Richelieu

Cardinal Richelieu was a French clergyman on fairly intimate terms with King Louis XIII. He was contemptuous of the king's musketeers.

Peri, who was just getting oriented to 17th century France, tried to assert that Cardinal Richelieu was a villain, but the Doctor vigorously disputed the point, saying that "[Alexandre] Dumas ha[d] a lot to answer for". (AUDIO: The Church and the Crown)

In 1624, he was appointed Louis XIII's Chief Minister. (AUDIO: The Church and the Crown)

In 1626, the Fifth Doctor, Peri Brown and Erimem were drawn into his intrigues at the court of Louis XIII. (AUDIO: The Church and the Crown)

The Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith encountered a Reprise of Richelieu in Francia Bourbon in Europa. (PROSE: Managra)

Behind the scenes
Richelieu was portrayed by Michael Praed in the TV series The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne and by Peter Capaldi in the BBC drama The Musketeers.