Rise of French Absolutism Mr. Rush. “One King, One God, One Law.” Absolutism Absolutism –The idea that the monarchy was the embodiment of the state, and.

Rise of French Rise of French AbsolutismAbsolutism

Mr. RushMr. Rush

““One King, One God, One One King, One God, One Law.”Law.”

AbsolutismAbsolutism– The idea that the monarchy was the The idea that the monarchy was the

embodiment of the state, and the sole embodiment of the state, and the sole authority figureauthority figure

– In an absolutist state the monarch In an absolutist state the monarch claimed to rule by, “divine right” and claimed to rule by, “divine right” and answered, “to God alone.”answered, “to God alone.”

““One King, One God, One One King, One God, One Law.”Law.”

Complete control of the nobility, Complete control of the nobility, jurisdictions, institutions and interest jurisdictions, institutions and interest groupsgroups

Financial management changed from Financial management changed from temporary deals with the nobility to temporary deals with the nobility to finance wars, to bureaucratic systems finance wars, to bureaucratic systems which collected taxes for the monarchwhich collected taxes for the monarch

Permanent standing armiesPermanent standing armies

Nine Principles of Nine Principles of MercantilismMercantilism

““FirstFirst, to inspect the country’s soil , to inspect the country’s soil with the greatest care.”with the greatest care.”

““SecondSecond, all commodities found in a , all commodities found in a country, which cannot be used in their country, which cannot be used in their natural state, should be worked up natural state, should be worked up within the country.”within the country.”

““ThirdThird, for carrying out the above two , for carrying out the above two rules, there will be a need of people.”rules, there will be a need of people.”


““FourthFourth, gold and silver once in the , gold and silver once in the country, whether from its own mines country, whether from its own mines or obtained by or obtained by industryindustry from foreign from foreign countries, are under no countries, are under no circumstances to be taken out for circumstances to be taken out for any purpose, so far as possible, or any purpose, so far as possible, or allowed to be buried in chests or allowed to be buried in chests or coffers.”coffers.”


““FifthFifth, the inhabitants of the country , the inhabitants of the country should make every effort to get along should make every effort to get along with their domestic products, to with their domestic products, to confine their luxury to these alone, confine their luxury to these alone, and to do without foreign products, as and to do without foreign products, as far as possible.”far as possible.”

““SixthSixth, in case the said purchases , in case the said purchases were indispensable because of were indispensable because of necessity or necessity or irremediableirremediable abuse, they abuse, they should be obtained form these should be obtained form these foreigners at first hand, so far as foreigners at first hand, so far as possible, and not for gold or silver, but possible, and not for gold or silver, but in exchange for domestic wares.”in exchange for domestic wares.”


““SeventhSeventh, such foreign commodities , such foreign commodities should in this case be imported in should in this case be imported in unfinished form, and worked up unfinished form, and worked up within the country, thus earning the within the country, thus earning the wages of wages of manufacturemanufacture there. there.

““EighthEighth, opportunities should be , opportunities should be sought night and day for selling the sought night and day for selling the country’s superfluous goods to these country’s superfluous goods to these foreigners in manufactured form.”foreigners in manufactured form.”


““NinthNinth, except for important , except for important considerations, no importation considerations, no importation should be allowed under any should be allowed under any circumstances of commodities of circumstances of commodities of which there is sufficient supply of which there is sufficient supply of suitable quality at home.”suitable quality at home.”

Henry IVHenry IV

CatholicCatholic Edict of Nantes in 1598Edict of Nantes in 1598

– Gave the Huguenots freedom to worship Gave the Huguenots freedom to worship in 150 fortified towns such as La in 150 fortified towns such as La RochelleRochelle

– Helped restore internal peace in FranceHelped restore internal peace in France Appointed Maxiemilien de Bethune , Appointed Maxiemilien de Bethune ,

a protestant, as Duke of Sullya protestant, as Duke of Sully

Policies of SullyPolicies of Sully

Effective administratorEffective administrator Leased collection of indirect taxes on Leased collection of indirect taxes on

salt, sales and transit to financierssalt, sales and transit to financiers Revenues increased despite a Revenues increased despite a

decrease in the number of taxes due decrease in the number of taxes due to an increase in tradeto an increase in trade

Subsidized trade with the IndiesSubsidized trade with the Indies

Policies of SullyPolicies of Sully

Created a countrywide highway Created a countrywide highway systemsystem

Supported the idea of an Supported the idea of an international organization for international organization for peacekeepingpeacekeeping

Cardinal RichelieuCardinal Richelieu

Henry IV is murdered in 1610Henry IV is murdered in 1610 Henry’s son, Louis XIII is a child, Marie Henry’s son, Louis XIII is a child, Marie

de’ Medici acts on behalf of young de’ Medici acts on behalf of young kingking

Appointment of Armand Jean du Appointment of Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu, to Council Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu, to Council of the Ministersof the Ministers

