Absolutism Louis XIV

1. Absolutism Louis XIV One King, One Law, One Faith The Divine Right of Kings Bousset

2. Cardinal’s Richelieu and Mazarin Louis XIII + XIV • Individuals who initially broke the power of the nobility. Dependency on King • 1615 Estates General meets for last time • Began administrative reform and centralized control over regions • Opposed Hugenots -- Removed their right to fortified towns • Encouraged Kings in the “Re-Catholicizing” of France

3. Louis XIV (1659-1743) in power From dallying boy to absolutist Sun King Nobles vs. Ministers in the life of the state 1. ancient vs. new prestige 2. family related vs. work-related 3. lesser nobles could gain prestige as ministers 4. breaks power of ancient families

4. French Absolutism and the age of Louis XIV • A response to decentralization of power of Medieval Europe • Power will be taken from nobles through war and bribes • Concentrated now in national government, embodied by king • A rationalization of power (not completely out of step with Enlightenment)

5. THE SUN KING

6. Voltaire portrayed his grandeur in his Age of Louis XIV, and compared Louis XIV's reign to that of the Roman Emperor Augustus. In the words of Voltaire: "His name can never be pronounced without respect and without summoning the image of an eternally memorable age."

7. Versailles and its Meaning • Shows grandeur of king (who moved in 1682) • Shows central place of king • "L'etat c'est moi" • "Le roi soleil"

9. Versailles and its Meaning • 3. "my dignity, my glory, my greatness, my reputation" • explains the hallmarks of Louis XIV's character • 4. moves focus away from Paris to a secure place a. a "prison" for the nobility b. nobility under control of the monarch

11. Ritualization of life at Versailles • 1. King as supreme meant everything was important • 2. The King's two bodies: public and private • a. the "going to bed" and "getting up" rituals • b. the two bedrooms • Dress for ladies, gambling. • To emphasize his prominence at court, Louis organized life there around every aspect of his daily routine.  Nobles would enter their names on waiting lists to be at his attendance at favored moments, such as when he would arise and retire; fortunate nobles held his night candle and asked favors of him as they accompanied Louis to his bed.  Louis barred aristocrats from high government office, so court ritual and play kept nobles busy and dependent so they had little time to plot revolt;  while Louis' middle-class appointees did the work of government, the nobles were domesticated and trivialized

12. Ritualization of life at Versailles 3. Why was this important? • a. king was the state (It's good to be the king...) • b. ritualization shows the power of the king • c. ritualization is deifying (1) Louis worships, but "not enough" for wife (2) RCC will become less of a political force (3) State takes over for Church upper classes (4) "1st estate" still path to power but less

14. Absolutism As A System Unlimited royal authority. Mostly political organization but also served to integrate into government most economic, religious, and social institutions.

16. Government And Religion Under Absolutism The ruler made all major decisions Chief ministers were responsible directly to the monarch, and all of their actions were taken in the sovereign's name.

17. Absolutism The monarch was supreme lawgiver, chief judge, the commander of all military forces, and the head of all administration. They usually considered the acquisition of foreign territory to be legitimate and pursued their objectives in a competitive game of power politics with other monarchs.

18. Absolutism Required a large military establishment Rulers sought to form alliances against the most dominant foreign state A concern for the "balance of power" exemplified the new secular spirit in foreign relations.

19. Absolutism Replaced traditional local authorities, usually feudal nobles, with royal governors from other places. Where that could not be done, local nobles were rewarded so they would support the crown.

20. Absolutism Religion remained important under absolutism -- Richelieu and Mazarin The king exerted more political control over the church than did the pope. Churches therefore exerted tremendous influence in support of absolute monarchies.

22. Class Structure Under Absolutism The class structures of absolute monarchies were marked by clear distinctions, precisely defined by law.

23. Class Structure Under Absolutism Hereditary feudal aristocrats lost status unless they acquired an official appointment from the monarch. Such state nobles owed their privileges to their political service rather than birth.

24. Class Structure Under Absolutism The state often sold titles to wealthy commoners to provide income for the monarch. They usually received tax exemptions, pensions, titles, and honors. Their legal rights, dress, and way of life differed markedly from even wealthy non-nobles.

25. Class Structure Under Absolutism In contrast, commoners, including middle-class townspeople, paid most of the taxes required by frequent wars and extravagant royal courts. Peasant landholders usually owed fees and labor dues to local aristocrats.

27. Culture & Society in the "Age of Louis XIV" • A. Impressive changes in many areas-another reason for importance of 17th C. France • 1. government subsidy to the arts, letters • 2. literature • 3. art • 4. architecture • 5. science • 6. furniture

28. Culture & Society in the "Age of Louis XIV" • France becomes the arbiter of European "haute" taste • 1. French court style of painting will become universal • 2. clothing, of course • 3. taste, class will be French domains until today

29. Culture & Society in the "Age of Louis XIV" • Under the surface-the Third Estate saw a rising middle class • a. merchants • b. manufacturers, artisans • c. pay hefty burden of taxation • d. not represented

30. Culture & Society in the "Age of Louis XIV" • Peasant class • still very poor • childhood death rate 25% (now 2/1000?) • pay high taxes • do have better times without civil wars....