1. France in the Age of Absolutism
“Absolute power corrupts absolutely”
-Lord Acton

2. What is Absolutism? Power = King Kings ruled by “divine right”
God “chooses” kings
Little Gods on earth
Pros and Cons of absolutism?

3. Henry IV Rules 1589-1610 Founder of the Bourbon Dynasty
Huguenot – Converts to Catholicism
“Paris is worth a mass”

4. Henry IV – Edict of Nantes
1598
Guaranteed religious freedom to French Protestants
150 fortified towns

6. French Tax System Three “Estates” (Classes) 1st Estate -Clergy
2nd Estate - Nobility
3rd Estate - Artisans, merchants, peasants
Nobility and Clergy gain exemptions
Tax burden falls on Third Estate

7. Louis XIII Henry IV assassinated in 1610
Louis XIII becomes King of France
Eight years old
Mother appoints a regent
Cardinal Richelieu becomes chief minister

8. Cardinal Richelieu 1585-1642 Goal: Place ALL power in hands of King
Took power from nobles
Executions
Intendants
Took rights from Huguenots

9. Intendants Royal officials Middle Class, Lesser Nobility
Reduce the power of the Nobility or Aristocracy

10. Richelieu: Foreign Policy
Goals: POWER AND LAND
Thirty Years’ War
Protestant rebellion against HRE
French entered the War on the Protestant side?
To weaken the Hapsburgs

11. Louis XIV: “Sun King” Ruled 1643-1715 72 Years longest reign in Europe
Built Versailles
Increased France’s wealth & Power
Repealed Edict of Nantes
Costly Wars

12. 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

13. Palace at Versailles few miles outside of Paris
Originally a hunting lodge
Construction begins in 1661
Hall of Mirrors: 357 mirrors

14. Why Versailles? Built to symbolize monarch’s dominance French power
Control nobility
Other countries

15. Jean-Baptiste Colbert
– Minister of Finance
Strict mercantilist
France should import NOTHING
Encouraged French exploration of Canada

16. Wars of Louis XIV Under Louis XIV, France is at war for 33 years
Wars meant to expand French territory
Enormous debt