The Reign of Louis XIV Section 5-2

Pre-Louis France There were many problems between Catholics and the Huguenots (French Protestants) St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre-sparked a 6 week nation wide slaughter of Huguenots, most of the nobles died but not the future king Henry of Navarre

Henry of Navarre Was Huguenot After the St. Bartholomew’s Massacre he became king Henry IV In order to bring peace to France Henry converted to Catholicism and issued the Edict of Nantes-said Huguenots could live in peace in France and set up houses of worship Was assassinated by a religious fanatic

Cardinal Richelieu Controlled France after Henry’s death (Louis XIII was weak) He forbade Protestant cities to have walls (he thought Protestantism often gave people an excuse to cause trouble) Ordered nobles to tear down their fortified castles He wanted to defeat the Hapsburgs (a powerful ruling family in Europe) He did these things in order to strengthen the Bourbon Monarchy

Skepticism

Louis XIV the Early Years The most powerful king in France’s history Cardinal Mazarin ruled when Louis XIV was a child Throughout Louis’s childhood anti-Mazarin nobles protested and threatened the king’s life When he grew older, Louis determined to be so strong that the nobles could never threaten him again

Louis as King He weakened the power of the nobles by excluding them from his councils. He increased government power by using intendants to collect taxes and perform government duties Demanded that officials made regular communications with him

Palace of Versailles Louis built the Palace of Versailles as a tribute to his power (he wanted the biggest and best looking palace in Europe) He made his nobles live in the palace so he could keep an eye on them Jean Baptiste Colbert-economic minister who helped Louis achieve economic, political, and cultural brilliance

Disastrous Wars Louis wanted to attack smaller countries and expand France’s borders The War of Spanish Succession-war in which other European nations banded together in order to stop the union of the Hapsburgs (Spain) and the Bourbon family (Louis-France) The British won vital lands from Spain and France which gave them access to the Mediterranean Sea

Louis’s Legacy Positive-Louis helped to elevate France to unprecedented levels of power and because of France’s might it was able acquire a large group of colonies Negative-Louis amassed a huge debt and would cause many problems for the rulers that would come after him