Absolutism and LOUIS XIV

17th century was a period of great transition European climate was getting colder - less food Governments spent more - mostly on armies and raised taxes on the poor France and Spain gained control over the papacy England and Germany establish national churches

We see the start of absolutism - rulers with absolute power They reigned by divine right not like medieval monarchs, by the grace of God

They: a) controlled the church b) law courts c) abolished freedoms and liberties d) maintained permanent armies e) used secret police and spies f) established huge bureaucracies focused on the king g) secured the cooperation of the nobility

Not total rule because the lacked the resources But it did foreshadow totalitarianism in 2 respects: i) glorification of the state over all else ii) use of war and expansionism to divert attention from domestic problems Henry IV and his advisor the Duke of Sully laid the foundations for absolutism in France It’s important to note the difference in absolute rule and total rule. If confused, research totalitarianism and compare it to absolutism.

But the number of taxes actually declined – and revenues increased Sully: a) revived the paulette tax - a tax on hereditary positions b) started a highway system c) and dreamed of an international organization to keep the peace d) also indirect tax on salt and sales But the number of taxes actually declined – and revenues increased Henry and Sully would also sell government offices that conferred nobility.

Henry died; Marie de Medici ruled for the boy-king Louis XIII In 1624 she appointed Cardinal Richelieu her Council of Ministers Louis XIII was nine years old when Henry was assassinated. Because of this, Marie de Medici ruled in his place.

Richelieu’s policy was to weaken the Habsurgs who surrounded France Richelieu: a) subordinated all offices to the monarchy b) weakened the power of the nobles c) recruited for the army d) supervised tax collection e) checked on nobility f) regulated economic activity Richelieu’s policy was to weaken the Habsurgs who surrounded France Richelieu, Louis XIII chief minister, was a politique who placed public order above religious zeal.

“raison d’etat” - what is done for the state is done for God 1631 France joins Sweden in the Thirty Years’ War against the Catholics Richelieu wrote Political Testament which said power is based on revenue French monarchs couldn’t tax at will so they would never have complete control “raison d’etat” - what is done for the state is done for God Third bullet – there’s an example of why absolutism wasn’t totalitarianism France role in the Thirty Years War helped to advance France’s long term policy of weakening the Habsburg Empire

Richelieu persuaded the king to appoint Jules Mazarin as his successor Richelieu and Louis both died Queen Anne of Austria (Hapsburg) governs for her son Louis XIV When Louis XIII dies, Louis XIV is five years old. Cardinal Mazarin is XIV’s chief minister, and Queen Anne rules in place of XIV for a while. Louis XIII, Anne of Austria, and their son Louis XIV

Young Louis XIV Dapper gent.

The war was between the king and the nobility - the frondeurs Mazarin continues Richelieu’s policies but leads to a civil war - The Fronde (1648-53) The war was between the king and the nobility - the frondeurs Violence continued for 12 years and had three significant results: a) government would have to compromise with the nobility b) the economy was ruined and would take years to rebuild c) Louis XIV would never forget the trauma The Fronde is an often asked item on the AP Exam. With an infant king and a brand new chief minister, nobles led rebellions against the royal authority. This is the Fronde. Louis XIV flees Paris with the increasing violence. What long term effects will this exposure to threatening violence have on King Louis XIV?

Under Louis (Sun King) absolutism reached its height 1661 Mazarin died and Louis took control of the economy “When Louis sneezed, all Europe caught cold” Reigned for 72 years How does Louis XIV childhood experiences define his powerful reign? *While royal power was absolute, it was not arbitrary. Monarchs MUST obey God’s law, if they did not they would answer to God for their misconduct.

Married Maria Theresa because of a diplomatic arrangement with Spain Had complete control over all classes of society Ruled from Versailles where he required the nobility to reside for several months each year 60% of revenue was spent on the maintaining of Versailles How is Louis XIV nickname “The Sun King” an accurate depiction of his reign?

Palace of Versailles How does the extravagance of Versailles represent the reign of Louis XIV.

L’ etat c’est moi! “I am the state” Because he didn’t share his power with Parliament, Henry would boast “L’ etat c’est moi!” or “I am the state”

Louis XIV’s Carriage

The Bourbon Family Crest

L’ ouis XIV as Apollo by Jean Nocret, 1670

The Sun Symbol

Marie Theresa & the Dauphin

Versailles Statistics 2,000 acres of grounds 12 miles of roads 27 miles of trellises 200,000 trees 210,000 flowers planted every year 80 miles of rows of trees 55 acres surface area of the Grand Canal 12 miles of enclosing walls 50 fountains and 620 fountain nozzles 21 miles of water conduits 3,600 cubic meters per hour: water consumed 26 acres of roof 51,210 square meters of floors 2,153 windows 700 rooms 67 staircases 6,000 paintings 1,500 drawings and 15,000 engravings 2,100 sculptures 5,000 items of furniture and objects d'art 150 varieties of apple and peach trees in the Vegetable Garden

Versailles Today

Palais de Versailles

Palais de Versailles

Chateau de Versailles

Chateau de Versailles Gardens

Fountains, Fountains, and More Fountains!

