1. France during Absolutism

2. Bourbon Dynasty Henry of Navarre (Becomes Henry IV)
Protestant Bourbon prince
Brought peace
First Bourbon King
Opposed by the people
Forced to become Catholic
Edict of Nantes- 1598
Declared France a Catholic country (diffusing tension)
Religious tolerance
Protestants could worship

3. Cardinal Richelieu French minister
Ruled during the reign of Louis XIII
Made the Bourbon monarchy the most powerful
Destroyed nobles castles

4. Louis XIV- the “Sun King”
Most powerful ruler in French history
Decreased power of nobility
Wanted France to attain economical, political, and cultural brilliance
Cancelled the Edict of Nantes
Many skilled workers left France

5. Spent a fortune to have luxury all around him
Built the Palace at Versailles
Supporter of the arts
Imposed taxes, started wars, spent too much $$ (the value of the Versailles estate staggers at US $300 billion. (2010)
Ruled for 72 years

6. Louis XIV’s money problems
Costly wars
Tried to expand French boundaries into the Netherlands
European wide alliance formed to stop him
War of Spanish Succession
Charles II died childless, promised throne to Louis’ nephew
Europe scared of an alliance between France and Spain
French lost lands in the Americas to Britain
Austrians took land from Spain

7. Palace of Versailles

12. King’s bedchamber

13. Queen’s bedchamber

14. The Hall of Mirrors

15. Versailles Chapel

16. Garden of Versailles

18. Marie Antoinette's Pastoral Pond

19. Powerscourt Fountain

20. Estates General French Legislative Body 1st Estate- Clergy (1%)
Met in 1614, then not again until 1789
Absolute monarchs don’t “need them” until non-wealthy members of 3rd estate force the issue.
1st Estate- Clergy (1%)
2nd Estate- Nobility (2%)
3rd Estate- everybody else (97%)