Louis XIV (FRENCH ABSOLUTISM)

Divine Right “By the grace of God” God chose the ruler Kings spoke with God’s voice Bishop Jacques Benign Bossuet: "the king, Jesus Christ, and the Church, God in His three names"

Bishop Jacques Benign Bossuet “Something indescribably divine is attached to the prince and inspires fear in the people. …you are gods, that is, you have in your authority and you carry on your forehead a divine quality.” (1680s) Divine Right of Kings

How does this concept create stability? What happens if you try to overthrow a king? What have you just declared? How does this concept create stability? Why will the Church support this concept? Why will Puritans, Huguenots, and Presbyterians not support this?

Foundations of Absolutism Most monarchs espoused this idea The French kings got away with it Kings remained ceremonial Allowed their “favorite” to run the government Duke of Sully ran Henry IV’s government Cardinal Richelieu ran Louis XIII’s government Cardinal Mazarin ran Louis XIV’s government

Why would using a “favorite” be a good idea for a king’s safety?

Henry IV (1553-1589-1610) (born-king-died) Married (1572) age 19 (to Margo) 27 miserable years Had a lot of mistresses Separated (1589) (annulled 1599) Henry III was killed (1589) H.IV Coroneted as a Catholic king (1593) age 41 Edict of Nantes (1598) Married Marie de Medici (1600) “a man of vision and courage”

Why do you think Henry was so beloved if he was more an enemy of the French monarchy?

Henry IV (1553-1589-1610) (born-king-died) Not popular becoming king Beloved by the time he died Highly concerned for welfare of France regularized finances promoted agriculture, drained swamps public works, encouraged education protected forests from devastation; ordered plantings new system of tree lined highways constructed new bridges and canals renewed Paris as a great city added wings to the Louvre, built Place Royal promoter of arts for and by all classes

Louis XIII (1601-1610-1643) Nine years old Power in the hands of Richelieu Anti-Hapsburg policy Entered Thirty Years War on Protestant side Anti-Huguenot policy Retracted privileges promised in Edict of Nantes Anti-Nobles policy Tried to control Nobles Created resentment among Nobles Eventually led to THE FRONDE “Louis the Chaste” (no mistresses)

Louis XIV (1638-1643-1715) Was only five Nobles rebellion: THE FRONDE Anarchy for three years (1649-1652) Louis would never forget Would evoke grandeur of the position THE SUN KING When he was a child – danced as the sun Became his symbol L’etat c’est moi Suppression of Jansenists (1660) Catholics who opposed Free will Revocation of Edict of Nantes (1685) 10% of France Huguenot (1.7 million) 200,000 abandoned nation 3m bio on Louis XIV 45m bio on Louis XIV

Docs in Red Book P. 439 (Louis revokes Edict of Nantes) P. 440 (Louis’s sister-in-law Grieves for homeland) P. 446-447 (The State Portrait of Louis XIV)

What is his obvious attitude toward religion? How will this be bad? How will this create stability? “One king, one law, one faith”

Versailles 3m Cribs - Versailles 3m – building Versailles

Describe Versailles What does this have to do with the Fronde? Why would Louis design such and expensive and elaborate palace? What does this have to do with the Fronde?

Versailles Promote image of divine ~2 billion to build Millions to maintain As many as 10,000 people Four building phases 1685 – 36,000 builders, 6000 horses, 2x size of CR South Meant to inspire awe Created a whole culture Hierarchy, power, prestige to even be there Nobles who may have led the Fronde now WANTED to be there Bigger rooms to higher rank All had to turn in room key daily Special day to be near the king 2m “this… is Versailles”

Louis XIV’s Four Wars Meant to create awe of France Often to punish enemies Ultimately destroyed France Louis saw himself as a warrior Louis went in a GREAT MAN Wars destroyed French treasury And Louis died a year later…

War of Devolution (1667-1668) Louis claimed Spanish Netherlands Belgium Louis never got 500,000 crown dowry Triple Alliance formed to repel French army England Sweden United Provinces Leopold (HRE) pushed for peace Saw this as a dangerous escalation Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle No real change

Franco-Dutch War (1672-1678) Meant to punish the Dutch Treaty of Dover Had prevented French victory Had Louis seething Treaty of Dover Ended Triple Alliance France bought English support with gold France and England declared war on Dutch Quick French victories 180,000 French troops Dutch flooded land England dropped out HRE, Spain, Prussia joined Dutch War ended – not much change France clearly the dominant nation

Nine Years War (1688-1697) King William’s War League of Augsburg Grand Alliance England, Spain, Sweden, Austria United Provinces, Bavaria, Palatinate, Saxony Glorious Revolution (England) French army – now 400,000 Peace of Ryswick – France got Alsace and Lorraine William III

War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714) Queen Anne’s War Spanish King Charles “the sufferer” Philip of Anjou Grand Alliance France not ready Famine and revolts in France Peace of Utrecht (1713) Philip did get to be King of Spain But, they could not unite with France And Louis had to accept the Glorious Revolution