The Reign The Reign of Louis of Louis

XIVXIV

SovereigntySovereignty

A sovereign power has the right to…A sovereign power has the right to… Make lawsMake laws Administer justiceAdminister justice Tax -- Tax -- IntendantsIntendants Control the administrative systemControl the administrative system Make foreign policyMake foreign policy

Absolute MonarchAbsolute Monarch

Not limited by Not limited by restrictions or restrictions or exceptions; exceptions; unconditionalunconditional

Unconstrained by Unconstrained by

constitutional or other constitutional or other provisions: provisions: an an absolute ruler.absolute ruler.

A form of government A form of government in which all power is in which all power is vested in a single ruler vested in a single ruler or other authority. or other authority.

Sounds good to

me!However, the power was not absolute. There was the possibility of revolt.

Just ask Charles I!!

Divine RightDivine Right

The doctrine that The doctrine that monarchs derive monarchs derive their right to rule their right to rule directly from God directly from God and are and are accountable only to accountable only to God. God.

Absolute Monarchs

Decline of Feudalism

•Local rulers became weaker

Colonial Wealth

•Created tremendous wealth for those who could conquer new lands

Religious Conflict

•Created Uncertainty

•Gave successful rulers more power

Territorial Conflicts

•Created Uncertainty

•Gave successful rulers more power

Monarch

Nobility NobilityNobility Nobility

•Days of Service

•Provided Soldiers during Time of War

•Acted as Advisors

•Consented to taxes

Feudal System

Monarch

Nobility NobilityNobility Nobility

Absolutism

•Bypassed the nobility

•Maintained Permanent Standing Armies

•Created bureaucracies to collect taxes and enforce rules

•Controlled all competing institutions within their kingdoms – Church, law, economies

Louis XIV (1643 – 1715) Louis XIV (1643 – 1715) Establishing PowerEstablishing Power

Feared Nobility – Feared Nobility – FrondeFronde (slingshot) (slingshot) Palace of VersaillesPalace of Versailles

Nobility came to himNobility came to him Ordered castle fortifications Ordered castle fortifications

destroyeddestroyed Inspired aweInspired awe Separated power from privilegeSeparated power from privilege

Trappings vs. substanceTrappings vs. substance Traded Traded

Stable rule (72 years or 54 years)Stable rule (72 years or 54 years)

Versailles StatisticsVersailles Statisticsf 2,000 acres of groundsf 12 miles of roadsf 27 miles of trellisesf 200,000 treesf 210,000 flowers planted every yearf 80 miles of rows of treesf 55 acres surface area of the Grand Canalf 12 miles of enclosing wallsf 50 fountains and 620 fountain nozzlesf 21 miles of water conduitsf 3,600 cubic meters per hour: water consumedf 26 acres of rooff 51,210 square meters of floorsf 2,153 windowsf 700 roomsf 67 staircasesf 6,000 paintingsf 1,500 drawings and 15,000 engravingsf 2,100 sculptures f 5,000 items of furniture and objects d'artf 150 varieties of apple and peach trees in the Vegetable

Garden

The Queen’s

Bed

The Queen’s

Bed

The King’s Bed

The King’s Bed

Marie Antoinette’s “Peasant” House

Marie Antoinette’s “Peasant” House

Marie Antoinette’s “Peasant’s Hut”Marie Antoinette’s “Peasant’s Hut”

Marie Antoinette’s “Peasant’s Hut”

Marie Antoinette’s “Peasant’s Hut”

MercantilismMercantilism

Economic system of the 16Economic system of the 16thth and 17 and 17thth CenturiesCenturies

Export more than you import – favorable Export more than you import – favorable balance of trade (more gold and silver in balance of trade (more gold and silver in than out)than out) Protective policies Protective policies TariffsTariffs

Foreign retaliationForeign retaliation

Do everything you can to build up tradeDo everything you can to build up trade Ports, shipping, navy, domestic industries, tariffs, Ports, shipping, navy, domestic industries, tariffs,

trade regulationstrade regulations

Charles IICharles II

French WarsFrench Wars

Costly with few benefitsCostly with few benefits War of Spanish SuccessionWar of Spanish Succession

Charles II (Carlos II) – childless Spanish king Charles II (Carlos II) – childless Spanish king Leaves throne to Philip, duke of Anjou (Bourbon)Leaves throne to Philip, duke of Anjou (Bourbon) Grandson of Louis XIV (Bourbon)Grandson of Louis XIV (Bourbon)

England, Austria, and the German states England, Austria, and the German states opposed itopposed it

Balance of powerBalance of power Philip becomes king Philip becomes king Two thrones must never uniteTwo thrones must never unite

Legacies of AbsolutismLegacies of Absolutism

• • Absolutism paved way for modern Absolutism paved way for modern nationsnations

– – Strong, centralized governmentsStrong, centralized governments • • MercantilismMercantilism • • Standing armiesStanding armies • • Internal improvementsInternal improvements – – NationalismNationalism • • Promotion of common culture, identityPromotion of common culture, identity

Louis XIV - MistakesLouis XIV - Mistakes

TaxesTaxes Sold offices – permanent tax exemptionSold offices – permanent tax exemption Exempted nobilityExempted nobility Tax burden was placed on the peasantsTax burden was placed on the peasants

WarsWars Excessive spendingExcessive spending

Chief MinistersChief Ministers

Cardinal Richelieu (Louis XIII)Cardinal Richelieu (Louis XIII) Cardinal Mazarin (Louis XIV)Cardinal Mazarin (Louis XIV) Colbert -- MercantilismColbert -- Mercantilism