Absolutism in France 1589-1715

Henry IV (1589-1610) France weary from years of religious warfare Able to expand gov’t authority Established royal monopolies (gunpowder, salt, mines) Began construction of a canal system that would link France internally Corvée labor tax drafted workers to build infrastructure Issued Edict of Nantes Assassinated in 1610

Louis XIII 1610-1643 Rule began w/regency His mother.. Richelieu -signed a peace treaty w/Spain -appointed Richelieu chief advisor Richelieu -contained Hapsburg Spain -centralized French gov’t (intendents) -campaigned against Huguenots

Cardinal Richelieu

Louis XIV (1643-1715) Rule began w/regency His mother.. Mazarin -appointed Mazarin, Richelieu’s protégé Mazarin -immediately confronted by Fronde -fled France -returned w/Louis in 1653 to restore order Louis’ personal rule began in 1661 after Mazarin’s death

Louis XIV and Versailles Moved court to Versailles in response to the Fronde Served as an instrument of royal propaganda Important nobles, royal officials in permanent residence Consumed 1/2 of royal income Court life was organized around his personal routine

Louis’ Ministers Marquis de Louvois -Minister of war -Creator of modern army Jean Baptiste Colbert -Minister of finance -Promoter of mercantilism Jean Baptiste Colbert

Louis’ Power Increases Censored publishers Revoked Edict of Nantes  exodus/conversion of Huguenots Increased the power of intendants Achieved “absolute” power

Louis’ Wars 18 years of war in Louis’ last 27 proved costly, draining French resources Aims: defensible national boundaries capture Spanish Netherlands defeat Dutch Republic and ruin its trade weaken Habsburg Spain and HRE

Results of Louis’ Wars France bankrupted Little territory gained Starving peasants Social unrest