Jules Mazarin was an Italian cardinal, diplomat, and politician who served as the chief minister to the kings of France, Louis XIII and Louis XIV, during the mid-17th century. He was known for his skillful diplomacy and political maneuvering, and played a key role in consolidating the power of the French monarchy. Mazarin's policies and reforms helped to strengthen the central authority of the French state and expand its influence in European affairs. He is often remembered for his role in ending the destructive Thirty Years' War and for his efforts to modernize and strengthen the French economy and military.