1 / 29

Absolutism in France

Explore the rise of absolute rule in France through historical figures Henry IV, Sully, and Richelieu, examining strategies like subjugating the nobility, bureaucratic reforms, and financial management. Learn how these steps led to the establishment of royal power and French absolutism.

drhonda
Download Presentation

Absolutism in France

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Absolutism in France “L’etat c’est moi”

  2. 5 Steps to Achieve Absolute Rule • Subjugate the Nobility • Build an all-pervasive bureaucracy • Collect more in Tax money • Establish a standing, large army • Establish Religious uniformity

  3. Foundations of French Absolutism:Henry IV, Sully, Richelieu Henry IV (r.1589-1610) Inherits A France that is a mess *Civil War in France since 1561 *Poor Harvests Starving Peasants *Commercial “In”activity Steps to establishing royal Power • Issued the Edict of Nantes • Mop up Rebellious Factions of Nobles (They are Loyal to the Holy League) • Hires Duke of Sully as Finance Minister

  4. Sully as Minister • Sells Government offices to the Highest bidder: ProsCons *Raises Revenue *inflation of office *Main source of Revenue *office becomes property of owner • Introduces the Paulette tax Paulette = a tax paid to the king if the officeholder does the job well, they pay the paulette and the office stays in the family.

  5. Richelieu Louis XIII (r. 1610-1643) Very Capable First Minister: Cardinal Richelieu *Puts nobles in non-threatening positions Diplomats, Army Officers, Local administrators *Confronted the armed Huguenots No Longer a “State within a State” No arms just religious toleration How do these two things lend itself to the Rise of Absolute Rule?

  6. Richelieu (Administrative and Financial) • Increased the sale of office: By 1633 this practiced accounted for 1/3 of all royal revenue • France was divided into 32 generalities (districts) • Each district had an Indendant (Appointed by King—Not bought and sold)

  7. Indendants Chief royal agents in local areas Main Jobs: -Transmit certain orders from Paris to generalities -Transmit information from local communities to paris -Recruit Men for Army -Supervise Tax Collection -Preside over administration of local law -Monitor Local Nobility -Regulated economic activity (Commerce, trade, guild

  8. Overriding Purposes of Indendants • ENFORCE ROYAL ORDERS AT LOCAL LEVEL • REDUCE THE POWER/INFLUENCE OF REGIONAL NOBILITY

  9. Major Peasant revolts • 1630 , 1668 Dijon • 1635, 1675 Bordeaux • 1645 Montpellier • 1667-1668, 1692 Lyons • 1685, 1695, 1704, 1711 Aimens ALL HAVE TO DO WITH TAXES What does this prove about the job the Indendants were doing?

  10. Louis XIV (r. 1643-1715) • Richelieu died in 1642 • Louis XIII died in 1643 Left Five year old Louis XIV on the throne. Successor to Richelieu: Cardinal Mazarin

  11. Mazarin faced with crisis • Nobles upset with movement toward Absolute rule, seize the moment to revolt against the king. • Becomes Civil War known as the Fronde

  12. The Fronde begins with the”Nobles of the Robe” • A group of nobles who bought jobs in the government (known for the robes they wore) • 3 demands on Mazarin & government 1) abolition of the indendants 2) stop selling offices 3) Institute a Habeas Corpus law

  13. Mazarin Responds • He has several members of the group arrested • Other aristocratic factions join • Peasants/ Urban artisans join • Violence sweeps through France for 12 years

  14. Significance of the Fronde • Last revolt against Absolutism in France until 1789. • Becomes apparent the government will have to compromise with local bureaucrats & social elites • French economy badly disrupted • Louis XIV effected traumatically

  15. The “Sun King” Louis XIV had two main goals: • He wanted to secure his Absolute power over France • He aimed to make France the greatest power in all of Europe

  16. Move to Versailles • Eternal distrust of the Nobility • Paris seen as dangerous place for the monarchy • Moved the French court to Versailles (Small town 12 miles from Paris) • Versailles was used as a tool for state power, subjugation of the nobility

  17. Versailles used to subjugate the nobility • Nobility invited to live at Versailles for many months of the year (cut off from their power bases) • Under constant surveillance Louis used spying/terror tactics (secret police, informers) • Given frivolous tasks to accomplish at Versailles • Nobles were excluded from councils with access to king and important decision making

  18. Financial Management: Colbert • Things that cost $ • Expanding professional bureaucracy • Court at Versailles • Military Reform • Wars Consult local or Provincial Estates for approval of taxes for particular regions----Hard to collect taxes

  19. Colbert as great Mercantilist • Encouraged French Industry • Enacted High Tariffs • Created a strong Merchant Marine Overall, achieve a favorable balance of trade and make France self sufficient

  20. French expansion • Colbert had 4,000 French peasants shipped off to Canada • Joliet and Marquette sailed down the Miss. River • La Salle claimed vast amounts of land named “Louisiana”

  21. How successful was Colbert? • Textile Industry expanded • Commercial Class prospered However……. Agricultural economy hurt badly *Peasants taxed too heavily + Poor Harvest + Fluctuating price of grain + deflation of currency = Peasants leaving (Major Tax base gone)

  22. Revocation of the Edict of Nantes • To try to achieve Religious uniformity • “One King, One Law, One Faith” Detrimental effects: *Talented Huguenots leave (scholar, business, artists, skilled workers) *Spreads Anti-Louis sentiment among European Protestants

  23. Louis XIV at War • 18 of his last 27 years as king at WAR 4 Goals for War: 1) Establish natural defensible borders 2) Break the “Habsburg Ring” 3) Take over the Spanish Netherlands 4) Defeat Holland and take its trade/wealth

  24. War of Devolution 1667-1668 • Kicked off when King of Spain dies • Louis claims through his wife, that he is entitled to inherit the Spanish Netherlands according to the “law of devolution” • France loses to an alliance of Holland, England, and Sweden

  25. The Dutch War 1672-1678 • Louis’ war of revenge for his earlier loss to the Dutch • France bribed England and Sweden to abandon the Dutch and then invade the Netherlands • The French conquer much of the Netherlands • The Dutch open the dikes and flood French troops off their land

  26. War of the League of Augsburg 1688-1697 • An attempt to conquer German territory along the Rhine • HRE challenges Louis’ claim to theses territories----France invades Germany • The German states join together to defeat France

  27. War of Spanish Succession 1701-1713 • Louis’ grandson had legitimate claim to the Spanish throne when the Habsburg king died. • Holy Roman Emperor’s son has a legitimate claim to the throne as well • FRANCE vs. GRAND ALLIANCE Grand Alliance = HRE, Portugal, England, Austria, Prussia Louis LOSES for the fourth time!!!

  28. Treaty of Utrecht (1713) • Grandson of Louis XIV sits on the Spanish throne • France and Spain may never be united as one kingdom

  29. Legacy of Louis XIV • French Treasury is empty • France gains very little territory • “Habsburg ring” is broken • Peasants of France starving and miserable due to high taxes from War after War  Revolts continue for 70+ more years culminating in the 1789 revolution

More Related