1. France Under Louis XIV
Age of Absolutism
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2. Louis XIV Absolute monarch in the late 1600s
Threw elaborate parties – “to give the people pleasure”
Pageants, sports, dances, plays, and music
Just 100 years earlier:
France was being torn apart by religious wars
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3. Rebuilding France
Religious Wars between Huguenots (French Protestants) and the Catholic majority
St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
3,000 Huguenots slaughtered
Symbolized the break down of order in France.
Huguenot Cross
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4. Henry IV 1589, Huguenot prince became King of France
Ruling a majority Catholic nation would be difficult so he convert to Catholicism
Issued the Edict of Nantes in 1598
Granted religious toleration to Huguenots
Laid the grounds for absolute rule by:
Building a royal bureaucracy
Reducing the influence of the nobles
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5. Richelieu Henry IV was killed by as assassin in 1610
His 9 year old son, Louis XIII, inherited the throne
Cardinal Armand Richelieu appointed as chief minister
Richelieu set out strengthening the central government
Goals was to destroy Huguenots and Nobles
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6. Richelieu Huguenots Nobles
Smashed the walls of their cities
Outlawed their armies
Nobles
Destroyed their fortified castles
Tied the nobles to the King by given them high posts at court or in the Royal Army
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7. Louis XIV
Cardinal Richelieu died just before Louis XIV (at five years old) inherited the throne.
Appointed a new advisor before his death that continued to extend royal power.
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8. Louis XIV, the Sun King
Rebellion swept France after Louis XIV took the throne.
Nobles, merchants, peasants and urban poor all for their own reasons
Even drove the King from the palace
1661, Cardinal advisor died and Louis XIV took the reigns of government.
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9. “L’etat, c’est moi” His grandfather was Philip II of Spain
Louis XIV believed in divine right
Chose the sun as the symbol of his power
As the Sun is the center of the universe, the Sun king stands in the center of the Nation (France)
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10. Estates General
Medieval council made up of representatives of all the social classes in France
First Estate: clergy
Second Estate: nobility
Third Estate: commoners
Did not meet during the reign of Louis XIV
Not from 1614 to 1789
Estates General played no part in checking royal power! ( Unlike in England)
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11. Strengthening Royal Power
Louis followed the policies of Richelieu
Appointed intendants (royal officials) to
Collect taxes
Recruit soldiers
Carry out his policies
Jobs went to wealthy middle-class men
Cemented the relationship between middle class and the monarchy
Military became largest in Europe
Used at home and abroad
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12. The Economy Finance minister, Colbert, followed mercantilist policies:
Encouraged domestic industries
Tariffs on imported goods
Encouraged overseas colonies
France became the wealthiest state in Europe
Louis XIV was always short of money
Cost of his royal court and many wars!
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13. Versailles
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14. Versailles Royal hunting lodge turned into immense palace
Became the perfect symbol of the Sun King’s wealth
Became the king’s home and seat of government
Housed 10,000 people
Nobles, officials, and servants
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15. Court Ceremonies Levée, or rising Served a serious purpose
Nobles served the king in his daily task of dressing/undressing
Served a serious purpose
Turned nobles into courtiers angling for privileges rather than battling for power
Protected the nobles prestige and left them free from taxes!
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16. Cultural Flowering
Age of Louis XIV was classical age for French culture – drama, art, music, decorative arts….
Louis set up French academies for the sciences and arts.
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17. Successes and Failures
Louis XIV ruled France for 72 years, longer than any other monarch
French culture, manners, and customs replaced those of Renaissance Italy.
Failures:
Wars
Persecution of Huguenots
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18. Wars of Louis XIV Spent money to expand the borders of France
Dutch and English worked together to maintain the balance of power in Europe
War of Spanish Succession:
Louis’s grandson inherited throne of Spain
Wanted to unite the two kingdoms
War to prevent dragged on until 1713
France signed treaty not to unite thrones
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19. Persecution of the Huguenots
Louis saw the Huguenots as a threat to religious and political unity of France
Reversed the Edict of Nantes
100,000 Huguenots fled France
Biggest blunder of all:
Huguenots were hard working and prosperous people
Serious blow to the French economy.
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20. Questions to Ponder
How did Henry IV rebuild French unity after the religious wars?
Describe how Louis XIV strengthened the power of the monarchy.
How did Louis’s persecution of the Huguenots harm France?
Write a brief paragraph describing Louis XIV.
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