WI Richelieu didn't embrace the eccleastical career?

Richelieu was initially destined to a military life but his mother pushed him to embrace the ecclestiastic career when his brother Armand refused to become bishop wanting to be a simple monk (even if later Richelieu made so he retook his career).

So, what will be the consequences for France if Richelieu didn't take the ecclesiastical votes?

And if he become a officer, what could be his path then?
 
And if he become a officer, what could be his path then?

For a man with the abilities and ambitions of Richelieu i believe that his path as an officer would be pretty much the same as OTL... Unless he has an unfortunate but glorious death in some battlefield...
 
General Richelieu?


Perhaps but unlikely. Richelieu was one of the finest political and administrative minds of the age but who says he had any military gifts. He would probably do well enough with a mind like him though.
 
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