Ah, but Mazarin had never been Louis XIII's favourite. He'd been Richelieu's protegé, thus making Richelieu one of the very few men of power who actually groomed a capable successor in time, and Louis XIII appointed him at a dying Richelieu's request and himself died within a year, so I don't think kid Louis XIV saw Mazarin in a context to his late father, but, as you say, very much in a context with his mother.

Now, Mazarin able to win Anne's favour despite being Cardinal Richelieu's chosen protegé, given the long time Anne & Richelieu hostility, that is a rare case indeed.

Christian came to power when he was 17, old enough to reign in his own name.

Yes, that makes a big difference. Louis XIV was literally a child.

Still, it could have gone worse for Moltke. At least he wasn't banished, or stripped of his earthly possessions or something like that.

(Heinrich: Or despite NOT having been a favourite of the previous King basically told he should stay in retirement and that his services were unwanted for anything but reading tips. Grrr. Argh.)