After 1628, Richelieu is the first After 1628, Richelieu is the first minister of the French Crownminister of the French Crown

Policies of RichelieuPolicies of Richelieu

Used influence over Louis XIII to exalt Used influence over Louis XIII to exalt the French monarchy as the the French monarchy as the embodiment of the French stateembodiment of the French state

Total subordination of groups and Total subordination of groups and institutions to the French monarchyinstitutions to the French monarchy

Weakening the influence of the Weakening the influence of the nobilitynobility– Leveling of castles, long standing Leveling of castles, long standing

symbol of feudal systemsymbol of feudal system– Crushed aristocratic conspiracies with Crushed aristocratic conspiracies with

executionsexecutions


Divides France in to 32 generalites Divides France in to 32 generalites (districts)(districts)

Each district had a royal intendant Each district had a royal intendant appointed by the monarchappointed by the monarch– Typically newer judicial nobility, Typically newer judicial nobility,

noblesse de robe, who would often pay noblesse de robe, who would often pay for appointmentfor appointment

Intendant would relay information Intendant would relay information from the king to the generalites and from the king to the generalites and would report on information from the would report on information from the generalites to the kinggeneralites to the king


Recruited men for standing armies, Recruited men for standing armies, collected taxes, presided over collected taxes, presided over administration, checked up on local administration, checked up on local nobility and oversaw economic nobility and oversaw economic activitiesactivities

Policies led to an increase of the Policies led to an increase of the power of the royal intendants, and power of the royal intendants, and thus an increase in the power of the thus an increase in the power of the centralized French statecentralized French state


Along with Louis XIII, began chipping Along with Louis XIII, began chipping away at the Edict of Nantesaway at the Edict of Nantes– ““One God,” Catholicism onlyOne God,” Catholicism only

Foreign policiesForeign policies– Destruction of the fence of Habsburg Destruction of the fence of Habsburg

territoriesterritories– 1631 treaty with Lutheran king Gustavas 1631 treaty with Lutheran king Gustavas

Adolphus, promising French support Adolphus, promising French support against Catholic Habsburgs in 30 years waragainst Catholic Habsburgs in 30 years war


““Could Richelieu be Could Richelieu be considered a politique?”considered a politique?”


Calls for French Academy to prepare Calls for French Academy to prepare a dictionary to standardize the a dictionary to standardize the French language in 1635French language in 1635– French still international language of French still international language of

diplomacy todaydiplomacy today Secured cooperation of cities to Secured cooperation of cities to

share in local tax revenueshare in local tax revenue

Richelieu’s RationaleRichelieu’s Rationale

Raison d’ etat (reason of state)Raison d’ etat (reason of state)– God will forgive actions as far as the God will forgive actions as far as the

state is concerned that would be state is concerned that would be criminal if committed privatelycriminal if committed privately

Justification for harsh tactics used by Justification for harsh tactics used by RichelieuRichelieu

Cardinal MazarinCardinal Mazarin

Cardinal Jales Mazarin was Cardinal Jales Mazarin was Richelieu’s successorRichelieu’s successor

Attempted to continue the policies of Attempted to continue the policies of RichelieuRichelieu

Was not able to control nobility in the Was not able to control nobility in the way that Richelieu was successfulway that Richelieu was successful– Nobility felt they were being Nobility felt they were being

manipulated by the French Crownmanipulated by the French Crown– Saw an opportunity to return to feudal Saw an opportunity to return to feudal

societysociety

The FrondeThe Fronde

Resistance towards paying taxesResistance towards paying taxes French Defeat of Spanish armies at French Defeat of Spanish armies at

Rocroi in 1643 led the people to Rocroi in 1643 led the people to believe peace was at hand and that believe peace was at hand and that taxes were unnecessarytaxes were unnecessary

The French monarchy attempts to The French monarchy attempts to impose new taxes, but the impose new taxes, but the Parliament of Paris rejects themParliament of Paris rejects them

Decreased order, leads to civil warDecreased order, leads to civil war

Results of the FrondeResults of the Fronde

It became clear that government It became clear that government would have to compromise with would have to compromise with bureaucrats and social elitesbureaucrats and social elites

French economy badly disrupted, French economy badly disrupted, would take years to reboundwould take years to rebound

Traumatic effect on young Louis XIVTraumatic effect on young Louis XIV– Mobs broke into palace, taking him and Mobs broke into palace, taking him and

his mother prisonerhis mother prisoner– Shaped his beliefs in absolute monarchyShaped his beliefs in absolute monarchy

Rise of French Absolutism Mr. Rush. “One King, One God, One Law.” Absolutism Absolutism –The idea that the monarchy was the embodiment of the state, and.

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