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THE DEVELOPMENT OF FRENCH

ABSOLUTISM
•Unlike other areas of Europe,the French monarchy
had imposed a kind of unity on France
•would act as a unit in foreign affairs –
wars, treaties, etc…

•however, since France was so large by


Standards of the day (3x the size of
England, 5x more people), local influence
Francis I (1515-1547) Henry II (1547-59)
was strong

•2/5 of the aristocracy was Huguenot


•The French monarchy (Francis I and Henry II) opposed Calvinism
because it seemed to threaten the monarchy and the concept of nationally
established church
• 1559, Henry II killed in jousting tournament – by 1562, The French Wars of Religion had
broken out (1562-1589)
Henry of Navarre (later Henry IV)

Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre: 1572


Religious Wars
• St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
– Huguenots slaughtered by Catholics
– Catherine de Medici’s daughter marring Huguenot prince –
Henry of Navarre
– Most nobles died, Henry survives
• Henry IV – Had to Rebuild France
– Pressured into converting to Catholicism
– Tries to help France more
– Edict of Nantes
• “Declared Huguenots could live in peace in France”
– Some liked him (peace) some didn’t (religion)
– Assassinated – Stabbed in a carriage
• politiques gradually emerged in France
no doctrine justifies war
Henry of Navarre, was really a politique
wanted to establish power necessary to end disorder –
o from this chaos came the idea of
absolutism in France

•1589: Henry of Navarre crowned Henry IV


•"Paris is well worth a Mass."

gave freedom of worship in towns where was prevalent


promised Protestants same civil rights,
same chance for public office, and access to universities
gave them about 100 fortified towns
Louis XIII
• Henry IV’s son – Weak ruler
• Appointed Cardinal Richelieu (RISH•uh•loo)
– Real Ruler of France
– Took Action vs. Protestants – No Walls
– No More Castles for Nobles
– Increased Power of Gov’t Agents – Middle Class
– Wanted World Power – Hapsburgs (Powerful
Family)
• Gets Involved in the Thirty Years’ War
• Henry IV assassinated in 1610
•Henry’s son, Louis XIII, was too young to rule
•Affairs run by Catholic cardinal:

• Responsible for increasing the power of


the French monarchy:
Encouraged nobility to trade
Made it possible for merchants to buy titles of
nobility
Founded commercial trading companies
Prohibited private warfare and ordered
destruction of all fortified castles
•Louis XIII died in 1643

•Cardinal Mazarin ruled, as


Louis XIV was too young to rule
Louis XIV’s Reign
• Most Powerful Ruler in French History
• 14-years old
– Cardinal Mazarin (Maz•uh•RAN)
• Ended the Thirty Years’ War
•  Taxes & Strengthened Cent. Gov’t
• Many People Hated Him for This (Nobles)
• Attempt a Rebellion, but Fail
– 1 – Distrusted leaders more than Mazarin
– 2 – Violent Repression
– 3 – Peasants Hated Fighting – Alternative (Rebellion) Was
Worse
– Key to Who Louis is…
Louis XIV: “The Sun King”
• believed in “Divine Right”
• “L’etat, c’est moi”
•What were the most important
steps Louis XIV took to
increase the power of the
French Monarchy?
Gaining control of the army?
Establishing a large civil
Administration (intendants)?
Colbert’s economic policies?
Revocation of the Edict of
Nantes?
“Awe the people with
grandeur” -- Versailles?
Jean Baptiste Colbert
Colbert
• Tax Breaks and $$ to French Companies
• Very High Tariffs
• Encouraged French Colonies in Canada

• After Colbert’s Death, Louis Repeals Edict of Nantes


– Thousands of Huguenots Flee Country (Skilled Workers &
Businessmen)
A Day With the Sun King

Referring to Louis XIV, the Duc de Saint-Simon wrote, 'with an almanac and a watch, even at a distance of three hundred leagues, you could say precisely what he was doing'. A
king's day had to be perfectly timed so that the officers serving the monarch knew exactly what they should do, when, and how. The court was regulated like clockwork.

