The Ancien Regime in France

1. Date: 2/01/2020 Revolutions Unit 3 AOS 1 The Ancien Regime in France Learning intention: SWBAT explain the King’s major powers and the checks on those powers SWBAT evaluate the degree to which Bourboun history made the revolution more likely. • Success Criteria • Take at least 15 dot point notes on the political conditions of Ancien Regime France • Answer one questions on the King’s power and define two key terms. • Listen to a podcast on the Bourboun Dynasty and create a mindmap of at least 5 key ideas

2. Study Design Handout 1, pp.131-132 Outcome 1 – Key knowledge The chronology of key events and factors which contributed to the revolution The causes of tensions and conflicts generated in the old regime that many historians see as contributing to the revolution

3. Power Divine Right Absolute Monarchy The Bourbons Louis XIV Louis V Louis XVI Louis XIV The Sun King r. 1643-1715 Born 1638

4. Absolute Divine Right Monarchy Bishop Jacques Bossuet (1627-1704) Tutor to Louis XIV Political theory of absolute power “In the exercise of lawful authority the king is, and ought to be, absolute; that is so far absolute that there is no legal authority which can delay or resist him.” Reinforced by religious belief of Divine Right “The king in his palace is the image of God in his heaven, who sets the whole of nature in motion” This meant that to criticise the king was to criticise God. King’s divine nature displayed in ceremonies where he ‘cured’ the ill by the touch of the hand.

5. Louis XV to Parlement (law court) of Paris 1766 “Sovereign power resides in my person alone …the power of legislation belongs to me alone – it is not dependent on or shared with anyone else.” Louis XVI to Parlement of Paris at lit de justice of November 1787 to force registration of loans “ …it is legal because I will it.” The lit de justice 1766

6. The king’s powers • Chief Legislator : power to pass laws • Chief Executive : power to appoint ministers, to declare war and peace (i.e. commander in chief of military), to control the nation’s treasury and currency and to impose taxes • Chief Judge : he was the final court of appeal and had power to imprison anyone by issuing a lettre de cachet The cachet was the official wax seal of the king

7. Checks to royal ‘despotism’ The king was bound by laws and customs of the kingdom and to act in an illegal and arbitrarymanner was despotic Parlements(law courts) : Had to register the edicts (pronouncements) of king in order to make them law – could refuse ‘remonstrate’ – the king could then force them to do so with a lit de justice Assembly of Clergy : had rights and privileges guaranteed by law with which the king could not interfere (e.g. the right to decide the amount of the annual ‘don gratuit’. Provincial Assemblies: in provinces annexed to France during last 150 years through war or marriage which kept its own laws Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom: traditionally accepted royal powers.

8. Versailles A political space

10. The Royal Chapel

11. The Queen’s Bedroom

12. La salle des glâces The most famous room in Europe

14. Fountain of Neptune and Gardens 1700 The Fountain of Apollo and Grand Canal 1790 Fountain of Apollo

15. Temple of Love Fountain of Winter

16. Versailles - The Palace of the Sun Kings

17. Achievements of Louis XIV • Created nation state of France by pushing boundaries to natural frontiers

18. Achievements of Louis XIV • Ruled alone – four able bourgeois ministers • Completely centralised government • Did without Estates General • Sold nobility to gain money – created a new class, the noblesse de robe • France flourished – in war and in empire and trade • Big mistake – Edict of Nantes 1685 – expulsion of Protestants

19. Louis XV r. 1715-1774 Louis XV at age 5 Louis XV in 1723 by Van Loo

20. His Wife Marie Leszcynska (1703-1768) Queen of France

21. His Mistressres Mme de Pompadour (1721-1764) By Carle Van Loo Comtesse du Barry (1743-1793 ) By Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun

22. Louis XV (1710-1774) • Pleasure loving • Versailles most famous court of 18th century • La Pompadour most famous courtesan • Began borrowing heavily to pay for foreign wars • Expensive Wars – Austrian Succession (1741-1748) and Seven Years War (1756-1763) • Lost Seven Years War against Britain – great humiliation – most colonies lost and French naval fleet destroyed • Became unpopular by end of reign

23. Louis XVI r.1774-1792 • Married at 16 • King at 20 • Very devout • Aware of need for political reform • Lacked political will and strength of character to follow through • Lacked judgement • Executed 1793, aged 39

24. Louis XVI (1754-1793) Aware of need to reform • Appointed 4 successive reforming finance ministers • Curbed his wife’s extravagance • Reduced costs of running Versailles Profile of character • Well meaning – wanted best for France • Very devout • Sacked reforming ministers when opposition encountered • Shy, laced self-confidence and drive ‘The weakness and indecision of the King are beyond description’ (Comte de Provence)

25. Marie Antoinette (1755 - 1793)Queen of France 1774 – 1792Married 1770 1770 – 14 year old Princess Marie Antoinette of Austria arrived in France to marry 16 year old Prince Louis, Dauphin of France.

26. By Vigée Le Brun

27. Reconstruction of the “Queen’s” diamond necklace Marie Antoinette painted in 1788 by Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun

28. Royal Children Louis, Dauphin of France

29. Louis XVII 1785-1795 (never crowned) The embalmed heart kept at Saint Denis The funeral of Louis XVII in 2004 at Saint Denis Sketch of Louis XVII as a child