France in the Age of Absolutism

France in the Age of France in the Age of AbsolutismAbsolutism

Catholic and Huguenots Catholic and Huguenots Despite the spread of Reformation ideas, Despite the spread of Reformation ideas,

France remained a largely Catholic nation. France remained a largely Catholic nation. Of a total of 16 million (in the late 16Of a total of 16 million (in the late 16thth

century) 1.2 million embraced Calvinism. century) 1.2 million embraced Calvinism. These French Protestants were known as These French Protestants were known as Huguenots.Huguenots.

A large portion of French nobility were A large portion of French nobility were Huguenots.Huguenots.

Conflict between the Catholics & Huguenots Conflict between the Catholics & Huguenots led to three decades of civil war on religious led to three decades of civil war on religious and political issues.and political issues.

Henry II (r. 1547-1559)Henry II (r. 1547-1559) Son of King Francis I of Son of King Francis I of

the Valois line.the Valois line. Henry married Henry married

Catherine de Medici at Catherine de Medici at fourteen years old. fourteen years old.

When his older brother When his older brother Francis died in 1536 Francis died in 1536 after a game of tennis, after a game of tennis, Henry became heir to Henry became heir to the throne. the throne.

Henry II (r. 1547-1559)Henry II (r. 1547-1559)Henry was a large, powerful man; but a Henry was a large, powerful man; but a

weak-willed king.weak-willed king.Even so, he persecuted Huguenots.Even so, he persecuted Huguenots.Henry II severely punished them, Henry II severely punished them,

burning them alive or cutting out their burning them alive or cutting out their tongues for speaking their Protestant tongues for speaking their Protestant beliefs. Even those suspected of being beliefs. Even those suspected of being Huguenots could be imprisoned for life. Huguenots could be imprisoned for life.

He was killed in a jousting tournament.He was killed in a jousting tournament.

Catherine de’ MediciCatherine de’ Medici After Henry II’s death in a After Henry II’s death in a

jousting match, Catherine jousting match, Catherine used her position as Regent used her position as Regent to influence her three sons to influence her three sons who would serve as king.who would serve as king.

Francis II (r. 1559-1560), Francis II (r. 1559-1560), Charles IX (r. 1560-1574) Charles IX (r. 1560-1574) and Henry III (r. 1574-1589) and Henry III (r. 1574-1589) ruled under the influence of ruled under the influence of Catherine, but could not stop Catherine, but could not stop the spreading Huguenot the spreading Huguenot influence.influence.

St. Bartholomew's Day St. Bartholomew's Day MassacreMassacre

Open warfare began between the Catholics Open warfare began between the Catholics lead by the Guise family and the Huguenots lead by the Guise family and the Huguenots lead by the Bourbon family in 1562.lead by the Bourbon family in 1562.

First eight years of fighting ended in 1570.First eight years of fighting ended in 1570. Catherine still feared Huguenot power and Catherine still feared Huguenot power and

ordered their massacre on Aug. 24 1572.ordered their massacre on Aug. 24 1572.

War of the Three Henrys War of the Three Henrys (1585-89)(1585-89)

Following the massacre, Henry of Following the massacre, Henry of Navarre (a Bourbon) emerged as Navarre (a Bourbon) emerged as Huguenots leader.Huguenots leader.

Henry III attempted to form a moderate Henry III attempted to form a moderate Catholic faction as an alternative to the Catholic faction as an alternative to the radical Guise faction.radical Guise faction.

Conflict erupted between Henry III, Conflict erupted between Henry III, Henry of Navarre and Henry, Duke of Henry of Navarre and Henry, Duke of Guise.Guise.

War of the Three Henrys War of the Three Henrys (1585-89)(1585-89)

Regarding him as a serious threat, Regarding him as a serious threat, Henry III had Henry of Guise Henry III had Henry of Guise assassinated in Dec. 1588.assassinated in Dec. 1588.