Levee
8.30 am: 'It is time, Sire', declares the First Valet de Chambre, waking the king. The levee, or ceremonial rising, thus begins. Doctors, family and a few favoured friends successively
enter the King's Bedchamber where he is washed, combed, andÑevery other dayÑshaven. The Officers of the Chamber and the Wardrobe then enter in turn for full levee, during
which the king is dressed and has a breakfast of broth. The most important officials of the kingdom are admitted; it is estimated that the usual number of people attending numbered
one hundred, all male.

Mass
10 am: On leaving the king's apartment, a procession forms in the Hall of Mirrors. The king leads the procession of courtiers through the Grand Apartment. The public can now see
the king and even petition him with a written request. In the Chapel Royal, the king occupies the tribune. Mass lasts roughly thirty minutes. The choir known as the Chapel Music,
famous throughout Europe, always sings new music composed by Lully, Lalande, and others.

Council
11 am: Returning to his apartments, the king holds council in his cabinet. Sundays and Wednesdays are devoted to Councils of State; on Tuesdays and Saturdays, finances are dealt
with; Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, another Council of State might replace a Dispatch Council (domestic affairs) or Religious Council, or perhaps the king will decide to focus on
his building programme. Five or six ministers usually advise the monarch who speaks little, listens a great deal, and always decides.

Dinner
1 pm: The king dines alone in his bedchamber, at a table facing the windows. This meal is theoretically private, but Louis XIV admits the men at court, making attendance similar to
the levee.

Promenade or Hunting
2 pm: The king always announces the afternoon programme in the morning. If he has decided on a promenade, it might be taken on foot in the gardens or in a carriage with ladies.
On the other hand, hunting activities the Bourbons' favourite pastime will take place on the grounds (if the king goes shooting) or in the surrounding forests (riding to hounds).

Social Gathering or Work


6 pm: Louis XIV often leaves his son to preside over the private social gatherings known as soirées d'appartement. The king himself might sign the many letters prepared by his
secretary, then go to Madame de Maintenon's quarters where he might study an important file with one of his four secretaries of state.

Supper
10 pm: A crowd fills the antechamber of the King's Suite to witness this public supper. The king is joined at table by the princes and princesses of the royal family. Once the meal is
over, the king returns to his bedchamber to say 'goodnight ladies' then retires to his cabinet where he can indulge in conversation with his close acquaintances.

Couchee
11.30 pm: The couchee, or public ritual of retiring, is a reverse, shortened version of the levee.
The Sun King's daily timetable was incumbent on Louis XV and Louis XVI, but neither of them could bear court ceremonial. They tended to flee to their private apartments or
smaller chateaus nearby. Levees and couchees became increasingly rare, as did public suppers. Courtiers complained that the king was nowhere to be seen.

“A Day With the Sun King.” <http://www.chateauversailles.fr/en/311_A_Day_with_the_Sun_King.php.>.


The Sun King
• Keeps Nobles at Versailles
– Keeps Power With Intendants
– Grand Style – Showed Wealth and Power
• Changes Art
– No Longer to Glorify God – Middle Ages
– No Longer to Glorify Human Potential – Renaissance
– Glorify King and Absolute Rule
Levee
Hall of Mirrors
Versailles, 1668

Queen’s Bedchamber
King's Bedchamber

King’s Suite
The Chapel Royal
Succession
• Charles II of Spain – childless
• Promise throne to Philip of Anjou
– Louis XIV’s Grandson
• HUGE power
• War of the Spanish Succession - 1701
– “War when England, Austria, Dutch Rep., Portugal,
German and Italian states try to prevent union of French
and Spanish throne.”
• 1714 – Treaty of Utrecht
– Philip can keep the throne, but can’t be united
– Britain gets Gibraltar – Mediterranean entrance
What finally turned people against Louis XIV were his costly and
destructive wars

War of Spanish Succession

• Began when Louis’ grandson inherited the Spanish throne


• was a threat to the balance of power of Europe
• left France with a huge debt
Louis’ Death
• Sad years, apologized to people
• Cheered his death
• Mixed legacy
– Times of great power
– Military leader of Europe
– Warfare
– Versailles – debt
– Abuse of power

• His ideas did not die however…


• Prussia and Austria on deck…

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