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Of Kings, Gods & Men: Absolutism In France in the 17 th C.

Of Kings, Gods & Men: Absolutism In France in the 17 th C. What is Absolutism?. Sovereign power or ultimate authority in the state rested in the hands of a king who claimed divine right Characteristics of Absolutism: Centralization of power in the state

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Of Kings, Gods & Men: Absolutism In France in the 17 th C.

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  1. Of Kings, Gods & Men: Absolutism In France in the 17th C.

  2. What is Absolutism? • Sovereign power or ultimate authority in the state rested in the hands of a king who claimed divine right • Characteristics of Absolutism: • Centralization of power in the state • Sole legislative & executive rights belong to monarch • Elimination of challenges to royal power • Expand sources of revenue to pay for larger armies • Absolutism is NOT the same as dictatorship!!!

  3. Justification for Absolutism • Religious defense of Absolutism (Bishop Jacques Bossuet) • God selected king to rule (divine right) • King is only answerable to God • Secular defense of Absolutism • (Thomas Hobbes) • Man is naturally wicked & selfish • Strong centralized gov’t needed to prevent violence/disorder • Powerful monarch needed to protect man from himself

  4. A Case Study Of Absolutism: Louis XIV

  5. The Bourbon Dynasty:

  6. Architects of French Absolutism Sully Richelieu Mazarin

  7. King Louis XIV (1643-1715) • Nickname: “The Sun King” • Dynasty: Bourbon • Country: France • Height: 5’5” • Policy: One king, one law, one faith • Quote: “L’état, c’estmoi!” • Vice: Sex, sex & more sex Portrait by HyacintheRigaud

  8. Versailles

  9. Versailles Today

  10. 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

  11. Palais de Versailles

  12. Versailles Palace,Park Side

  13. Chateau de Versailles

  14. The Orangery

  15. Fountains, Fountains, and More Fountains!

  16. And More Fountains!

  17. And More Fountains!

  18. And Even More Fountains!!!

  19. Hall ofMirrors

  20. The King’s Bed The Queen’s Bed

  21. Louis XIV’s Chapel

  22. Louis XIV’s Opera Stage

  23. The Gallery of Battles

  24. Louis XIV Furniture

  25. Louis XIV’s Wars

  26. Louis’s Early Wars (1667-97) • François-Michel Le Tellier (marquis of Louvois) increased size & effectiveness of French army • Goal  expand France’s natural borders (protection from invasion) • Fought wars with Holland, the HRE & Spain brought only modest rewards • Wars led to more problems for France

  27. War of Spanish Succession (1702-13) WAR England, Netherlands, Austria & Prussia FRANCE • Cause Louis claims Spanish throne for grandson Philip • Alliance formed to prevent France from destroying European balance of power • Fought in Europe & colonial empires in North America • Peace of Utrecht (1713) & Peace of Rastatt (1714): • Bourbons get Spanish throne; could never unify though • England receive Fr. Territories in No. America, and acquired Gibraltar, Minorca & the asiento • Austria gained Spanish Netherlands (Belgium)

  28. Louis XIV’s Budget & Taxes

  29. Jean Baptiste Colbert (1619-83) • Louis XIV’s finance minister • Goal  strengthen the economy & enrich the middle classes • Adopted mercantilist policies • Established & subsidized new industries (shipbuilding & textiles) • Created merchant marine to take French goods abroad • Expanded France’s international empire (India, Quebec & Louisiana) • Improved efficiency of tax collection

  30. Louis’s Taxes: An Overview • Taille(direct tax to the king) • Paid for by peasants as well as elements of bourgeoisie • Exemptions = nobles, clergy & inhabitants of large towns • Paying was a collective responsibility of village or town • Collected by officials that had to be paid for their work • Venality of Office • Sale of royal offices • Purchasing a royal office made it possible to gain noble status • Indirect taxes • Gabelle= sales tax • Aides = wine tax • Collected by “tax farmers”= pay monarch & collect from people

  31. Provincial Jurisdictions • Generalités • large jurisdictions • All of France was divided • Pays d’élections • Did not have their own regional assemblies • Intendantscollected taxes directly • Pays d’états • Formerly independent provinces • Had own regional assemblies • Assemblies collected taxes; handed them to king

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