Royal Theories

Absolutism: A ruler with COMPLETE control Make laws, taxes, administer justice,

control administration, determine foreign policy

Divine Right Monarchy: God hand-picks those who rule and therefore Monarchs should have complete control – because they are God’s choice Bishop Jacques Bossuet - Politics

Drawn from the Very Words of Holy Scripture

French Monarchy

Henry IV (Navarre) dies and son takes throne

Louis XIII (1610-1643) Young, weak leader Cardinal Richelieu

takes controlChief minister and

most trusted adviserDetermined to

strengthen monarchy

To strengthen Monarchy Richelieu…

Created a network of spies Sent out INTENDANTS to execute orders of central

government Increase taille – annual direct tax – in 1643 Cut off Port city of La Rochelle, to take control from

Huguenots 14 months, until starving citizens surrendered Ordered walls to be torn down Turn all churches Catholic

Punished Nobles for Revolts Biggest Move: Sided with Protestants in 30 Years war

to undermine Hapsburg powerLa Rochelle’s defeat was a signal to all Protestants to GET

OUT of France!

FRANCE

Louis XIII died, Cardinal Mazarin dominated government FRONDE (1648-1649) – nobles and

PARLEMENT of Paris (important court) revolted in reaction to taxes to pay for 30 Year War

Parlement of Paris regained power, people looked to King to restore stability

LOUIS XIV (1643-1715) “I am the State” (didn’t need a Cardinal’s help) “Sun King”- source of light for his people Tried to be absolute, but towns and provinces

had much control

How did Louis XIV create absolute power?

Removed Nobles and princes from royal council and invited them to: Versailles –Louis’ palace and

center of government Influenced dress, dining and

other aspects of noble life “one king, one law, one faith”

EDICT OF FONTAINEBLEAU: Revokes Edict of Nantes, outlaws

Protestantism, destruction of churches

200,000 Huguenots flee

Louis XIV creates Financial Issues Building of Versailles and other palaces Maintaining court Pursuing wars

Jean-Baptiste Colbert (1619-1683) Controller general of finances Adhered to MERCANTILISM

Improved quality of French manufacturing to increase exports

Built roads and canals to better transportation for internal goods

Raised tariffs on foreign manufactured goods Louis XIV spent the saved money faster than Colbert

could make it Taxes fell to the peasants to pay

Louis’ Wars

Louis XIV developed a professional army War an incessant activity

Waged four wars 1667-1713 1667: invaded Spanish

Netherlands Lost to Dutch, English,

Swedes 1672: Dutch War: invaded

United Provinces Brandenburg, Spain, HRE

ended war

Louis’ Wars

1689: WAR OF THE LEAGUE OF AUGSBURG Annexation of Alsace and

Lorraine, city of Strasbourg led to:

League of Augsburg – Spain, HRE, United Provinces, Sweden, England united against Louis

Treaty of Ryswick- made Louis give up most conquests

WAR OF SPANISH SUCCESSION

1701 Spanish King, Charles II, died, left throne to Louis XIV’s

grandson Other monarchs didn’t want this Bourbon connection

between the two countries, feared they would unite England, Netherlands, Holy Roman Empire fought France Fought in North America too

TREATY OF UTRECHT: Louis’s Grandson gets throne, but France and Spain

can’t be ruled by same monarchs England got Newfoundland, Hudson Bay Territory, Nova

Scotia; emerged as great naval power

How did Spain go from the most populous empire in the world to ruin?

Treasury was empty: Philip II went bankrupt in 1596 Wars, excesses of court

Government was inefficient Armed forces out of date Philip III (1598-1621)

Weaknesses became apparent Philip IV (1621-1665)

Put country in hands of Gaspar de Guzman, count of Olivares

30 Years War caused revolts and civil war Dutch Independence declared in Peace of Westphalia