Louis XIII to Louis XIV

The belief that the monarch of a country is a

representative of God, and as such should

have complete power. Countries with absolute

rulers still had parliaments, courts, and other

bureaucratic systems, but in most cases their

power was weak when compared to that of the

monarch.

Definition of Absolutism

Philippe de Champaigne,Triple Portrait of Cardinal Richelieu

Louis XIII

• Reigned 1643-1715• When Young:

• Anne of Austria / Mazarin ruled • Fronde had chased him out of Paris

• When Older:• Became the strongest ruler in Europe• Set the standard for absolutism• Built the Palace of Versailles• Was known as the Sun King

Louis XIV

Cardinal Mazarin / Young Louis XIV

• The Famous Saying• L’etat, c’est moi • Meaning: I am the state• May not have really said it at all

Like all of those who supported the ideas of absolutism, Louis XIV did not believe any political or religious authority existed that had the right to judge or control him.

Louis XIV and Absolutism

Louis XIV

Louis XIV & Family (Including Papillon)

• Built the palace outside Paris• Size of Versailles:

• 10,000 people lived there at a time• There were 1,400 fountains in gardens• 60% of royal income used to support it

• Why Build Versailles?• Forced nobles to come to him• Kept the aristocrats busy• Allowed him to display power/wealth

Louis XIV and Versailles

Versailles Today

Versailles Palace

Versailles Palace

The Hall of Mirrors

Versailles Palace Gardens

Versailles Palace Gardens

Fountain of Apollo

Versailles Fountain

Versailles Fountain

Versailles Fountain

Louis XIV and Religion

• Revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685• Took away civil rights for Calvinists• Destroyed Huguenot churches/schools • Exiled prominent Huguenots

• Much of the economy went with them• Their wealth now supported enemies• Angered other Protestant nations

• Louis used the bureaucracy to rule• Jean-Baptiste Colbert

• Encouraged Louis to build empire • Said strength of France was in mercantilism• Dutch Republic was the greatest enemy

• Marquis de Louvois• Prominent after Colbert • Said strength of France was in army• Holy Roman Empire the greatest enemy

Louis XIV and His Ministers

• War of Devolution (1667-1668) • France tried to take the Spanish Netherlands• France lost• France gained just a few new towns

• Dutch War (1672-1678)• Started by Colbert over trade issues• France lost• Again, France gained just a few new towns

Louis XIV and War

• War of the League of Augsburg (1688-1697)• Started by Louvois over “stolen” land• France lost

• War of Spanish Succession (1701-1713)• Fought for Philip, the grandson of Louis• France won• Peace terms did not give Louis all he wanted

Louis XIV and War

Treaty of Utrecht, 1713

1.Confirmed Philip V as King of Spain2.Kept the French and Spanish Thrones separate3.England received Gibraltar, Newfoundland, Hudson bay territory, and Nova Scotia

Though France, by its sheer size and position, remained a great power, England emerged as a formidable naval force