FRENCH ABSOLUTISM

1. FRENCH ABSOLUTISM THE RISE OF ABSOLUTE MONARCHS (1650-1750)

2. OBJECTIVES • In what sense were these forms “modern”? • Which countries most clearly illustrate the new patterns of political organization • How did these forms of government differ in Western and Eastern Europe? • What were the limitations of absolutism?

3. THEMES • “Absolute power corrupts absolutely” • The Divine Right of Kings • The Modern Nation State

5. CHARACTERISTICS • Strong Central Government • Universal laws • Permanent Army – professional soldiers paid by the State • Trained Bureaucrats • Collect taxes, enforce laws, administer justice

6. CHARACTERISTICS • Secular State • State above Religion • Churches do not determine state policy • National Security • National Power and Glory • National language, pride, common culture, and history distinct from others

7. FACTORS ABSOLUTE MONARCHS • Weak Medieval Kings • Power Feudal Nobel Lords • Religious Wars • France, England*, Spain (Western) • Prussia, Russia, Austria – (Eastern) Diverse • Gradual shift from loyalty to regional, local lords – monarch rise of the Modern

8. DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS • God’s earthly representative • Obedience to God – Obedience to the King • King could do no wrong • Bishop Jacques Bossuet • Politics Drawn From the Very Words of the Holy Scripture • “The person of the king is sacred, and to attack him in any way is an attack on religion itself.”

9. HENRY IV • Poltitique– “The (politiques) believed man lived primarily in the state, not in the church.” • “The politiques were men who concluded that too much was being made of religion, that no doctrine was important enough to justify everlasting war, that perhaps afterall there might be room for two churches, and that what the country needed above all else was civil order.”

10. HENRY IV • Paved the way for French Absolutism by helping to restore internal peace • New Nobility – “Nobles of the Robe” • Disorders of religious wars germinated the idea of royal absolutism and the sovereign state • Henry IV – assassinated 1610 by a Catholic Fanatic

11. LOUIS XIII • 1610-1643 • Son of Henry IV • 6 years old when his father dies • Mother Marie de Medici – Regent • Huguenot revolts • Promoted Cardinal Richelieu – Chief Advisor

12. CARDINAL RICHELIEU • 1585-1642 • Chief advisor – 1624-1642 • Shrewd, Brilliant, Energetic, Loyal, Catholic • Shaped the destiny of France • France – supreme power in Europe • Strengthened the power of the king

13. PEACE OF ALAIS • Threats to royal power? • Huguenots – “state within a state” • Peace of Alais (1629) – amended the Edict of Nantes • Military rights of Huguenots must be removed • Protestantism often served as a religious cloak • Siege of La Rochelle

15. INTENDANTS • Royal Commissioners • Middle class, lesser nobles • Administrative System • France divided into 32 districts • Duties: collect taxes, recruit men for army, administer laws, regulate economic activities • WHY?

16. RICHELIEU • “If you give me six lines written by the most honest man, I will find something in them to hang him.”- Cardinal Richelieu (Armand-Jean du Plessis)

17. LOUIS XIV “SUN KING”

18. LOUIS XIV • 1638-1715 • Father – Louis XIII • Mother – Anne of Austria • King age of 5 • Longest reigning monarch in European History • Cardinal Jules Mazarin a regent • Childhood marked by noble uprisings

19. MAZARIN • 1602-1661 • Continued Richelieu’s centralizing policies • The Frondes – 1648-1652 – series of widespread rebellions – French civil war • Term used for those who opposed the King • Nobility opposed – strong central government an new taxes imposed by Mazarin

20. LOUIS XIV • 1660 married Maria Theresa – Spanish Princess • 1661 Mazarin dies – age of 23 Louis takes the sole reign of France • Financial Minister Jean Baptiste Colbert • Encouraged art, music, theater, architecture, painting, sculptor, science

21. THE PALACE OF VERSAILLES • 1664-1715 • 10 miles outside the city of Paris • Originally a royal hunting lodge • Official residence of Kings 1682-1790 • Baroque Style • 1837 Louis Philippe – converted Museum

22. IMPACT OF THE FRONDES • Strong king preferable to anarchy • Frightened a young Louis XIV • Caused him to fear the nobles and look for ways to control them

23. JOHN BAPTISTE COLBERT • 1616-1683 • Chief financial minister • Mercantilist • Expanded gov’t role in the economy • French East India company • Built roads, canals • Expanded Merchant fleet • Tax burden - peasants

24. EDICT OF NANTES • 1685 • Revoked • 200,000 Huguenots fled • “one king, one faith, one law”

25. WARS OF LOUIS XIV • The War of Devolution (1667-1668) • The Dutch War (1672-1678) • War of the League of Augsburg (1688-1697) • War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714) • 4 major wars in 46 years

26. WARS OF LOUIS XIV • “the line of the Rhine” • Louis XIV • Natural Border • Expansionist Policy

27. WAR OF SPANISH SUCCESSION • Closest relative – Heir • Louis XIV grandson – Philip the Duke of Anjou • Philip V – Spain • Problem? • France and Spain Unite? • TOO POWERFUL

28. WAR OF SPANISH SUCCESSION • Grand Alliance – England, Dutch, Austria, Prussia, HRE v. France • 1713 – Treaty of Utrecht • Phillip V (1700-46) remains King of Spain • France and Spain never to unite • Austrian Hapsburgs acquire – Spanish Netherlands (Belgium), Milan, Naples, Sardinia • Elector of Brandenburg – King of Prussia

29. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE • End of French expansionist policy • Completed the decline of Spain • Vastly expanded Great Britain • BALANCE OF POWER • Experience in international cooperation

34. SUCCESSES of ABSOLUTISM • Strong Central Government • “one faith, one law, one king” • Weakened forced that tended to divide nations • Growth towards the Modern Nation State

35. FAILURES of ABSOLUTISM • Nation’s welfare dependent upon the ability of one person • Countless costly wars • Disregarded the needs of the rights of the common people