France in the Age of Absolutism “Absolute power corrupts absolutely” -Lord Acton

What is Absolutism? Power = King Kings ruled by “divine right” God “chooses” kings Little Gods on earth Pros and Cons of absolutism?

Henry IV Rules 1589-1610 Founder of the Bourbon Dynasty Huguenot – Converts to Catholicism “Paris is worth a mass”

Henry IV – Edict of Nantes 1598 Guaranteed religious freedom to French Protestants 150 fortified towns

French Tax System Three “Estates” (Classes) 1st Estate -Clergy 2nd Estate - Nobility 3rd Estate - Artisans, merchants, peasants Nobility and Clergy gain exemptions Tax burden falls on Third Estate

Louis XIII Henry IV assassinated in 1610 Louis XIII becomes King of France Eight years old Mother appoints a regent Cardinal Richelieu becomes chief minister

Cardinal Richelieu 1585-1642 Goal: Place ALL power in hands of King Took power from nobles Executions Intendants Took rights from Huguenots

Intendants Royal officials Middle Class, Lesser Nobility Reduce the power of the Nobility or Aristocracy

Richelieu: Foreign Policy Goals: POWER AND LAND Thirty Years’ War Protestant rebellion against HRE French entered the War on the Protestant side? To weaken the Hapsburgs

Louis XIV: “Sun King” Ruled 1643-1715 72 Years longest reign in Europe Built Versailles Increased France’s wealth & Power Repealed Edict of Nantes Costly Wars

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

Palace at Versailles few miles outside of Paris Originally a hunting lodge Construction begins in 1661 Hall of Mirrors: 357 mirrors

Why Versailles? Built to symbolize monarch’s dominance French power Control nobility Other countries

Jean-Baptiste Colbert 1665-1683 – Minister of Finance Strict mercantilist France should import NOTHING Encouraged French exploration of Canada

Wars of Louis XIV Under Louis XIV, France is at war for 33 years Wars meant to expand French territory Enormous debt