1. Absolute Monarchs Section 1 – France
Unit 9
Absolute Monarchs Section 1 – France

2. Wars of Religion - In France
On and off from 1562 – 1598
Huguenots - French Protestants
Fight 8 religious wars with the Catholics
Royal power melts away and chaos results
1572 – St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
Sparked 6 week slaughter of Huguenots.
Nobles in Paris for royal wedding
Henry of Navarre – Huguenot
Most nobles died.

3. Henry of Navarre -> Henry IV
1589
Becomes Henry IV as he inherits the throne.
First Bourbon king in France
Good leader, clever politician
Way to keep power is to put France first.
Huguenot, Converts to Catholicism.
Issues Edict of Nantes
Gave Huguenots freedom of worship and right to build churches in certain areas, and could defend own towns.

4. Henry IV – Rebuilds France
Henry devoted reign to rebuilding France.
Restored monarchy power.
rebuilt the bureaucracy
Tried to fix system of taxation
Re-instated justice system
encouraged businesses, repaired roads.
Peace in France
Some still hated him
1610 – was stabbed to death.
Louis XIII (his son) becomes king
Age 8.
Louis was a sick and weak king but appointed wise advisors.

5. Cardinal Richelieu Cardinal Richelieu – Chief Minister
Took more power away from the nobles
Two threats to France
Huguenots - Took political right away from them
Hapsburgs
Strengthened trade and industry.

6. Cardinal Richelieu Huguenots – believed to be dangerous
Wanted to prevent them from challenging power.
1627 – started attacking their cities
1628 – they want peace - agree not fortify cities
Increased power of regional intendants
Decreases reliance on nobles for govt. positions.
The other problem - the Hapsburg Empire.
Influenced Thirty Years War

7. Thirty Years’ War
1618
Conflict over religion, territory and power
Started as a Protestant revolt in Prague against HRE
Cardinal Richelieu tried to influence the war and keep it going but technically keep France out of it until 1648.
War basically over by then

8. Peace of Westphalia 1648 – Peace treaty ends war.
Had important consequences
Weakened Spain and Austria
Strengthened France – gained some German land - Alsace
German Princes now free from Holy Roman Emperor
Ended religious wars in Europe
Introduced new method for peace negotiations
Representatives meet to settle problems that caused the war.
Netherlands and Switzerland gained independence.

9. Peace of Westphalia Ended idea of a European Catholic Empire
Recognized Europe as independent states
All equal – Balance of Power
Beginning of modern state system
Most important result of the war.

10. Louis XIV 1643 - Louis XIII dies
Louis XIV (son) - 5 years old – becomes King
Mother, Anne of Austria and Cardinal Mazarin rule for him until he’s able
Continues to centralize power.
Mazarin dies - Louis is 23 - rules on his own
Ruled for 72 years
Frances’s most powerful ruler ever
Dominates Europe

11. Louis XIV - "The Sun King" Symbol was the sun
As the earth depends upon the sun for its existence, so did his subjects depend on him.
Divine right to rule, absolute power, representative from God.

12. Louis XIV and the Nobility
Had hundred of nobility living at Versailles
Helped him dress
Hoping for his approval
The better to watch over them....
Took them away from homes
Decreased their local power, increased Intendants power.

13. Versailles Royal Palace 11 miles southwest of Paris
More like a royal city
Rich decorations
Showed wealth and power.
Elaborate ceremonies
Center of culture
Opera became more popular than ballet
Purpose to glorify the king and his values

14. Colbert Economics Jean Baptiste Colbert - Minister of Finance
Believed in Mercantilism
Manufacture what you need, no imports.
Make country self-sufficient
Keep wealth within country.
Businesses
Lend Money
Tax breaks until making money
High tariffs on imports
Encouraged trade and Colonies
Get raw materials
Encourage settlements in Canada, West Indies & Asia

15. Colbert Economics Under Colbert Economy prospered, even lower classes
Improved all types of transportation
Eliminated tariffs on local products
Raised them on imports

16. After Colbert’s Death Louis XIV Changes
Economic growth slows
1685 – Louis XIV Canceled Edict of Nantes
Ended religious toleration for Huguenots
Believed they threatened the unity and stability of France
Huguenots, to escape persecution, fled to England, Americas and the Dutch Netherlands.
Weakened France in the long run.

17. Wars of Louis XIV Wanted to extend France to gain natural barriers
Invaded Spanish and Dutch Netherlands, Sweden, England, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire.
France gains some new territory.
’s – European alliance formed
Meant to reach a balance of power.

18. War of the Spanish Succession
France had been weakened by poor harvests and constant warfare and increased taxes.
People wanted peace, got another war
Charles II, king of Spain dies, last of Hapsburgs
No heir, promises throne to Philip V, Louis XIV’s grandson
European powers concerned about possible unification of France and Spain under the Bourbons.
France and Spain vs. Europe

19. Peace of Utrecht – 1713 Ends War of Spanish Succession
French suffer loses
Louis agrees that Spain will be ruled by Philip V
Would never unite
Austria - gets Spanish Netherlands, areas in Italy.
England - gets New Foundland, Nova Scotia, Hudson Bay, Gibraltar, and Minorca
Lands which had be Frances.
Prussia and Savoy recognized as kingdoms
Left France in debt

20. Louis’s Death and Legacy
Louis realized his wars had ruined France
Debt and abuses of power
Set up some colonies in U.S., Asia & India
Died in 1715
People of France rejoiced
Left a mixed legacy
France was a powerful nation
Debt and abuses would hinder future heirs to throne.
Leaders that come after will comparably weaker rulers
Nobility will win back many of its privileges
Royal authority starts to decline.

21. End France