1. France and the
Construction of an
Absolute Monarchy

2. Henry IV and Marie de Medici

3. Acts of Marie de Medici - Undid much of the good done by Henry
Appointed Concini as first minister of France
Arranged an unpopular marriage b/w her son Louis XIV and Anne of Austria
Estates General has to be called (1614)
Names Jean Armand du Plessis de Richelieu as First Minister

4. Cardinal Richilieu Armand Jean du Plessis “raison d’etat”
worked well with Huguenots
curbed the power of the nobility
Intendent system
moderately successful economic program
Willing to concede religious law for political improvement
- Foreign policy: break power of the Habsburgs

5. Louis XIII and Anne of Austria

6. Louis XIV- The Sun King 1643-1715 reign
Longest reign of any European monarch, began at age 5
Parents were childless for 23 years. Leads to him being seen as a miracle or a gift.
Epitome of Absolutism- imitated by other European monarchs

7. L’ etat c’est moi!
Un Roi, Une Loi, Une Foi
By Hyacinthe Rigaud

8. Louis moved the court to his palace at Versailles to escape Parisian mobs and memories of the Fronde
Versailles became the visible symbol of Louis’ absolutism
Domestication of the Aristocracy- Nobles came to see service to the king as best route to power
Nobles of the Sword v. Nobles of the Robe
Both king and nobles benefited- king gained services of influential administrators and nobles gained privileges and rewards.

9. Rescinded the Edict of Nantes with the Edict of Fountainebleau
We have determined that we can do nothing better, in order wholly to obliterate the memory of the troubles, the confusion, and the evils which the progress of this false religion has caused in this kingdom, and which furnished occasion for the said edict and for so many previous and subsequent edicts and declarations, than entirely to revoke the said Edict of Nantes, with the special articles granted as a sequel to it, as well as all that has since been done in favor of the said religion.
Edict of Fountainebleau- Louis XIV 1685

10. Louis XIV patronized artists and writers
All art was required to follow rules of acceptability
The purpose of art was to exalt the king and therefore was required to exhibit dignity and gravity
Playwrights- Racine and Moliere
Opera and Ballet- Lully

11. Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Louis’ chief advisor
Financial wizard
Mercantilist
Louis followed his advice until 1680s
Followed advice of marquis of Louvois
Gained land on northeast border from the HRE

12.
William III and Leopold I formed Grand Alliance against Louis’ attempt to unite French and Spanish thrones
Ended by Treaty of Utrecht- Philip becomes king of Spain but removed from French succession, balance of power maintained, England gains land in North America

13. Louis XIV’s Carriage

14. The Bourbon Family Crest

15. L’ ouis XIV as Apollo

16. L’ ouis XIV as Apollo
by Jean Nocret, 1670

17. The Sun Symbol

18. Louis XIV Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1665

19. Marie Theresa & the Dauphin

20. Versailles:
Home of the
"Sun King"

21. 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

22. Louis XIII’s Old Chateau

23. Versailles Today

24. Palais de Versailles

25. Palais de Versailles

26. Versailles Palace, Park Side

27. Garden View of Versailles

28. Chateau de Versailles

29. Chateau de Versailles

30. André Le Nôtre, Royal Gardener

31. Versailles’ Northern Gardens

32. Gardens at Versailles

33. Chateau de Versailles Gardens

34. The Orangery

35. Grounds at Versailles

36. The Lightening of the Belvedere by Claude Chatelet, 1781

37. Fountains, Fountains, and More Fountains!

38. And More Fountains!

39. And More Fountains!

40. And Even More Fountains!!!

41. Temple of Love

42. Hall of Mirrors

43. The King’s Bed
The Queen’s Bed

44. Louis XIV’s Chapel

45. Louis XIV’s Chapel Altarpiece

46. Organ in Louis XIV’s Chapel

47. Louis XIV’s Opera Stage

48. Cabinet with Views of Versailles, 19c

49. Louis XIV Furniture

50. The Gallery of Battles

51. Louis XV [r – 1774]

52. The “Hunts” of Louis XV

53. Madame de Pompadour

54. Madame de Pompadour’s Bedroom

55. Petite Trianon, Madame de Pompadour’s Chateau

56. Marie Antoinette & Her Children

57. Marie Antoinette’s Boudoir

58. Marie Antoinette’s “Peasant” House

59. Marie Antoinette’s “Peasant’s Hut”

60. Marie Antoinette’s “Peasant’s Hut”