AGE OF ABSOLUTISM - FRANCEDAY 3
Notes1560 Charles IX becomes King of France
• 10 years old• Catherine de Medici – Regent
2 powerful families competing against monarchs and each other for more political power:1)Guise• Catholic• 90% of France = Catholic
2)Bourbon• Mostly Catholic, but supported Huguenots to gain political support
Catherine tried to control government to keep both families from getting too powerful
AGE OF ABSOLUTISM - FRANCEDAY 3
Notes
1562 France’s religious wars begin
1572 Charles IX increasingly influenced by Admiral de Coligny (Protestant)
• Catherine feared France would go to war with Spain and she would lose control over Charles
• Catherine planned to assassinate Coligny, but it failed• an Investigation would prove her involvement• she convinced Charles that the Protestants were planning
to overthrow him• Charles IX – “I consent, but then you must kill all the
Huguenots so there are none left to blame me.”
August 1572 St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre• 6000 Protestants were killed• Protestants became militant / wars intensified
AGE OF ABSOLUTISM - FRANCEDAY 3
Notes
RELIGIOUS WARS WERE DESTROYING FRANCE1574 Henry III became king of France
• he was Catholic, but gave increased freedoms to Huguenots• this angered Catholics, they formed “Catholic League”• goal was to reduce Protestant influence in France
1585 Catholics (led by the Guise) revolted against Henry III• Henry III joined with Henry of Navarre (Protestant)
1589 Henry III assassinated and Henry of Navarre becomes king of Francebecomes Henry IV• finds it hard to rule in a Catholic majority
Politiques began to developset aside differences to save FranceFrance 1st
AGE OF ABSOLUTISM - FRANCEDAY 3
Notes1593 Henry IV converts to CATHOLICISM
• establishing royal authority in France required internal peace• “Paris is well worth the mass”
1598 Henry IV issues EDICT OF NANTESallowed Civil and Religious Freedom
allowed to trade, go to school, treated in same hospitalsgiven Amnesty for crimes during religious wars
ended religious wars
1610 Henry IV assassinated by François Ravaillac (Catholic)Louis XIII (9 year old son) becomes king• Marie de Medici – Regent• Cardinal Richelieu advisor (Politique)
AGE OF ABSOLUTISM - FRANCEDAY 3
NotesGOALS OF CARDINAL RICHELIEU1. create an Absolute Monarchy2. weaken power of Huguenots
Opposed to “State within a State”3. weaken power of Nobles
used Intendantso middle classo “civil servants” appointed by the king to make
sure his rule was being followed all over Franceo loyal – owed position to king
AGE OF ABSOLUTISM - FRANCEDAY 3
NotesGOALS OF CARDINAL RICHELIEU4. expand trade, agriculture, industry5. weaken Catholic Hapsburgs by siding with
Protestants30 Years War
1648 – Treaty of Westphalia1643 Louis XIII died replaced by his son - Louis
XIV • Age 5 (mother Anne acted as regent)
AGE OF ABSOLUTISM - FRANCEDAY 4
NotesIncreasing tension over growing power of French
monarchy1648 Fronde = riots against government
1. Parlement of Paris (Supreme Court) trying to limit the growing authority of the crown rejected new tax plan proposed by government government responded by arresting several judges “Frenchies” rose in revolt
2. growing discontent of nobles wanting more power3. Increasing frustration of commoners with unfair taxes
Fronde scared Louis lost faith in people and vowed never to trust them vowed to never let it happen again
AGE OF ABSOLUTISM - FRANCEDAY 4
Notes1661 Louis XIV takes control of France = ABSOLUTE MONARCH
believer in Divine Right of Kings“Sun King” (used Sun as his symbol)
oprovider of lifeo “I am the State”
used Intendants did not call “Estates General”
odid not want to empower others to solve problemsVersailles
o leading nobles lived there so he could keep watch on them so they would not develop independent power in their provinces
oLouis gave them offices / titles, but with no real poweroNobles paid NO taxes in exchange for supporting Louis
AGE OF ABSOLUTISM - FRANCEDAY 4
Notes
ECONOMICSJean Baptiste Colbert - Finance Minister
Mercantilism• Gold/silver• Industry (subsidies, tax benefits, tariffs)• Favorable balance of trade• Colonies
RELIGION• Huguenots threat to political and religious unity• 1685 – revoked Edict of Nantes
Many fled – hurt France’s economy
WARSexpand and protect French bordersOther countries joined against France to keep a “Balance of
Power”Hurt French economy
1702 War of the Spanish Succession • King Charles II died without a direct heir• Louis XIV’s grandson (Philip V) next in line• Fear that Spain and France would become allies
Balance of Power would be offsetGrand Alliance (England, Netherlands, Austria)
• 1713 – Treat of Utrecht• Philip V remain Spanish king, but could not join France
AGE OF ABSOLUTISM - FRANCEDAY 4
Notes
Legacy of Louis XIVPositive•strongest country in Europe•Leader in the arts•Military was strongest in Europe•Development of strong colonial system for trade
Negative•DebtUnfair Tax structure – 1st/2nd Estates paid no taxes, ONLY 3rd
Estate paid taxes reason for the French RevolutionWars
AGE OF ABSOLUTISM - FRANCE
DAY 4
Notes
