The Rise of Louis XIV Young Louis XIV with his brother, Philippe, and their governess

Henry IV and Sully: Review: Henry of Navarre issued Edict of Nantes (1598) to pacify French Wars of Religion Royal intendents supervised nobles to keep them in line with royal policy and end sinecures Sully –Established state monopolies –Began a canal system –Introduced royal corvée tax (labor) to create a national force of drafted workers Although much loved as a kind, compassionate king, he was assassinated 1610: stabbed by assassin who believed Henry had betrayed Catholic majority Assassination of Henry IV (“of Navarre”)

Louis XIII and Richelieu: Louis XIII only 9 years old: shrewd Cardinal Richelieu appointed as adviser Balanced Catholic and Protestant powers adjacent to France to secure borders Centralizing policies were effective, but created resentment –Stepped up the campaign against separatist provincial governors and parlements –Only one law existed: disobedient nobles executed or imprisoned –Weakened Edict of Nantes by removing political privileges of Huguenots –Replaced local authorities with “state” agents –Reduced local sources of patronage, thereby weakening local nobles King during much of 30YW

Young Louis XIV and Mazarin: : Louis XIV only 5 years old: Unpopular Italian Cardinal Mazarin appointed as adviser 1649: Uncle (in-law) Charles executed in England The Fronde: –backlash led by Paris parlement against centralizing royal policies –Chaos and near anarchy: regional parlements competed for power –Louis fled for a few months, then returned to power Louis learned dangers of heavy-handed politics

The Mature Louis XIV Master of propaganda and creation of a successful royal image Ensured that nobles would benefit from his growth of national authority Never limited nobles’ local authority Worked with regional parlements, except often for Paris Divine right rule: allegedly said “L’etat, c’est moi”

Louis XIV and Versailles Versailles created new model for royal head of state, removed from Paris –Opulent non-fortified model ensured that mimicking nobles would lose fortifications –Provided setting for cult of personality, where nobles competed for his attention –Created culture in which only physically present nobles could compete –Provided rituals and finery to entertain nobles, while government took place w/o them –(Fountains were powered by water from Seine elevated by waterwheels into tanks, but only when the king looked at them) Councils of appointed non-nobles ran economy, military, foreign affairs, etc –Daily meetings, much like today’s CEOs or presidents with their cabinets –Non-noble backgrounds of councilors: entirely dependent on Louis

Policies of Louis XIV Revoked Edict of Nantes: unify France under Catholicism Achieve secure international boundaries for France –Spanish Netherlands –Eastern French border with HRE –Southern border with Spain Colbert: controller general of finances –Tightly managed economy, including imports, exports, taxes, nationalized industries, tariffs, and simplified bureaucracy –Increased the taille direct tax on peasantry –Mercantilism: increase exports, decrease imports, expand colonies, amass bullion Louis XIV, portrayed as blessed by angels

Louis XIV and Louvois Louvois, war minister Soldiering became respectable: good salaries, improved discipline Promotion by merit Intendents monitored army nationally Army became publicly supported, as its discipline grew and it ceased threatening populace Louvois giving commands

Conclusions Louis XIV expanded powers of national government through –personal cleverness and strength of personality –administrative efficiency built on previous regimes –dependence on intelligent advisors Versailles lifestyle, cooperation with parlements, and support of local government –Co-opted nobles into his increase in national authority –Weakened nobility’s power to resist him militarily –Prevented consolidation of any types of national resistance Louis XIV and Moliere