Absolute Monarchy in France Chapter 18 Section 2

Key Terms Huguenot Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre Henry IV Edict of Nantes Louis XIII Cardinal Richelieu Louis XIV War of Spanish Succession Treaty of Utrecht

Religious War and Henry IV Protestant Reformation began in 1560’s One in ten French were Huguenot Huguenot-French Calvinists Large number of Protestant nobles Threatened French Catholic monarchy

Conflict and a New King 1562 fighting between Catholics and Huguenots 1572 Catholic Queen ordered the killing of the Huguenots Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre- Huguenots in town for the wedding of Henry of Navarre (10,000 to 70,000 killed)

Henry of Navarre escaped by denying his religion Was in line to be king Fought Catholics troops to claim the throne Converted to Catholicism “Paris was worth the mass”

Compromise in Progress Edict of Nantes- gave Huguenots limited freedom to worship Could hold office in the 200 towns where they were a majority Concept of one king, one law, one religion no longer in affect

Compromise in Progress French people accepted the Edict because it stopped religious wars Required Huguenots to support church financially Henry focused on repairing country Improved France’s financial situation

Compromise and Progress Built up a surplus Created new industries Drained swamps Built canals and roads Stimulated trade encourage agriculture

Louis XIII and Richelieu Henry killed in 1610 (stabbed) Louis XIII was young, mother served as regent Cardinal Richelieu- became a chief minister and most trusted advisor

Louis XIII and Richeliue Louis XIII weak ruler Richelieu strengthened monarchy Crushed opponents Both wanted to reduce the power of the Huguenots People of La Rochelle helped English forces

Louis XIII and Richelieu Richelieu’s troops laid siege to the city Tore down the city’s wall made the churches become Catholic Signal to Huguenots that resistance to the monarchy carried risks

Louis XIII and Richelieu Spies found plots against the kings Three prominent nobles were executed Richelieu also directed foreign policy To bring down Hapsburg family sided with Protestants in 30 year war

The Monarchy and Louis XIV Richelieu died 1642 Louis XIII died the next year Louis XIV- best example of an absolute monarch His mother was a regent Cardinal Mazarin became chief minister

Rise of the Sun King Raised to be king Different from father Trained to talk to ambassadors Interpret state papers Hunting, dancing Different from father Supremely confident in his ability to rule When Mazarin dies he was 18

Rise of the Sun King Declared he could rule himself Choose the sun as his personal symbol Implying that the world revolved around him “Letat c’est moi”means “I am the state”

Absolutism at Versailles Retained absolute power Began tradition of absolute monarchy In charge of military Political initiatives Economic initiatives Religion of his subjects All under his direct control

Absolutism at Versailles Louis deprive nobles of influence Louis built an enormous palace at Versailles Required nobles to visit him Nobles gained prestige by being servants to the king

Absolutism at Versailles Urged nobles to develop expensive habits of Dressing Dining gambling Nobles grew poorer and had to depend more on the king’s generosity

Absolutism at Versailles Versailles was a grand spectacle of kingly power Every moment of the day required rituals Bowing courtiers Eating Dressing Walking in the garden All required a ritual

Louis and Protestantism Smashed power of the Huguenots 1685 revoked the Edict of Nantes 200,000 Huguenots fled France Prosperous merchants, artisans Loss of skill and wealth caused a financial crisis

Money and Military Lifestyle demanded a lot of money Jean-Baptiste Colbert Limited imports Increased exports Simplified tax system Built up military from 70,000 to 200,000 Spent money on good equipment Went to war four times

War Over the Throne Louis XIV wanted to increase his power across the border Louis had to melt down royal silver to pay for wars War of Spanish Succession- Spanish king died without an heir Three rulers tried to take over

War Over the Throne European monarchs did not want Spain and France so closely connected England, Netherlands, Holy Roman Empire went to war against France Fighting in North America was the French and Indian War

War Over the Throne 1713 Louis accepted the Treaty of Utrecht Louis grandson got Spanish throne Louis gave up most of the territory he had taken War benefited England Louis remained in power till 1715

Treaty of Utrecht