The The Grand Monarque Grand Monarque and the Balance of Powerand the Balance of Power

Section 4.17

Questions to Consider• What observation may be made about the significance of

western Europe in the development of modern civilization since about 1650?

• What general statements may be made about the nature of Louis’ XIV rule in France and about the role of France in European affairs during his reign?

• Why did Louis (14)’s foreign policy arouse the opposition of the rest of Europe?

• Explain the nature of the balance of power that was employed against Louis. Of what broad significance has the balance of power concept been in diplomatic history?

Europe, 1648Europe, 1648

IntroductionIntroduction• Western World 1650

– Encompassed in 500 mile area

– centered on Paris • What makes it Western?

– secular– modern natural science– capitalism– modern state– parliamentary

government– democratic ideas– machine industry– earth’s principal center of

cultural diffusion

Why was it centered in Dutch, English, Why was it centered in Dutch, English, and French territories?and French territories?

• Italian Renaissance fading out

• Religious wars end in 1648

• HRE in ruins• Spain in decline• Commercial

Revolution generating wealthy, educated class

• Dutch= small population• England= Civil Wars (1630-

1689)– Charles I– James I– James II– Oliver Cromwell– Restoration– Glorious Revolution

• France– Large population (19 Million)– Resources– Succession of good rulers – Henry IV– (Louis XIII) Richelieu– Louis XIV

Why did France rise in status?Why did France rise in status?

The Sun KingThe Sun King• Long ‘stable’ reign

– Comes to power in 1643 at age 5

– reigns for 72 years (1715)– took personal direction

in 1661 at age 23– Sun King– Grand Monarque– More than a figurehead– takes over the

institutions created by Richelieu

The Absolutist ParadigmThe Absolutist Paradigm• Policies, methods of

government, war, diplomacy become models for others to follow

• French language, clothing, thought, architecture, cooking etiquette are standard for Europe

• Makes France the strongest country in Europe

• Charles II comes to the throne in 1665

• Weak leadership!!!!!– “The Bewitched”– Mandibular

prognathism (Hapsburg Jaw)

• genetic disorder where the lower jaw outgrows the upper

• tongue was enlarged and he could barley be understood

Why is Spain declining so rapidly?Why is Spain declining so rapidly?

• Acromegaly- pituitary gland disorder– Causes excessive

growth in hands, feet, jaw, …

• Imbecilic product of generations of inbreeding

• Infertility (well-known)• On the throne until 1700• Spain

– What Turkey was later called “sick man of Europe”

• Fate of Spain and its colonial holdings is uncertain

Why is Spain declining so rapidly?Why is Spain declining so rapidly?

Louis XIV and expansionLouis XIV and expansion• Marries Charles II’s

sister– uses his position

to advance France’s borders

– Annex Spanish Netherlands, Franche Comte`, and Burgundy

– Further weakens HRE

• Moves to secure Spain under his rule– to achieve this he takes

various interests into his pay• royalists in England• including Charles II of

England• republicans in

Netherlands• Potential for universal

monarchy under throne of France is increasing– Response to universal

monarchy is the use of balance of power

Louis XIV and expansionLouis XIV and expansion

Balance of PowerBalance of Power• condition of equilibrium in power condition of equilibrium in power

distributiondistribution– power is distributed among many power is distributed among many

separate statesseparate states– if one state grows too powerful, the if one state grows too powerful, the

others form a coalition against itothers form a coalition against it– the coalition becomes the “balance”the coalition becomes the “balance”

• holding the balance of power refers to the holding the balance of power refers to the power one state may bring to bear bypower one state may bring to bear by

– foreign policy become the pursuit of foreign policy become the pursuit of tipping the balance preserving the tipping the balance preserving the independence of action to the utmostindependence of action to the utmost

• the basic rule was to form alliances against any the basic rule was to form alliances against any state threatening domination and to maintain state threatening domination and to maintain the balancethe balance– objective was preserving sovereignty rather objective was preserving sovereignty rather

than peacethan peace– had little to do with ideologies or sympathies had little to do with ideologies or sympathies

(allies supported or rejected)(allies supported or rejected)• balance model was effective during period of balance model was effective during period of

large number of small and medium sized stateslarge number of small and medium sized states– later will become downfall of Europe (WWI)later will become downfall of Europe (WWI)

• Key players of the period are Louis XIV and Key players of the period are Louis XIV and William of Orange (William III) of the DutchWilliam of Orange (William III) of the Dutch– Key event of the period is the War of the Key event of the period is the War of the

Spanish SuccessionSpanish Succession

Balance of PowerBalance of Power