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Absolutism in France “L’etat c’est moi” -- Louis XIV

Absolutism in France “L’etat c’est moi” -- Louis XIV. France in the 17 th Century. Population: 3 times that of England 2 times that of Spain Uneven wealth Large merchant class Self-sufficient economy

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Absolutism in France “L’etat c’est moi” -- Louis XIV

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

  2. France in the 17th Century • Population: • 3 times that of England • 2 times that of Spain • Uneven wealth • Large merchant class • Self-sufficient economy • Trade with India, settlements in North America and Caribbean (Canada, Mississippi Valley, West Indies)

  3. Absolutism(Absolute Monarch) • Monarch has unlimited power • No limits • No constitution • Monarch tied to tradition and custom • People must have complete trust in well-bred and well-trained monarchs who were raised for the role from birth • Believe in the Divine Right to Rule • Examples: Russian Tsars, French Kings

  4. Henry IV“Henry the Great” • Ruled 1589-1610 • Converted to Catholicism • 1598: Edict of Nantes • Freedom to the Protestants • Ended French Wars of Religion • Murdered by a fanatical Catholic • Religious problems still there

  5. Louis XIII • Ruled 1610-1643 • 30 Years War • Richelieu • Intrigue: “Three Musketeers” • Absolute Monarch • French nobility under control • No privileges for the Huguenots • Built powerful navy • No tax reform

  6. Cardinal Richelieu 1585-1642 Believed in the State above all else

  7. Richelieu and Government • Cardinal Richelieu was Louis XIII’s “Chief Minister” • Consolidated royal power, reduced noble rights • Crushed domestic dissenters • Result: Strong, centralized state

  8. Richelieu and France • Main foreign policy objectives: • limit Hapsburg Dynasty • Alliances with Protestant rulers • Thirty Years War • France emerges more powerful than other nations • Decline of HRE • Legacy: King Louis XIV • Edict of Fontainebleau in 1685 • Nullified Edict of Nantes (1598) • Destroyed Huguenot churches • Closed Protestant schools • Result: nearly 500,000 Protestants left France over the next 20 years • Went to England, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, North America

  9. Thirty Years War: Causes • 1618-1648 • Mostly religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants • Also political conflict between Holy Roman Empire and France

  10. European Results: Thirty Years War • Dutch independence from Spain • France gains Alsace from HRE • Protestant German princes ally themselves with France • Peace of Westphalia: • Everyone must recognize the Peace of Augsburg • Catholics and Protestants are legally equal • Calvinism is permitted • Decline of HRE • Doesn’t end conflict between Spain and France

  11. Thirty Years War: Results for France • Treasury nearly bankrupt • 1659: Spain cedes territory (mostly land in the Spanish Netherlands) to France, ending the conflict • Balance of Power changes. Spain begins to decline, France is rising in power

  12. Young King Louis XIV • Born 1638 • Ruled 1643-1715 • Assumed power at age 23

  13. Cardinal Mazarin • Advisor to Louis while he was a child (1643- 1661) • Italian. Not popular.

  14. Just when things are getting better . . . . Le Fronde • 1648 – 1653 • Rebellion: nobles vs. the king • Long term results: • Louis: distrust of nobility • Louis XIV must enforce absolutist rule • French realize benefit of a strong monarch

  15. Jean Baptist ColbertFinance Minister • Believer in Mercantilism • prosperity depends on supply of capital. • Economic assets = money held by the state • Positive balance of trade with other nations (exports minus imports). • Government must encourage exports and discourage imports, through the use of tariffs.

  16. Colbert and the Domestic Economy • More taxation to enrich treasury • Domestic Commerce • Farmers, small manufacturers penalized • Restricted movement of goods and labor • Unfair tax system reinforced • Gentry, clergy exempt from taxation • Capitalists have favorable taxes • Ag. Land used for export industries (wine, wool)

  17. Louis XIV – Domestic Problems • Debt due to war • But, foundation for a strong economy • Civil Unrest • Nobles are too powerful. Louis must punish them. • Filled high government positions with commoners • Reduced nobles to courtiers • Required nobles to spend the majority of the year with him • “Rewarded” nobles with time spent with him

  18. L’ etat c’est moi! “I am the State” 1643-1715 France became world power, leader in the arts. Fashion: Clothing is large and showy to emphasis the king’s personality

  19. Louis XIV – the “Sun King” • Overall brilliance • Nobles stayed within the king’s orbit • Ruled for 72 years • Great influence on French culture • French is language of diplomacy • French style imitated

  20. Life of Opulence and Grandeur • The Daily Routine of the King

  21. Louis as the sun god Apollo

  22. Louis as Apollo by Jean Nocret, 1670

  23. 1673 Louis represented as a classical hero

  24. The sun symbol was everywhere at Versailles

  25. Family Life • His wife and cousin: Marie Therese (a Hapsburg) • Seven children, only one son survived

  26. Mistresses of the King • Mistress is a public role – sits next to the queen at court. • Mademoiselle de la Vallière – 3 children, later fled to a convent • Madame de Montespan – 7 children, also “retired” to a convent • Madame de Maintenon – no children, but married Louis in secret.

  27. Versailles Glory of the monarch = glory of the state

  28. 550,000 square feet 2,153 windows 700 rooms 67 staircases 6,000 paintings 2,100 sculptures 5,000 pieces of furniture 6,500 Acres Versailles Statistics

  29. Temple of Love

  30. Hall ofMirrors

  31. The King’s Chapel

  32. Opera Stage at Versailles

  33. Furniture: “Louis XIV Style”

  34. Imitators Winter Palace in St. Petersburg and Peterhof summer palace near St. Petersburg

  35. Blenheim Palace: England

  36. Schonbrunn: Austria

  37. La Granja: Madrid

  38. Marie Antoinette’s “Peasant” House • Looks rustic, but opulent on the inside • Many aristocrats mimicked this style • Revolution wiped out that idea

  39. Marie Antoinette’s “Peasant’s Hut”

  40. Carlos II (1669-1700) Descended from Joanna the Mad 14 times -- twice as a great, great, great grandson War of Spanish Succession

  41. War of Spanish Succession 1702-1713 • France and HRE want to share Spanish territory • Spanish king’s will favors France • This would make France too powerful, disrupt balance of power • War • Two sides • Grand Alliance (led by England, Holland, HRE) vs. France • France loses war, but gains Spanish throne

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