The Reign of Louis The Reign of Louis XIVXIV
Chapter 5Chapter 5
Section 2Section 2
Main Ideas Main Ideas
After a century of war and After a century of war and riots, France was ruled by riots, France was ruled by Louis XIVLouis XIV, the most , the most powerful monarch of his powerful monarch of his time.time.
Louis’ abuse of power led Louis’ abuse of power led to revolution that would to revolution that would inspire the call for inspire the call for democraticdemocratic government government throughout the world.throughout the world.
IntroductionIntroduction 1559, 1559, HenryHenry of France died. of France died.
– Left four young sons.Left four young sons. Three of the sons ruled but Three of the sons ruled but
were all incompetent.were all incompetent. Their mother, Their mother, Catherine de Catherine de
MediciMedici was the real power. was the real power. Catherine tried to preserve Catherine tried to preserve
royal authority but religious royal authority but religious wars between the Catholics wars between the Catholics and and HuguenotsHuguenots made it made it difficult.difficult.
Religious Wars and Religious Wars and Power StrugglesPower Struggles
Catholics and Huguenots Catholics and Huguenots fought fought 88 religious wars religious wars between 1562-1598.between 1562-1598.
1572 – 1572 – St. Bartholomew’sSt. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in Paris.Day Massacre in Paris.– Sparked a six week Sparked a six week
nationwide nationwide slaughterslaughter of of the Huguenots.the Huguenots.
– Huguenot nobles were Huguenot nobles were attending a wedding for attending a wedding for Catherine’s daughter and Catherine’s daughter and Henry of Navarre.Henry of Navarre.
Henry of Henry of NavarreNavarre
Catherine and her last son Catherine and her last son died in 1589.died in 1589.– Henry inherited the throne.Henry inherited the throne.– Became Henry IV, the first Became Henry IV, the first
king of the king of the BourbonBourbon dynasty in France.dynasty in France.
Catholics opposed Henry.Catholics opposed Henry. Henry gave up Henry gave up
Protestantism and Protestantism and convertedconverted for the sake of for the sake of his country.his country.
Edict of NantesEdict of Nantes 1568 – Henry declared –1568 – Henry declared –
– that the Huguenots could that the Huguenots could live in peacelive in peace in in France France
– and set up their own houses of worship in some and set up their own houses of worship in some cities.cities.
This is an example of religious This is an example of religious tolerationtoleration.. Known as the Known as the Edict of NantesEdict of Nantes
Rebuilding FranceRebuilding France Henry devoted his reign to Henry devoted his reign to
rebuilding rebuilding France.France. He restored the monarchy He restored the monarchy
in France to a in France to a strongstrong position.position.
Some people were happy Some people were happy and welcomed peace.and welcomed peace.
Others disliked Henry for his Others disliked Henry for his religious compromisereligious compromise..
1610 – Henry was stabbed 1610 – Henry was stabbed to death while riding in his to death while riding in his carriage.carriage.
Louis XIII & Louis XIII & Cardinal RichelieuCardinal Richelieu
Louis XIIILouis XIII = = Henry’s sonHenry’s son– Took over after Took over after
Henry’s deathHenry’s death– Very Very weakweak king king
1624 – appointed 1624 – appointed Cardinal Cardinal RichelieuRichelieu, a , a Catholic minister, Catholic minister, to assist him.to assist him.
Cardinal RichelieuCardinal Richelieu
In a sense – the In a sense – the rulerruler of France. of France.
Wanted to increase Wanted to increase the power of the the power of the BourbonBourbon monarchy.monarchy.
Went about this by Went about this by two steps…two steps…
Richelieu’s StepsRichelieu’s Steps 1. Moved against 1. Moved against HuguenotsHuguenots..
– Still allowed them to practice, but Still allowed them to practice, but would not let them build walls would not let them build walls around their cities.around their cities.
2. Sought to 2. Sought to weakenweaken nobles’ power. nobles’ power.– Increased the power of government Increased the power of government
officials that were middle class.officials that were middle class. Richelieu also got France involved in Richelieu also got France involved in
the Thirty Years’ War against the the Thirty Years’ War against the Hapsburgs.Hapsburgs.
