France

FranceReligious wars and the Age of MagnificenceI. The Stage is SetReligious Wars evolved into Secular WarsInterests of State take precedenceCommercial Revolution changes economic landscapeScience & Enlightenment altered ideology of state-subject relationshipsAge of AbsolutismHenry IV

Bourbon dynasty

Remember???Henry IV of Navarrer. 1589-1610Paris is worth a massHenry was HuguenotConverted to Catholic to unite France and end religious warsPassed Edict of NantesAllowed limited religious toleration

Remember???II. Model of Absolutism: FranceA. Henry IV & Sully (Henry IV assassinated in 1610)Unified France after religious warsEdict of NantesCatholic State ChurchHuguenots had some privileges Some saw this as a state-within-a-stateDenied use of royal council (tried to restrict nobility)Paulette to raise taxesAnnual tax to those who buy officeMade office hereditaryMercantilismLouis XIII and Cardinal RichelieuBourbon Dynasty

Cardinal Richelieuunder Louis XIIILouis allowed Cardinal Richelieu to basically run FranceRichelieu was MachiavellianSupported protestants in 30 Years warRichelieu strengthened armyRichelieu weakened nobilityCentralized monarchial powerSupported art, literature, and the sciencesDid a lot to strengthen FranceB. Louis XIII & RichelieuMarie deMedici rule until Louis XIII olderCardinal Richelieu appointed ministerRichelieus policy:Total subordination of all groups & institutions to the crownLeveled castles & executed rebellious noblesGeneralities created (Intendant System)Royal Intendant in charge of eachUpper middle class or minor nobles chosenMay use power to: Enforce royal law or weaken power of regional nobilityReverted to selling offices (not paulette tax)Increased tax exemptions (privileged class)Tax farms created auctioned positions for tax collection (may keep % of tax collected)

Foreign Policy centered on destroying Hapsburg powerSupported Swedes in 30 Yrs War (protestants)France acquired rights to Alsace (will be an issue later)Cut back on some privileges in Edict of NantesFrench Academy supported by RichelieuStandardized French language via dictionary Supported arts & learning

Mazzarin chosen as Richelieus successor

C. Louis XIII & Richelieu dies in 1643

III. Between Louis XIII & Louis XIVA. Queen Anne of Austria ruled as regent (Louis XIV too young)Mazzarin was true powerB. Fronde RevoltsFronde means catapult or slingshotA frondeur was a street urchin that threw mud at richAristocracy mad at Richelieus policiesSaw their power & influence slipping awayMazzarin tried to reform economy Richelieu left France broke 30 yrs war costReform attempts made Middle Class angry

Middle Class & Aristocracy raised armyMazzarin/Queen Anne versus Middle Class/Nobility12 years later, internal disputes among nobility & middle class weaken Fronde forcesFronde lostC. Major results of Fronde Civil WarsBadly disrupted French economyTraumatic effect of the young Louis XIV

Louis XIV

Bourbon Dynasty

Louis XIV the Sun Kingr. 1643-1715Longest reign of a monarch in historyMoved the Royal Court to VersaillesElaborate buildingsArt and sculptures aboundParty atmosphereBecame center of European social lifeAll nobles required to live at Versailles a couple months each yearThis allowed Louis to keep a tight reign on the power of the nobilityAbsolute MonarchyLouis controlled all sovereign powerAge of MagnificenceFrench became language of cultureFrench Classicism was main art style

Wars of Louis diverted attention away from domestic financial strifeWar of Devolution & Dutch WarWar of Spanish successionFrance went broke supporting the Versailles court and Louis warsFrance declined in powerIV. The Sun King: Louis XIVA. Called Sun King because the world revolved around him!Age is also calledGrand CenturyAge of MagnificenceAge of Louis XIVLouis spoke: French, Italian, & SpanishLouis knew history & geography wellWas a devout CatholicDistrusted NobilityLoved the ladiesMarried Queen Maria Theresa via diplomatic agreementHad a main mistress & many minor onesB. Court of VersaillesWas a hunting lodgeHuge elaborate court builtWas used to tame the noblesAll great nobility required to live part of each year at VersaillesLouis XIV could keep an eye on themElaborate rituals were created to keep focus on Louis XIVKept Nobles busy (less chance to plan trouble)Monarch all over copied the French court styleArchitecture copiedFrench language spoken in foreign courts (French will replace Latin as the language of learning)C. King DID NOT share powerKey to advancement was to serve RoyaltyI am the stateLouis XIV used secret police, informants, & intercepted private lettersD. John-Baptiste Colbert Finance ministerFinances were the weakness of KingCourt of Versailles was expensive!Current tax system inefficient (tax farmers often earned more than the king himself!)Used mercantilismA nations power believed to be based on wealth specifically bullionAll policies meant to regulate economic activity

Created powerful Merchant marineSent peasants to Quebec & territory around the mouth of the Mississippi River to tap resourcesEffects of Colberts policiesTextile industry expandedCommercial class prosperedPeasants mercilessly taxed & suffered as a resultAfter 1685:Poor harvests (drought)Deflation of currencyGrain price fluctuationsMany people emigrated elsewhere to avoid hardships (also see Edict of Fontainebleau)

E. Religious PolicyOne king, One Law, One FaithRevocation of the Edict of Nantes (Edict of Fontainebleau)Huguenots fled FranceMany Huguenots were skilled craftsmen, soldiers, and businesspeopleHarmed French economy!F. Art & LiteratureImitated style of classical antiquity (Neoclassicism)Versailles was center of writers & artists set the styleBiggest name in art was Nicholas Puossin

G. Louis XIVs warsLouis saw himself as a great military heroSought gloryKing himself commanded armiesNew military units set up (modern army)Commissariat fed troops instead of pillagingAmbulance Corp created (no women yet!)Uniforms & weapons standardizedSystem of recruitment put into placeWill discuss wars laterTreaty of Utrecht marked end of expansionist policyWars caused massive drain on French economy (by 1714 France was on the edge of bankruptcy)

KEY CONCEPTSHow did Louis XIV break the power of the nobility?How was the Huguenot state-within-a-sate broken?What were the effects of the reign of Louis XIV?EconomicallyPoliticallyCulturally