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Louis XIV

Louis XIV. “Sun King”. “Sun King”. Ruled 1643-1715 “L’ etat , c’est moi ” “I am the state” He became known as “Sun King” since he was at the center of French Power. Louis XIV. Strong believer in “divine right” of kings Longest reign in European History (72 years)

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Louis XIV

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  1. Louis XIV “Sun King”

  2. “Sun King” • Ruled 1643-1715 • “L’ etat, c’estmoi” • “I am the state” • He became known as “Sun King” since he was at the center of French Power

  3. Louis XIV • Strong believer in “divine right” of kings • Longest reign in European History (72 years) • Inherited throne when 5, after death of Louis XIII (Henry IV was his grandfather)

  4. French Culture • French culture dominated Europe • The French language became the international language in Europe for our two centuries • France became center of literature and the arts until the 20th century

  5. The Fronde • Mid-late 1640’s • Cardinal Mazarin (1602-1661) controlled France while Louis was a child • Some nobles revolted against Mazarin • Able to defeat nobles • Louis remembered the nobility trying to take the throne while he was child and was determined to control the nobility

  6. The Fronde • Government Organization • Recruited his chief ministers from middle class • Checked the power of French institutions that might resist his control • Parlements afraid of him • If criticizing the government could be arrested • Never called Estates General into session • Control over peasants

  7. Palace of Versailles • Grandest and most impressive palace in all of Europe • Awe-inspiring scale of palace reinforced Louis powerful image • Façade was 1/3 mile long • 1,400 fountains • Cost of maintaing Versailles cost about 60% of all royal revenues

  8. Mirror Fountain Neptune Fountain The Apollo Fountain Dragon Fountain Pyramid Fountain Latona Fountain

  9. Religious Policies • Louis considered himself head of Gallican Church (French Catholic Church) • Edict of Fountainbleau • Revoked Edict of Nantes • Huguenots lost their right to practice Calvinism • 200,000+ Huguenots fled France • Supported the Jesuits in cracking down on Jansenists • Catholics who held some Calvinist ideas

  10. Industrialization • By 1683, France was Europe’s leading industrial country • Textiles, mirrors, lace-making, and foundries for steel manufacturing and firearms

  11. Wars of Louis XIV • Wars were initially successful but eventually became economically ruinous to France • Developed the professional modern army • Balance of Power • No one country would be allowed to dominate the continent since other countries would rally against them

  12. War of Devolution • First Dutch War • 1667-1668 • Invaded Spanish Netherlands (Belgium) w/o declaring war • Received 12 fortified towns on the border

  13. Second Dutch War • 1672-1678 • Invaded southern Netherlands • Peace of Nijmegan • Represented the limit to the expansion of Louis XIV

  14. War of Spanish Succession • 1701-1713 • France v. Grand Alliance • HRE, England, Dutch Republic, Brandenburg, Portugal, Savoy • Grand Alliance was afraid that Louis would combine Spanish and French thrones • Grand Alliance defeated Louis, ending expansionism

  15. Cost of Louis XIV’s Wars • Destroyed the French Economy • 20% of the French subjects died • Huge debt would be placed on the shoulders of the Third Estate • French government was bankrupt • Financial and social tensions would sow the seeds of the French Revolution later in the century

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