SkepticismSkepticism
The idea that The idea that nothingnothing can ever be can ever be known for certain.known for certain.
French thinkers expressed an French thinkers expressed an attitude of doubt toward churches attitude of doubt toward churches that claimed to have the only correct that claimed to have the only correct set of doctrines.set of doctrines.
Montaigne & DescartesMontaigne & Descartes
Read the three paragraphs under Read the three paragraphs under Montaigne and DescartesMontaigne and Descartes on page 163 on page 163 in your text.in your text.
Answer the following questions:Answer the following questions: How might political and religious leaders How might political and religious leaders
have reacted to the work of Montaigne?have reacted to the work of Montaigne? Did Descartes’ response to the Did Descartes’ response to the
challenges of skeptics such as challenges of skeptics such as Montaigne put an end to the skeptics’ Montaigne put an end to the skeptics’ arguments? Explain.arguments? Explain.
Louis XIV Comes to PowerLouis XIV Comes to Power The efforts of Henry IV and The efforts of Henry IV and
Richelieu strengthened the Richelieu strengthened the French monarchy and paved French monarchy and paved the way for the way for Louis XIVLouis XIV..
Louis XIV became the Louis XIV became the most most powerfulpowerful ruler in French ruler in French history.history.– ““I am the state.”I am the state.”– Was Was fourfour when he began his when he began his
reign.reign.
Louis, the Boy KingLouis, the Boy King
Louis XIII died in Louis XIII died in 1643, leaving his 1643, leaving his son to reign.son to reign.
Richelieu’s Richelieu’s successor, Cardinal successor, Cardinal MazarinMazarin really really ruled France.ruled France.
Mazarin ended the Mazarin ended the Thirty Years’ Thirty Years’ WarWar..
MazarinMazarin Many people Many people hatedhated
Mazarin, particularly the Mazarin, particularly the nobles.nobles.
StrengthenedStrengthened the central the central government.government.
Nobles led Nobles led riotsriots and and threatened the king’s life.threatened the king’s life.
Louis would never forget Louis would never forget the fear.the fear.
Wanted to be so strong that Wanted to be so strong that he could never be he could never be threatened by them again.threatened by them again.
Louis Weakens the Nobles’ Louis Weakens the Nobles’ AuthorityAuthority
Mazarin died in 1661, Mazarin died in 1661, leaving 22 year old Louis to leaving 22 year old Louis to rule alone.rule alone.
Excluded nobles from Excluded nobles from councilscouncils to weaken their to weaken their power.power.
Increased power of Increased power of intendantsintendants (officials who (officials who collected taxes & collected taxes & administered justice).administered justice).
Demanded regular Demanded regular communicationcommunication between between local officials and him.local officials and him.
Economic GrowthEconomic Growth Louis devoted himself to Louis devoted himself to
making sure that France making sure that France attained attained economiceconomic, , politicalpolitical and and culturalcultural brilliance.brilliance.
Minister of Minister of FinanceFinance, Jean , Jean Baptiste Baptiste ColbertColbert, assisted , assisted him greatly in achieving him greatly in achieving these goals.these goals.– Tried to make France Tried to make France
self-sufficientself-sufficient..– Manufacture everything Manufacture everything
& not rely on imports.& not rely on imports.
Jean Baptiste ColbertJean Baptiste Colbert Gave government funds & Gave government funds &
tax breakstax breaks to French to French companies.companies.
Placed a high Placed a high tarifftariff on on imports.imports.
Encouraged people to Encouraged people to migrate to Canada.migrate to Canada.
After Colbert died, Louis After Colbert died, Louis recalled the Edict of Nantes.recalled the Edict of Nantes.
Response? Huguenots Response? Huguenots fledfled the country.the country.
Result? France lost many Result? France lost many skilledskilled workers. workers.
The Sun King’s The Sun King’s Grand StyleGrand Style
Spent a fortune to Spent a fortune to surround himself surround himself with with luxuriesluxuries..
Each meal was a Each meal was a feast.feast.
Built a fabulous Built a fabulous palace known as palace known as VersaillesVersailles..
Page 166.Page 166.
