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France. Henry IV. Henry IV. Good king, popular for lowering taxes, building roads Was Protestant (Huguenot), but converted to Catholicism to end religious wars in France “Paris is well worth a mass” Issued the Edict of Nantes in 1598 Gave religious freedom to Huguenots
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Henry IV • Good king, popular for lowering taxes, building roads • Was Protestant (Huguenot), but converted to Catholicism to end religious wars in France • “Paris is well worth a mass” • Issued the Edict of Nantes in 1598 • Gave religious freedom to Huguenots • Assassinated in 1610 by a Catholic fanatic
Louis XIII (1610-43) – 9 yrs old when he became king. • Cardinal Richelieu served as Chief Minister and expanded absolute power. • Curbed the power of the nobles and Huguenots. • Developed a network of spies and crushed conspiracies quickly.
Richelieu • “Where the interests of the state are concerned, God absolves actions which, if privately committed, would be a crime”
Cardinal Mazarin and the Fronde • Richelieu was followed by Mazarin. • He was a foreigner and intensely disliked by the French people. • His attempts to increase taxes led to the Fronde. (1648-52) • Uprisings by the nobles and peasants
When Mazarin died in 1661, Louis XIV was 23 and declared he would rule alone. • The Fronde was very influential in shaping L14’s attitude toward the nobles and his own rule. • Ruling from 1643-1715 (72 years), he became the longest reigning European monarch in history.
An Absolute Monarch • The Sun King • Built Palace of Versailles and forced nobles to live there • Limited nobles through rituals like the levee and his use of intendants • Built up the French army (300,000) and fought numerous wars • Revoked the Edict of Nantes • “One King, One Faith, One Law”
Versailles • Construction began in 1660 and wasn’t completed until 1688. • Intended to overawe subjects and impress foreign powers. • Used elaborate ceremonies here to distract the nobles and royal princes. Active involvement was a prerequisite to offices, titles, and pensions they wanted.
Louis’s Death and Legacy • France: great and powerful (culture) • Bankrupted the country with war. • Died in 1715 of gangrene. • Outlived all of his own children and grandchildren. • His great-grandson became L15.
Peter the Great • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wodIGd7LoAo