati.

In 1659, the last duke of the House of Gonzaga-Nevers, Charles of Gonzaga-Nevers,[a] sold the duchy of Rethel to the Cardinal Mazarin, prime-minister of king Louis XIV and the country was, then, renamed as the Duchy of Mazarin, and the title was the Duke of Mazarin.

The last duchess Mazarin, Louise d'Aumont (1759-1826), married in 1771 Honoré IV Grimaldi, Prince of Monaco, The French Revolution abolished the duchy in 1789.