Guise faction retaliated and had Guise faction retaliated and had Henry III killed July 1589.Henry III killed July 1589.

Henry of Navarre was the only one Henry of Navarre was the only one left with a legitimate claim to the left with a legitimate claim to the throne. He became Henry IV in 1589.throne. He became Henry IV in 1589.

Henry IV (r. 1589-1610)Henry IV (r. 1589-1610) First Bourbon king of First Bourbon king of

France.France. Was a Huguenot, but Was a Huguenot, but

converts to Catholicism.converts to Catholicism. Brings peace to the Brings peace to the

warring factions.warring factions. Issues the Edict of Issues the Edict of

Nantes in 1598, Nantes in 1598, granting limited granting limited toleration to the toleration to the Huguenots.Huguenots.

Henry IV and Duke of SullyHenry IV and Duke of SullyHenry IV of France begins the process of Henry IV of France begins the process of

restoring royal power.restoring royal power.Appoints the Duke of Sully as finance Appoints the Duke of Sully as finance

ministerministerSully introduces sound accounting practices Sully introduces sound accounting practices

to increase the crown’s income.to increase the crown’s income.Did not attempt any major reforms (such as Did not attempt any major reforms (such as

revoke tax-exemptions of nobility & clergy).revoke tax-exemptions of nobility & clergy).Neglected industrial development in favor Neglected industrial development in favor

of agriculture. Built roads and canals.of agriculture. Built roads and canals.Promoted mercantilist polices. Promoted mercantilist polices.

Louis XIIILouis XIII In 1610, Henry IV In 1610, Henry IV

was assassinated.was assassinated.Louis XIII was only 10 Louis XIII was only 10

yrs old, his mother yrs old, his mother Marie de Medici Marie de Medici acted as regent.acted as regent.

In 1621, Cardinal In 1621, Cardinal Richelieu became Richelieu became king’s chief minister.king’s chief minister.

Cardinal RichelieuCardinal Richelieu Richelieu served as chief minister from Richelieu served as chief minister from

1621 until his death in 1642.1621 until his death in 1642. He gradually reduced the influence of the He gradually reduced the influence of the

nobility in government.nobility in government. He established the office of He established the office of intendant.intendant. When the Huguenots attempted to take When the Huguenots attempted to take

advantage of the new king, he defeated advantage of the new king, he defeated their forces at LaRochelle and denied them their forces at LaRochelle and denied them to the right to fortified cities.to the right to fortified cities.

Richelieu revived French animosity toward Richelieu revived French animosity toward the Habsburgs, involving France in the 30 the Habsburgs, involving France in the 30 yrs. War.yrs. War.

Mazarin and Louis XIVMazarin and Louis XIV Mazarin succeeded Mazarin succeeded

Richelieu as chief minister Richelieu as chief minister and continued in the and continued in the position when the 5 yr old position when the 5 yr old Louis XVI came to the Louis XVI came to the throne.throne.

Along with Queen Anne of Along with Queen Anne of Austria he served as Austria he served as regent.regent.

He continued most of He continued most of Richelieu’s policies.Richelieu’s policies.

Cardinal MazarinCardinal Mazarin

The Fronde (1648-1653)The Fronde (1648-1653)

A series of revolts by nobility and A series of revolts by nobility and townspeople broke out against royal townspeople broke out against royal power led by the Parlement of Paris.power led by the Parlement of Paris.

Infighting led to the revolt withering Infighting led to the revolt withering away.away.

The disorder of the revolt convinced The disorder of the revolt convinced people that strong central power was people that strong central power was needed.needed.

Louis XIVLouis XIV (r. 1643-1715) (r. 1643-1715)

Personal rule began in Personal rule began in 1661 with the death of 1661 with the death of Cardinal Mazarin.Cardinal Mazarin.

