Frondé, the name (indicating the sling used by the boys of Paris in their mimic fights) given to certain factions in France during the minority of Louis XIV., which were hostile to the court and the minister, Mazarin, and gave rise to a series of civil dissensions from 1648 to 1654. The grasping and despotic policy of Mazarin, to whom Anne of Austria, the queen-regent, had abandoned the reins of government, had given offence to all classes. The entire nation was aflame with discontent: the nobles were jealous of the employment of foreigners in the chief offices of state; the people kicked against the oppressive taxation; the parliaments resented the wilful disregard of their authority. At length the parliament of Paris refused to register the royal edicts, more especially the financial measures increasing the burdens of taxation. Mazarin in retaliation ordered the arrest (26th August 1648) of the president and one of the councillors, Peter Broussel. Thereupon the people took up arms. The court fled to Ruel in October, but early in 1649 removed to St Germain. The populace and parliament were joined by the discontented nobles, Conti, Longueville, Beaufort, Turenne, and De Retz. But the arrival of Condé, the champion of the royal party, who proceeded to lay siege to Paris, soon turned the tide. An agreement was therefore come to between court and parliament at Ruel on 1st April 1649, the people being released from the obnoxious taxes, whilst Mazarin and the foreigners were allowed to retain their offices. This ends the movement called the Old Fronde, a contest carried on in the interests of the people. The New Fronde was at bottom a struggle between Condé and Mazarin. The nobles, especially Condé, were far from being satisfied with the compact of Ruel, and opened negotiations with Spain for assistance from the Netherlands. But on the 18th January 1650 the queen-regent suddenly arrested Condé, Longueville, and Conti. This arbitrary proceeding roused the provinces. The Duchess of Condé stirred up the south of France. The Duchess of Longueville (Condé's sister) won over Turenne, who threatened Paris, but was defeated at Rethel. Nevertheless the storm was so great that Mazarin was obliged to release the princes, and flee from the country. Now, however, a kaleidoscopic movement changed the relations of the principal actors in the affair. Condé withdrew to Guienne; De Retz was bribed by the gift of a cardinal's hat; Turenne went over to the court; and Mazarin was recalled and reinstated in power. Meanwhile, Louis XIV., who, having now attained his fourteenth year, was declared to be of age, endeavoured to induce Condé to return; but the latter, mistrusting these overtures, commenced a regular war against the court, until he was defeated by Turenne near Paris on 2d July 1652. Condé found refuge within the capital; but the citizens, grown weary of the whole business, opened negotiations with the king, only demanding the removal of Mazarin to return to their allegiance. This demand was complied with and a general amnesty proclaimed (1653). Condé, who refused to enter into the compact, repaired to Champagne; but, finding no one disposed to take up arms in his cause, he entered the Spanish service. Shortly afterwards Mazarin was once more recalled to Paris, and again entrusted with the reins of government. The parliament of Paris was completely humbled, so much so that its political existence was virtually suspended for a century and a half. Thus the royal power came forth victorious from the contest.
See Ste-Aulaire's Histoire de la Fronde (2d ed. 1860), Bazin's France sous Louis XIII. (2d ed. 1846), Fitzpatrick's Great Condé and the Fronde (1873), the work by Capefigue (1835), and two by Chéruel (1880 and 1882).