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Louis XIV (1643 - 1715). Helped by chief advisor, Cardinal Mazarin. Frondes: 2 successive revolts of the nobility: crushed by Mazarin. 1659: Treaty of the Pyrenees ended French involvement in the 30 Years War and gave Maria Therese of Spain to Louis as his wife.
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Louis XIV (1643 - 1715) • Helped by chief advisor, Cardinal Mazarin. • Frondes: 2 successive revolts of the nobility: crushed by Mazarin. • 1659: Treaty of the Pyrenees ended French involvement in the 30 Years War and gave Maria Therese of Spain to Louis as his wife.
Policies of the “Sun King” • Divine Right Ruler (Bishop Bossuet) • Built up Versailles and was a great patron of the arts (Golden Age of France). • Used intendents to strengthen royal power and control the power of the nobility. • Desire for territorial expansion led Louis into 4 costly wars.
The Great Rivalries Definitely NOT!
The Greatest Rivalry • FRANCE • Versus • Hapsburgs
The Wars of Louis XIV GOALS:Increase French power in Europe and advance F’s territory in the NE at the expense of the Sp. Netherlands and the HRE • War of Devolution (1667-1668) Louis claimed the Spanish Netherlands as his wife’s unpaid dowry. • Gained a small part of it as a result of the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.
More Wars • War against the Dutch (1672-78) Louis went back to get more Dutch territory and to claim Dutch commercial interests. • Fought against the Dutch, HRE, Spain, and Brandenburg. • Treaty of Nijmegen: France received another small piece of the Sp. Netherlands, but lost many valuable men.
Yet even more wars! • War of the League of Augsburg:(1688-97) Louis invaded Strasbourg and other Ger. border territories along the Rhine • Opposed by Spain, Dutch, Sweden, HRE, and England • Stalemate: Peace of Ryswick: Louis retreated from most territories in return for peace. France retains Alsace
War of Spanish Succession (1702 - 1713) • Spanish king designated Louis’ grandson Philip as the Spanish heir and Leopold Hapsburg thought his son had a stronger claim. Important ‘cause winner gets • Spain • Spain’s possessions in Europe • Spain’s overseas colonies w/ the vast wealth • War broke out and Spain and France fought England, HRE, and the Dutch. • This bloody war ended in a virtual stalemate.
Treaty of Utrecht • This treaty ended the War of Spanish Succession. • Allowed Louis’ grandson Philip to become the King of Spain (Philip V), but forbade any combining of French and Spanish holdings or thrones. • England received control of Gibraltar and of the Asiento (30 yr. slave contract to Spanish America) . • Elector of Brandenburg is now King of Prussia
Results As a result of the 4 wars fought during Louis’ reign, France lost many talented generals and found its economic situation to be unsound.