And More Fountains!

And More Fountains!

And Even More Fountains!!!

Temple of Love

Hall of Mirrors We will be talking more about the Hall of Mirrors in the future

The King’s Bed The Queen’s Bed

Louis XIV’s Chapel

Louis XIV’s Opera Stage

Louis XIV Furniture

The Gallery of Battles

Other monarchs imitated Louis and French replaced Latin as the language of the educated But his weakness was always finances He appointed Jean-Baptiste Colbert Controller of Finances

Colbert believed the wealth of the country should serve the state He applied the theory of mercantilism to France Mercantilism - government policies for the regulation of economic activities by and for the state

Colbert sent 4,000 people to Canada Marquette and Joliet - Mississippi River La Salle - Louisiana

Commercial class prospered while agriculture declined Because of war, bad harvests, deflation of currency, and emigration Colbert’s goals were never attained

1685 Louis revoked the Edict of Nantes Closed schools, destroyed Protestant churches, and exiled those who would not renounce their faith “one king, one law, one faith” “un roi, une loi, une foi” The revocation won Louis enormous praise How can religious intolerance of Louis XIV hurt the economy of France? If you’re a Huguenot, are you happy with Louis XIV’s policies?

Louis XIV’s Wars Kept France at war for most of his reign Appointed Marquis de Louvois secretary of State for War Louvois created a professional army A) feed the troops b) an ambulance corp c) standard weapons and uniforms d) rationalized training e) regulated promotion

1667 Louis invaded Flanders (Belgium) no success 1672 he invaded Holland but the Dutch saved themselves by flooding their land 1681 he seized Strasbourg and parts of Lorraine 1689 William of Orange - king of England William joined the League of Augsburg, but neither side won Claude Le Peletier, Colbert’s successor devalued the currency and sold offices and titles to the nobility

Between 1688-94 bad harvests sent the price of wheat skyrocketing 1701-1713 The War of Spanish Succession a) old territorial disputes b) dynastic question of Spanish throne

1700 Charles II was king of Spain - he was insane Charles died in 1700 and left the throne to the grandson of Louis XIV, Philip of Anjou IV The Dutch and British refused to accept French control of the Spanish colonies and Netherlands Curious as to whether or not he was insane? Do some outside research. After Charles died, other European nations feared that Louis could create a universal monarchy between France and Spain.

English, Dutch, Austrian, Prussians, and the Italian duchy of Savoy formed the Grand Alliance Even though they were all fighting the French internal conflicts developed Two soldiers dominated: Eugene, prince of Savoy representing the HRE John Churchill representing England

PEACE OF UTRECHT Philip of Anjou remains king of Spain Spain and France must never unite France kept Alsace France gave Austria the Spanish Netherlands ( became Austrian Netherlands) France gave England Nova Scotia, Hudson Bay, Newfoundland France recognizes the Hohenzollern rulers of Prussia Spain gave England Gibraltar Spain gave England -asiento- the rights to the slave trade The Peace of Utrecht kept the peace in Europe for the next thirty years. Don’t spend time studying all of Louis XIV’s wars, instead, focus on the consequences of those wars and the provisions of Utrecht.

The Treaty Represented the balance of power principle Saw the decline of Spain Saw the rise of the British Empire Marked the end of French expansionism The Treaty kept the peace in Europe for the next 30 years. It contributed to the rise of the British Empire and saw the beginning of the decline of the Spanish Empire.

French Classicism Poussin was the greatest classicist painter Rape of the Sabine Women

Absolutism and Classicism melded Art glorified the king Lully, Couperin, and Charpentier created great orchestral works Moliere and Racine wrote powerful plays on controversial issues Les Femmes Savantes - Tartuffe, mocked intelligent women

Spanish Decline No middle class Agricultural decline Population decline Failure to invest wisely Intellectual isolation (religious reasons) Increase in Dutch and English trade with Americas Americas develop local industries Increasing royal expenditure

1715 Spain a second-rate power Several times the king declares bankruptcy and cancels national debt People dropped out of society or turned to religion High rents and taxes drove peasants off the land Philip IV left control to Count-Duke Olivares Olivares believed in imperialism Imperialism meant conflict with the Dutch Wars between the Spanish and Dutch would contribute to the decline of both of those powers by 1713.