1. The age of Absolutism Unit 3

2. Absolutism defined: In the absolutist state, sovereignty resided in kings--not the nobility or the parliament--who considered themselves responsible to God alone (Divine Right) Absolute kings created new state bureaucracies and standing armies, regulated all the institutions of government, and secured the cooperation of the nobility.

3. Divine right of rule Divine Right – The right to rule is granted by God. He is the highest power except for the monarch. Video

4. The foundations of French absolutism: Henry IV, Sully, and Richelieu Henry IV cared for his people, lowered taxes, achieved peace, and curtailed the power of the nobility. His minister, Sully, brought about financial stability and economic growth.

5. Henry IV and Duke of Sully

6. Louis XIII and queen anne

7. Cardinal Richelieu broke the power of the French nobility. His policy was total subordination of all groups to the French monarchy. monarchy. He changed the royal council, leveled castles, and crushed leveled castles, and crushed aristocratic conspiracies. He established an efficient administrative system using intendants, who further weakened the local nobility. –They delivered royal orders, recruited men for the army, collected taxes, and more.

8. Mazarin continued Richelieu's centralizing policies, but these policies gave rise to a period of civil wars known as the Fronde. –Fronde meant anyone who opposed the policies of the government. –Rebellion was widespread (middle class and nobility.) –The conflicts hurt the economy and convinced the Louis XIV that civil war was destructive of social order and that absolute monarchy was the only alternative to anarchy.

9. 3 results of the fronde Government would need to compromise with bureaucrats and elites. Disruption of the economy Scared young King Louis XIV (he would always distrust the nobility afterwards)

10. Cardinal Mazarin Mazarin continues Richelieu’s policies to strengthen the crown but isn’t as good at it. isn’t as good at it.

11. King Louis XIV

13. Louis XIV believed the alternative to anarchy was absolute monarchy. He had a practical education Devout Catholic Had complete cooperation of the nobility

14. Required powerful nobles to live at Versailles with him. Versailles was used to reflect his power and French genius. He excluded nobles from his council. Pg. 537-539 maintaining absolute power

15. Palace of versailles

16. Hall of mirrors

22. Door to Salon of Abundance Salon of Mirrors

23. A Day in the Life of the Sun King 8.30 am: 'It is time, Sire', declares the First Valet de Chambre, waking the king. The levee, or ceremonial rising, thus begins. Doctors, family and a few favoured friends successively enter the King's Bedchamber where he is washed, combed, and every other day shaven. The Officers of the Chamber and the Wardrobe then enter in turn for full levee, during which the king is dressed and has a breakfast of broth. The most important officials of the kingdom are admitted; it is estimated that the usual number of people attending numbered one hundred, all male.

24. Mass 10 am: On leaving the king's apartment, a procession forms in the Hall of Mirrors. The king leads the procession of courtiers through the Grand Apartment. The public can now see the king and even petition him with a written request. In the Chapel Royal, the king occupies the tribune. Mass lasts roughly thirty minutes. The choir known as the Chapel Music, famous throughout Europe, always sings new music composed by Lully, Lalande, and others.

27. Council 11 am: Returning to his apartments, the king holds council in his cabinet. Sundays and Wednesdays are devoted to Councils of State; on Tuesdays and Saturdays, finances are dealt with; Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, another Council of State might replace a Dispatch Council (domestic affairs) or Religious Council, or perhaps the king will decide to focus on his building programme. Five or six ministers usually advise the monarch who speaks little, listens a great deal, and always decides.

28. Dinner 1 pm: The king dines alone in his bedchamber, at a table facing the windows. This meal is theoretically private, but Louis XIV admits the men at court, making attendance similar to the levee. Promenade or Hunting 2 pm: The king always announces the afternoon programme in the morning. If he has decided on a promenade, it might be taken on foot in the gardens or in a carriage with ladies. On the other hand, hunting activities the Bourbons' favourite pastime will take place on the grounds (if the king goes shooting) or in the surrounding forests (riding to hounds).

29. Social Gathering or Work 6 pm: Louis XIV often leaves his son to preside over the private social gatherings known as soirées d'appartement. The king himself might sign the many letters prepared by his secretary, then go to Madame de Maintenon's quarters where he might study an important file with one of his four secretaries of state. Couchee 11.30 pm: The couchee, or public ritual of retiring, is a reverse, shortened version of the levee.

30. France under Louis XIV

31. Financial and economic management under Louis XIV's minister, Colbert –Louis's wars were expensive –Mercantilism is a collection of governmental policies for the regulation of economic activities by and for the state.

32. Louis XIV's finance minister, Colbert, tried to achieve a favorable balance of trade and make France self sufficient so the flow of gold to other countries would be halted. Colbert encouraged French industry He hoped to make Canada part of a French empire. Though France's industries grew and the commercial classes prospered, its agricultural economy suffered under the burdens of heavy taxation, population decline, and poor harvests.

33. The revocation of the Edict of Nantes –In 1685, Louis revoked the Edict of Nantes-- then destroyed Protestant churches and schools; many Protestants fled the country. –Why? Because Louis XIV hated division within France--and because most people supported this policy.