Absolutism – Jean Bodin 16th C

Sovereign power in the state rests in the hands of a King

who claims divine right

Powers• Legislation• Taxation• Administration of justice• Execution of laws• Selection of state officials• Foreign policy

Jacques Boussuet (1627 – 1704)

• Politics Drawn from the Very Words of Scripture

• Divine –right• God ordained government and

established kings• Their authority is therefore absolute• A Parliament has no authority – only

God

Advance of Absolutism

Cardinal Richelieu• Louis XIII• Amended Nantes

(no military)• Spies• Intendants• Taille• 30 years War

Cardinal Marzarin• Louis XIV – age 4 1643• Deals with ….• End of Thirty Years War

(1648 – Westphalia)And…..

The Fronde• 1st – Nobles of the Robe – Paris 1648 –

1649• 2nd Nobles of the Sword – countryside

1650 – 1652• Oppose increased taxation• Opposed increased power of the King• Demand Marzarin’s overthrow• Crushed by crown forces• Childhood trauma in formative years

Louis XIV b1643 r 1661 – 1715

• One king on law one faith

• Edict of Fontainebleau• Destruction of

Huguenot churches/schools

• 200,000 emigrate

Jean Babtist Colbert – Finance Minister

• 1619 – 1683• Mercantilist• French East India Co.• Increase in manufacture• Roads / canals• Luxuries industry• Tariffs on foreign goods• Merchant Marines• $$ used to make France an cultural leader

in Europe

The Sun King – Louis’ strive toward absolutism

• "Messieurs," he announced, "I have gathered you here to tell you that henceforth I intend to rule my state alone."

• “L’etat c’est moi”• Versailles – secure location• 10,000 people• Nobility attends him always• Freed nobles from taxation – ends their

authority over the countryside• (commoners are the only one’s now taxed)• Intendants

Foreign Policy• Expansion• Louis attempts to gain the balance of power• Expands into Hapsburg lands• Invasion of the Spanish Netherlands 1667• War of the Grand Alliance 1680’s League of

Augsberg / William III of Orange• War of the Spanish Succession – 1700• England, Dutch Republic the Hapsburgs,

Prussia, Hanover, Portugal• Utrecht – Spain & France would never be

united 1714• Asiento – increases Britains’s role in slave

trade

Legacy

• Arts / literature glorify and promote French culture

• Huge debts from warfare• Weakening of noble role – increase in use

of commoners in government• Powerful French colonies

• Colonial Empire• Louis and the arts