1. Absolutism in France

2. Henry IV (1589-1610) France weary from years of religious warfare
Able to expand gov’t authority
Established royal monopolies (gunpowder, salt, mines)
Began construction of a canal system that would link France internally
Corvée labor tax drafted workers to build infrastructure
Issued Edict of Nantes
Assassinated in 1610

3. Louis XIII 1610-1643 Rule began w/regency His mother.. Richelieu
-signed a peace treaty w/Spain
-appointed Richelieu chief advisor
Richelieu
-contained Hapsburg Spain
-centralized French gov’t (intendents)
-campaigned against Huguenots

4. Cardinal Richelieu

6. Louis XIV (1643-1715) Rule began w/regency His mother.. Mazarin
-appointed Mazarin, Richelieu’s protégé
Mazarin
-immediately confronted by Fronde
-fled France
-returned w/Louis in 1653 to restore order
Louis’ personal rule began in 1661 after Mazarin’s death

7. Louis XIV and Versailles
Moved court to Versailles in response to the Fronde
Served as an instrument of royal propaganda
Important nobles, royal officials in permanent residence
Consumed 1/2 of royal income
Court life was organized around his personal routine

9. Louis’ Ministers Marquis de Louvois -Minister of war
-Creator of modern army
Jean Baptiste Colbert
-Minister of finance
-Promoter of mercantilism
Jean Baptiste Colbert

10. Louis’ Power Increases
Censored publishers
Revoked Edict of Nantes  exodus/conversion of Huguenots
Increased the power of intendants
Achieved “absolute” power

11. Louis’ Wars
18 years of war in Louis’ last 27 proved costly, draining French resources
Aims:
defensible national boundaries
capture Spanish Netherlands
defeat Dutch Republic and ruin its trade
weaken Habsburg Spain and HRE

12. Results of Louis’ Wars France bankrupted Little territory gained
Starving peasants
Social unrest