Absolutism – Jean Bodin 16th C Sovereign power in the state rests in the hands of a King who claims divine right

Powers Legislation Taxation Administration of justice Execution of laws Selection of state officials Foreign policy

Jacques Boussuet (1627 – 1704) Politics Drawn from the Very Words of Scripture Divine –right God ordained government and established kings Their authority is therefore absolute A Parliament has no authority – only God

Advance of Absolutism

Cardinal Richelieu Louis XIII Amended Nantes (no military) Spies Intendants Taille 30 years War

Cardinal Marzarin Louis XIV – age Deals with …. End of Thirty Years War (1648 – Westphalia) And…..

The Fronde 1st – Nobles of the Robe – Paris 1648 – nd Nobles of the Sword – countryside 1650 – 1652 Oppose increased taxation Opposed increased power of the King Demand Marzarin’s overthrow Crushed by crown forces Childhood trauma in formative years

Louis XIV b1643 r 1661 – 1715 One king on law one faith Edict of Fontainebleau Destruction of Huguenot churches/schools 200,000 emigrate

Jean Babtist Colbert – Finance Minister 1619 – 1683 Mercantilist French East India Co. Increase in manufacture Roads / canals Luxuries industry Tariffs on foreign goods Merchant Marines $$ used to make France an cultural leader in Europe

The Sun King – Louis’ strive toward absolutism "Messieurs," he announced, "I have gathered you here to tell you that henceforth I intend to rule my state alone." “L’etat c’est moi” Versailles – secure location 10,000 people Nobility attends him always Freed nobles from taxation – ends their authority over the countryside (commoners are the only one’s now taxed) Intendants

Foreign Policy Expansion Louis attempts to gain the balance of power Expands into Hapsburg lands Invasion of the Spanish Netherlands 1667 War of the Grand Alliance 1680’s League of Augsberg / William III of Orange War of the Spanish Succession – 1700 England, Dutch Republic the Hapsburgs, Prussia, Hanover, Portugal Utrecht – Spain & France would never be united 1714 Asiento – increases Britains’s role in slave trade

Legacy Arts / literature glorify and promote French culture Huge debts from warfare Weakening of noble role – increase in use of commoners in government Powerful French colonies

Colonial Empire Louis and the arts