Following the disasters of the Thirty Years’ War, the monarchies of Europe experienced a crisis of authority. Henry IV of France Château de Versailles/LauriePlatt Winfrey, Inc. Western Civilization 102 David Clayton Lesson: French Absolutism
Oct 31, 2014
Following the disasters of the Thirty Years’ War, the monarchies of Europe experienced a crisis of authority.
Henry IV of France
Château de Versailles/LauriePlatt Winfrey, Inc.Western Civilization 102 David Clayton Lesson: French Absolutism
French response-
French absolutism.
Henry IV of France
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The expense of the 30 Years’ War had exhausted the treasuries of the larger European monarchies. This caused deep resentment among the masses.
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The nobility saw it as an opportunity to use the king’s need for more money and masses resentment to get some of their power back.
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They did so through government office and through rebellion.1.They used the merchants who resented the higher taxes and disruption of trade.
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2. They used the peasants who were primarily victims of war because of the destruction of farmland and heavily taxed.
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France responded all of
this with conservative
attempt of royal absolutism (Hobbes’ solution).
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It emerged under the leadership of the first Bourbon king – Henry IV (r. 1589-1610).
Henry IV of France
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Henry IV passed the Edict of Nantes which gave religious freedom to the French Protestants (Huguenots) in 1598.
He passed laws that brought stability to France.
Many of his laws upset the nobility and Catholics.
Henry IV of France
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Killed by a Catholic sympathizer
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His son, Louis XIII became the next
king.However, he was just a boy so he needed a regent plus an advisor.
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Regent: Queen mother
Marie de Medici
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Advisor: Cardinal Richelieu
1585 -1642
Château de Versailles/LauriePlatt Winfrey, Inc.Western Civilization 102 David Clayton Lesson: French Absolutism
XIIIContinued many of his dad’s policies
plus Cardinal Richelieu
Three Musketeers
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XIIIContinued many of his dad’s
policies plus Cardinal Richelieu
Limited powers of the nobility and
local parlements.
Imprisoned political opponents
Centralized the economy
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XIII
He encouraged exploration and
colonization of the Americas.
Catholic, he entered the 30
Years’ War on the side of the
Protestants.
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XIII
By the time of his death (1643),
France was the most powerful
nation in Europe.Noble power
seemed broken.But the royal
treasury was also broke which meant- higher taxes were
on the way.
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The FRONDE (1643-1651) came next.
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Louis XIV (1643-1715)
ascended to the French throne at the
age of 4 (The second king in a row that became
king as a boy).
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Louis XIV (1643-1715)
His mother, Anne of Austria and her advisor Cardinal Mazarin were the
real power early on.
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Louis XIV (1643-1715)
With a boy king on the throne, the
nobility saw their chance to regain
powers lost under Henry and XIII. This
was called The Fronde, which
means “slingshot.”.
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The Fronde1649
began at court in 1649 with the wives
of imprisoned nobles demanding the release of their
husbands..
Western Civilization 102 David Clayton Lesson : French Absolutism
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The Parlement of Paris took up their cause, stirring up
the masses in Paris.The nobility and
some town surrounding towns
joined in.In 1651, Paris fell to rebels, forcing XIV
to abandon his palace in Louvre.
Western Civilization 102 David Clayton Lesson : French Absolutism
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The Frondeur state rule France in
XIV’s name in 1651-1652.
It was inefficient and
corrupt.
Western Civilization 102 David Clayton Lesson : French Absolutism
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In 1652, the people
demanded that XIV and
Cardinal Mazarin be returned to
power.
Western Civilization 102 David Clayton Lesson : French Absolutism
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XIV determined he would be
embarrassed like this again by anyone French or any other
nationality. He began steps towards
building an absolute rulership.
Western Civilization 102 David Clayton Lesson : French Absolutism
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The king must be godlike: Sun
Western Civilization 102 David Clayton Lesson : French Absolutism
The king must be godlike: SunSupported: Apollo sun god image
(Divine right)Established the royal academy of art, music, science.
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The king must be godlike: SunSupported: Apollo sun god image
(Divine right)Established the royal academy of art, music, science.
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Versailles
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The king must be in controlSupported: Personally directed the affairs of state in great detail. Hired professional secretaries and administrators not from the nobility but from the ranks of professional men.Never call the Estates General (like
our Congress) into session. Established trained bureaucrats (intendants) in local regions loyal to him.
Western Civilization 102 David Clayton Lesson : French Absolutism
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The king must be wealthySupported: When XIV became king, the nation was bankrupt.He hired a financial genius (Colbert) who continued the Bourbon policy of centralized economy.Colbert perfected the policy of mercantilism Tax at will without legislature interference to pay for Versailles and the military.
Western Civilization 102 David Clayton Lesson : French Absolutism
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The king must impose religious conformity
Supported: Revoked the Edict of Nantes (Granted religious toleration to the Huguenots in 1598 by Henry IV).
Thousands fled, harming the French economy.
Western Civilization 102 David Clayton Lesson : French Absolutism
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The king must have a strong military
Supported: Military reforms to create professional army.
Used it against Spain to try to become King of Spain.
Used it against the Dutch Empire.
At the end of his life, he regretted spending so much time in war.
Western Civilization 102 David Clayton Lesson : French Absolutism
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By 1688, XIV was on the verge of becoming the virtual emperor of the Western
world. But the Dutch were about to
get a great ally, one that would bring the Sun King to the
bargaining table and eventually bring him down- that ally would
be England.
Western Civilization 102 David Clayton Lesson : French Absolutism