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Age of Louis XIV. Absolutism Overview. 17 th C Models of Governing. Constitutionalism – England develops a parliamentary or constitutional monarchy Absolutism – France develops an absolute monarchy. Characteristics of Absolutism.
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Age of Louis XIV Absolutism Overview
17th C Models of Governing • Constitutionalism – England develops a parliamentary or constitutional monarchy • Absolutism – France develops an absolute monarchy
Characteristics of Absolutism • An absolute monarch controls the following institutions in society and uses them for his goals: • The bureaucracy • The nobility • The Church • The military In addition, the absolute monarch embraced the economic system called mercantilism
Absolutism • Jacques Boussuet advocated Divine Right Rule. • Characteristics • The king is above the law • The king’s will is the will of the country • The king has vast power • The king is chosen by God to rule
Bureaucracy and Louis XIV Controlled the bureaucracy • Used his power to keep peace in France (avoid another Fronde). • Used intendants to oversee the regions of France and watch over nobles not at Versailles. • Nobles controlled their peasants but had to obey Louis. Louis was never able to tax the nobles arbitrarily • Upper middle class (bourgeoisie) given duties to collect land tax, salt tax, head tax, and labor tax.
Versailles and Louis XIV • Instrument to control nobles. • Rituals were created to force nobles to wait on the king. • Art was used at Versailles to show the king’s wealth and power. • Codes of conduct required nobles to spend large sums of money to live at Versailles, making them dependent on the king.
Religion and Louis XIV • Believed in religious unity. Pluralism is a threat to absolutism • Suppression of the Jansenists for their religious views • Revocation of the Edict of Nantes • Huguenots were forced to convert or were persecuted and forced to leave.
The Military and Louis XIV • France was at war for much of the reign of Louis XIV • Marquis de Louvois – modernized army • Louis wanted expansion of France • Wars were extremely costly • Most important = War of Spanish Succession Causes – Outcomes -
Economy and Louis XIV • Jean Baptiste Colbert • Finance minister in 17th C • Efficiently collected taxes • Believed in mercantilism (a term coined by later economists) • A nation’s wealth is measured by the king’s treasury • Goal – Collect gold and silver bullion • Encourage exports; discourage imports via tariffs • Encourage domestic industries • Acquisition of colonies to benefit the mother country
Thought Question • How absolute was absolute monarchy of Louis XIV?
Legacy of Louis XIV • Widespread misery due to incessant wars • Massive tax increases • By 1715 France was on the brink of bankruptcy. • Large amounts of money were spent administering life at Versailles
Key terms and ideas • Intendants • Corvee • Raison d’etat • Fronde • One king, one law, one faith • Jansenism • Henry IV – steps towards absolutism • Richelieu • Mazarin • Colbert • Impact - Revocation of the Edict of Nantes • Versailles • War of Spanish Succession • Treaty of Utrecht