éminence grise

Etymology
Borrowed from, originally applied to (1577–1638), also known as Père Joseph, a French Capuchin friar who was the confidant and agent of  (1585–1642), the chief minister of France under  (1601–1643). The term refers to du Tremblay’s influence over the Cardinal (who bore the honorific of Eminence), and the colour of his habit (grey, rather than the red of a cardinal).

Noun

 * 1)  A secret or unofficial decision-maker.

Translations

 * Chinese:
 * Mandarin: 灰衣主教
 * Czech:
 * Danish: grå eminence
 * Dutch:, grijze eminentie
 * Finnish:
 * French:
 * Georgian: რუხი კარდინალი
 * German:
 * Italian: eminenza grigia
 * Japanese:
 * Korean:
 * Norwegian: grå eminense
 * Polish:
 * Portuguese: eminência parda
 * Romanian:
 * Russian:
 * Serbo-Croatian:
 * Cyrillic: сива еминенција
 * Roman: siva eminencija
 * Spanish: eminencia gris, jefe máximo
 * Swedish: grå eminens
 * Ukrainian: сірий кардина́л

Etymology
From +, originally applied to  (1577–1638), also known as Père Joseph, a French Capuchin friar who was the confidant and agent of  (1585–1642), the chief minister of France under  (1601–1643). The term refers to du Tremblay’s influence over the Cardinal (who bore the honorific of Eminence), and the colour of his habit.