The French Monarchy Chapter 19:iii

France was divided between Catholic and Huguenot- dominated areas by the late-1500s.

THE CROSS OF LANGUEDOC

Wars of Religion fighting between Protestant and Catholic nobles plunged France into chaos -royal power melted away Huguenots sought help from English, Dutch, and German Protestants

The French Huguenots were led by Admiral Gaspard de Coligny.

Catherine de’ Medici, the queen mother, used ruthless tactics, often playing the Catholics off against the Huguenots.

Thousands of Huguenots were massacred when they went to Paris to celebrate the marriage of Henry of Navarre to Catherine’s daughter.

Catherine de’ Medici is often credited with organizing the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre.

Huguenot leader Admiral Coligny was one of the victims slaughtered on St. Bartholomew’s Day.

Henry IV “Paris is well worth a Mass.”

Edict of Nantes 1598 freedom of worship right to set-up churches civil rights equal to those of Catholics 100 fortified towns protected by Protestant troops

Henry IV ( ) revived royal authority developed a strong army oversaw justice repaired roads encouraged new businesses

French nobles tried to reassert their influence early in Louis XIII’s reign. In 1614, they forced him to call the Estates General.

The Estates General did not meet for another 175 years. French monarchs gained absolute power over the government as a result.

Cardinal Richelieu increased the power and prestige of the French monarchy.

Cardinal Richelieu was a mercantilist, believing that trade would strengthen the monarchy.

Cardinal Richelieu promoted commerce by encouraging nobles to support overseas trading companies.

When Louis XIII died in 1643, his wife, Anne of Austria, served as regent for their four year old son Louis XIV.

While serving as regent for the young Louis XIV, Cardinal Mazarin continued Richelieu’s policy of centralizing power.

Louis XIV believed it was his divine right to rule as an absolute monarch. “L’etat, c’est moi.”

Louis XIV’s motto: “ None his equal.”

Louis XIV reorganized the army, gave it uniforms and assigned ranks, and increased the size to 400,000.

Louis XIV appointed Intendants, or royal agents, to rule the provinces.

E d i c t o f N a n t e s Cancelled!

What was Louis Thinking? Believed Huguenots threatened his absolute monarchy. Many were military and business leaders As a result many Huguenots emigrated to the Netherlands, England, and England’s American colonies.

Hall of Mirrors

Louis XIV encouraged the French nobles to live at Versailles so he could keep an eye on them.

European rulers modeled their governments on the absolute monarchy of Louis XIV.

People adopted French manners and fashions in clothing and art.

Louis XIV’s finance minister, Jean Baptiste Colbert reformed the system for collecting taxes and introduced higher taxes.

Colbert Continued mercantilist policies of Cardinal Richelieu to promote trade and industry

Wars of Louis XIV: War of Spanish Succession