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French Absolutism

French Absolutism. Western Civilization Mrs. Civitella. I. France Under Louis XIV. Wars between Catholics and Huguenots caused turmoil from 1560s-1590s Fanatics from both sides committed savage acts St. Bartholomew’s Day- August 24, 1572

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French Absolutism

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  1. French Absolutism Western Civilization Mrs. Civitella

  2. I. France Under Louis XIV • Wars between Catholics and Huguenots caused turmoil from 1560s-1590s • Fanatics from both sides committed savage acts • St. Bartholomew’s Day- August 24, 1572 • Catherine de Medici allowed her Catholic supporters to kill Huguenot leaders who had come to Paris for a royal wedding • That night, mobs of Parisians roamed the streets, killing thousands of Huguenots • The slaughter then spread beyond Paris • The Huguenots responded on St. Bartholomew’s Day with attacks on Catholics • Thousands were slaughtered

  3. St. Bartholomew’s Day- August 24, 1572

  4. II. Henry IV of France • Henry IV inherited the throne in 1589 • Was a Huguenot but converted the Catholicism to keep the peace • Issued the Edict of Nantes in 1598 • Allowed Huguenots to practice their religion • Allowed Huguenots to fortify their towns • Under Henry IV, the French government became very • Involved in the everyday lives of the people: Built bridges, improved roads , “a chicken in every pot”

  5. III. Cardinal Armand Richelieu • Henry IV was killed in 1610 • Louis XIII, Henry IV’s 19 year old son, inherited the throne • Nobles put Cardinal Armand Richelieu as his chief minister • Richelieu helped to rule France for the next 18 years • Increased the power and prestige of the French monarchy • He allowed the Huguenots to practice their religion • He forced the Huguenots to unfortified their towns • He outlawed the Huguenot armies • He secured the loyalty of nobles by giving them high positions in the government

  6. IV. Louis XIV • Louis XIII died in 1643, when Louis XIV was four years old • Cardinal Mazarin and Louis’ mother, Anne of Austria, ruled for the next 19 years • The monarchy continued to gain power during this time • From 1649-1652 a series of uprisings called the Fronde occurred in France when nobles, merchants, peasants, and the poor, rebelled against the power of the King • This inspired Louis XIV to secure the support of the nobles

  7. Louis XIV • When Cardinal Mazarin died in 1661, Louis XIV decided to rule the country for himself • Believed in divine rule from God • He took the sun as his symbol, called himself the “Sun King” • “I am the state” • He did not call the legislature, the Estates General, to meet during his entire reign • The Estates General was a representative body that that could have checked the power of the king

  8. Louis XIV, The Sun King

  9. Louis XIV strengthened the power of the monarchy Intendants- royal officials were appointed to: • Collect taxes • Recruit soldiers • Ensure that royal laws were being followed by the French provinces

  10. Louis XIV built up the military • The French army grew to 300,000 soldiers • All of the money to train them, house them, supply them and pay them came from tax dollars • Louis XIV used his large army to achieve his goals in France and abroad

  11. Louis XIV Financial Policies • Financial advisor, Jean Baptiste Colbert believed in mercantilism • Believing that you needed to export more than you import • He built up domestic industries • Put high tariffs (import taxes) on foreign goods • Encouraged Louis XIV to establish New France in North America

  12. Versailles • Louis XIV transformed a royal hunting lodge into a spectacular new palace 12 miles west of Paris • It took more than 27 years to complete • Symbolized the power and extravagance of the Sun King • 20,000 acres of formal gardens • Apartments that housed hundreds of royals, nobles and servants • The most formal room was the hall of mirrors

  13. Activities at Versailles • 10,000 people lived at Versailles • Levee (rising)- ceremonies where nobles lobbied for power by being chosen to helping the King get washed and dressed • Louis XIV wanted the nobles near him at Versailles instead of out in the countryside where they could potentially plot against him • Strict code of etiquette at Versailles

  14. The legacy of Louis XIV • Reigned for 72 years • French culture became the new ideal culture of Europe (replaced Italian Renaissance culture) • In 1685, Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes • 100,000 Huguenots fled France • Loss of efficient laborers, hurt French economy

  15. War of the Spanish Succession • In 1700, Louis XIV grandson Philip V inhereted the throne of Spain • Louis XIV then declared that France and Spain were one • England, the Dutch Netherlands, and Austria led a Grand Alliance of nations against France and Spain • Lasted from 1700-1713 • France finally had to agree to end the war with the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 • England and the Dutch Netherlands recognized Philip V as king of Spain, on the condition that France and Spain never be united under one crown • The war drained the French treasury, increased poverty, and created opposition to Louis’s rule

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