""L'État, c'est moiL'État, c'est moi" (the " (the state is me)state is me)

Symbolized as the Symbolized as the “Sun King.” (Center of “Sun King.” (Center of France; rays of sun France; rays of sun reflect off of monarch reflect off of monarch onto subjects).onto subjects).

Châteaux de VersaillesChâteaux de Versailles

King’s residence King’s residence and center of and center of government.government.

Spent vast sums Spent vast sums of money on of money on expansion.expansion.

Royal Royal apartments were apartments were at the center of at the center of the complex.the complex.

Court Life at VersaillesCourt Life at Versailles

King severed dual functions: that of courtier King severed dual functions: that of courtier and that of administrator.and that of administrator.

Both functions were aimed at state-building.Both functions were aimed at state-building. The Fronde had taught Louis to distrust the The Fronde had taught Louis to distrust the

nobility, so he appointed officials from nobility, so he appointed officials from middle-class origin.middle-class origin.

He also continued the practice of selling He also continued the practice of selling titles.titles.

Jean-Baptiste ColbertJean-Baptiste Colbert (1619- (1619-1683)1683)

Served as controller of Served as controller of finances from 1662-finances from 1662-1683.1683.

Supported Supported mercantilistmercantilist policies. policies.

Built roads and Built roads and canals.canals.

Credited for many of Credited for many of Louis’ economic Louis’ economic successes and successes and failures.failures.

Domestic PoliciesDomestic Policies Louis enacted absolutist ideas through Louis enacted absolutist ideas through

domination of the central bureaucracy domination of the central bureaucracy which had greater control of state which had greater control of state finances, the execution of laws and the finances, the execution of laws and the use of armed force.use of armed force.

Increased royal control over the local Increased royal control over the local parlements.parlements.

Revoked the Edict of Nantes in in Revoked the Edict of Nantes in in October 1685 and began persecuting October 1685 and began persecuting Huguenots; over 200,000 fled France.Huguenots; over 200,000 fled France.

Wars & Expansion under Louis Wars & Expansion under Louis XIVXIV

Through a series of Through a series of expensive wars Louis expensive wars Louis slowly expanded slowly expanded French territory.French territory.

War of DevolutionWar of Devolution (1667-68)(1667-68)

The Dutch WarThe Dutch War (1672-78)(1672-78)

War of the League War of the League of Augsburgof Augsburg (1688- (1688-97)97)

War of Spanish War of Spanish SuccessionSuccession

Childless Hapsburg Childless Hapsburg Charles II names Charles II names Bourbon Philip of Anjou Bourbon Philip of Anjou as heir.as heir.

England, Holland and England, Holland and HRE oppose French HRE oppose French acquisition of Spain & acquisition of Spain & territories.territories.

Louis was defeated by Louis was defeated by the British and the British and Austrians.Austrians.

Treaty of Utrecht Treaty of Utrecht (1713)(1713)

•War ended with Treaty of Utrecht (1713) and Treaty of Baden and Rastatt (with Hapsburgs in 1714)

•Philip of Anjou become Philip V of Spain, but he nor his successors could hold French throne.

•Hapsburgs and British gained territory, French lost New World lands.

The End of an EraThe End of an EraLouis XIV was one of the great state-Louis XIV was one of the great state-

builders of Europebuilders of EuropeDespite this, the peasants of France Despite this, the peasants of France

suffered as they never had before or suffered as they never had before or since. This would bring government since. This would bring government welfare as a state function in the 18welfare as a state function in the 18thth centurycentury

His absolutist policy solidified the place His absolutist policy solidified the place of France as the dominant power in of France as the dominant power in Europe.Europe.

Exit TicketExit Ticket

In what ways was the rule In what ways was the rule of King Louis XIV a of King Louis XIV a exemplar of absolutist rule?exemplar of absolutist rule?

In what ways were In what ways were absolutist policies a fantasy absolutist policies a fantasy or ineffective in governing or ineffective in governing the French state?the French state?