Absolutism

FRANCE

Absolutism

Henry IV (1589-1610)

In the late 16th century, France fought internal religious wars between the Huguenots (French Calvinists) and Catholic groups

As a converter to Calvinism, Henry IV will fight against the royal armyHowever, when his cousin dies, he

becomes king and repudiates his faith to adopt Catholicism, since it is the majority religion

The Bourbon dynasty

Henry IV begins the Bourbon DynastyHe allows protestants to continue their

faith in areas where most people were protestants but forbid the faith in Catholic strongholds (Edict of Nantes)

He supported trade, fixed the treasury, and supported trade

He was assassinated by an angry Catholic

Louis XIII (1610-1643)

When Henry IV died, Louis XIII became king at the age of 9, but his mother acted as the regent for him

Seven years later, Louis XIII forcefully removed his mother from power and exiled her

He eventually gave power to Cardinal Richelieu as “Chief minister”

Cardinal Richelieu

He sought to create an absolute monarchy and a strong military

He destroyed strongholds of the nobility and gave their local administration powers to intendants

Richelieu religious policy

He attempted to allow Huguenots religious freedom, but only if they remained loyal

He removed territorial rights of the Huguenots to limit their cooperation

Despite this, he would ally with Protestants in foreign wars, such as in the Thirty Years War

Louis XIV (1643-1715)

When Louis XIII died, his son Louis XIV became king at age 5

His mother Ann served as regent and Cardinal Mazarin was the chief minister

He took over at age 23

Absolutist view

He is known as the “Sun King” because everything revolved around him

He built the grand Palace of Versailles, at the expense of the treasury

Church officials backed his absolutist view

Versailles

Government

Chose his top advisors from the middle class, as did Cardinal Richelieu’s and Henry IV

Attempted to end feudal influences but he could not change… Varied legal systems Private tolls between provinces Separate authorities and districts for

financial, judicial, religious, and administrative affairs

Taxation

One major policy he could not change was the tax code that heavily burdened the poor

Tax collectors made money, but he could not fix that either

Regions had different tax rates

Religion

Louis XIV saw Protestantism as a threat

He eventually forced children of Protestants to be Catholic and persecuting those who did not

Expansion

Franco-Dutch War (with England and Sweden against the Dutch Republic and Spain)

Nine Years War (against England,, the Dutch Republic, Holy Roman Empire, and Spain)

The War of the Spanish Succession (with Bavaria against the Holy Roman Empire, England, the Dutch, and Portugal)

Legacy

Major projects and cultural achievement

Large debt increaseDecrease in power of the nobility, but

they would regain some under the next ruler, Louis XV

Failed at solving the major financial difference because he could not control the taxcode