Louis Controls Louis Controls the Nobilitythe Nobility
Required Required hundredshundreds of of nobles to live with him.nobles to live with him.
At least 100 of the most At least 100 of the most privileged privileged noblesnobles waited waited outside Louis’ canopy bed outside Louis’ canopy bed to help him dress.to help him dress.– Four would have the honor Four would have the honor
of handing him his slippers of handing him his slippers or holding his sleeves.or holding his sleeves.
Patronage of the ArtsPatronage of the Arts
Versailles was a Versailles was a center of the center of the artsarts during Louis’ reign.during Louis’ reign.
Louis made opera Louis made opera & ballet more & ballet more popular.popular.
Louis Fights Disastrous WarsLouis Fights Disastrous Wars
Under Louis, France was Under Louis, France was the most the most powerfulpowerful country in Europe.country in Europe.
1660, France’s population 1660, France’s population was about was about 2020 million. million.– 4 times that of England4 times that of England– 10 times that of the 10 times that of the
NetherlandsNetherlands French army was ahead in French army was ahead in
terms of terms of size, training size, training and weaponryand weaponry..
Attempts to Expand France’s Attempts to Expand France’s BoundariesBoundaries
1667, Louis 1667, Louis invadesinvades the the Spanish Netherlands.Spanish Netherlands.– Gains 12 townsGains 12 towns
Tries the same with the Tries the same with the DutchDutch– They They floodflood the city and the city and
stop France.stop France. Louis continued to try to fight Louis continued to try to fight
wars.wars. Problem? The rest of Europe Problem? The rest of Europe
had formed an had formed an alliancealliance and and wanted to stop France.wanted to stop France.
William of OrangeWilliam of Orange
1689 - Dutch prince, 1689 - Dutch prince, William of Orange, William of Orange, became the king of became the king of EnglandEngland..
Joined the League of Joined the League of Augsburg – Augsburg – Hapsburg emperor, Hapsburg emperor, Kings of Sweden, Kings of Sweden, and Spainand Spain
DefeatedDefeated FranceFrance
France’s Problems & France’s Problems & Louis’ MistakesLouis’ Mistakes
ProblemsProblems
Series of poor Series of poor harvestsharvests
Constant Constant warfarewarfare New New taxestaxes (to pay (to pay
for the war)for the war)
MistakesMistakes
Massive Massive PopulationPopulation
Expanding France Expanding France Continuous Continuous
expansionexpansion
War of the War of the Spanish SuccessionSpanish Succession
French longed for peace.French longed for peace.– Instead, got another war.Instead, got another war.
1700 – Charles II (King of 1700 – Charles II (King of Spain) dies and leaves throne Spain) dies and leaves throne to to Philip of AnjouPhilip of Anjou (Louis (Louis XIV’s grandson).XIV’s grandson).
Enemies were now both ruled Enemies were now both ruled by French by French BourbonsBourbons..
England, Dutch Republic, England, Dutch Republic, Portugal, and several German Portugal, and several German and Italian states joined and Italian states joined together against France and together against France and SpainSpain
Treaty of Treaty of UtrechtUtrecht
War dragged on until 1714.War dragged on until 1714. Under the Treaty of Utrecht, Under the Treaty of Utrecht,
Louis’ grandson could remain Louis’ grandson could remain king as long as France & Spain king as long as France & Spain did not did not uniteunite..
Big Winner? Big Winner? Great BritainGreat Britain Great Britain gets Gibraltar, Great Britain gets Gibraltar,
permission to sell slaves in permission to sell slaves in Spanish Colonies, and gave Spanish Colonies, and gave Britain Nova Scotia, Britain Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Hudson Newfoundland, and Hudson Bay areaBay area
Louis’ Death and LegacyLouis’ Death and Legacy Last years – More sad than Last years – More sad than
gloriousglorious Regretted the Regretted the sufferingsuffering he he
brought to France due to his brought to France due to his wars.wars.
Died in 1715 – led to great Died in 1715 – led to great rejoicing.rejoicing.
Positive side – France was a Positive side – France was a great great powerpower
Negative side – war and Negative side – war and Versailles left France in great Versailles left France in great debtdebt