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5 /19 Focus: Over time, French kings had increased royal power by increasing the influence of the government and reducing the power of nobles Do Now: Which Russian monarch was able to acquire a warm water port for Russia?. Absolute Monarchs. France. Henry IV.
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5/19 Focus: • Over time, French kings had increased royal power by increasing the influence of the government and reducing the power of nobles • Do Now: • Which Russian monarch was able to acquire a warm water port for Russia?
Absolute Monarchs France
Henry IV • First king in the Bourbon Dynasty • Converted from Protestantism to Catholicism • Helped end years of religious conflicts in France • Edict of Nantes granted religious freedom to Protestants
Louis XIII • Ruled from 1610-1643 • Cardinal Richelieu was an important advisor to the king • Roman Catholic cardinal • Protected and strengthened royal authority in France • Forbid Protestant cities from having walls • Ordered nobles to destroy fortified castles • Helped make the French army the strongest in Europe • Basically ruled France with the king
Louis XIV • Ruled from 1643-1715 • Ruled longer than any other monarch in Europe • Became king when he was four years old • Cardinal Mazarin helped Louis XIV rule • Efforts to end the Thirty Years War made France the most powerful nation in Europe • Died when Louis XIV was 23
Louis XIV L’état, c’est moi • Known as the Sun King • Louis XIV took the Sun as a symbol of his power • Once said “I am the State” • Demanded complete loyalty from subjects
Divine Right • Louis claim to absolute power were supported by Bishop Jacques Bossuet • Argued that: • the king was God’s representative on Earth • was entitled to unquestioned obedience
Establishing Absolute Power • Louis XIV expanded the bureaucracy • Appointed officials to collect taxes, recruit soldiers, carry out his rule throughout France • Built a highly disciplined army which became the strongest in Europe • Got involved in a number of wars • Spanish Netherlands • War of the Spanish Succession
Cultural Advances • Louis XIV promoted culture by supporting arts • Art was used to promote values that supported and glorified Louis’ absolute rule
Versailles • Built the Palace of Versailles • Main palace was 500 yards long • Two wings each were 150 yards long • 2,000 rooms • Palace was meant to show the wealth and power of King Louis XIV • Louis required nobles to move to Versailles • Could control nobles who became dependent on him
Legacy of Louis XIV • Louis XIV drained French Treasury building Versailles, living extravagant lifestyle and fighting costly wars • Led to social unrest among starving peasants
Closure • What did Louis XIV mean when he said “I am the State”? • What did Bishop Jacques Bossuet believe justified Louis XIV’s absolute rule in France? • What long term impact did the construction of Versailles and involvement in military conflicts have on France?