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Louis XIV“the sun king”
Absolute Monarchy in France
Absolute Rule in FranceUnder the Bourbon Family
• Henry IV 1589 – 1610
• Louis XIII 1610 – 1643– Cardinal Richelieu (chief minister)
• Louis XIV 1643 – 1715 (The Sun King)– “I am the State”
Coordinating a French Golden Age
1. Henry IV of Navarrea. A Calvinist (Huguenot: French Protestant)b. Involved in the Wars of Religion early in lifec. Goal as king of France = he wanted to avoid the
problems that plagued Spain, but still wanted to follow the idea of absolutism
• Accomplishments: Providing religious tolerance: signed the Edict of Nantes – Allowed Protestantism (wants to avoid the religious
conflict that Spain experienced)
2. Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieua. Henry IV was assassinated and his heir, Louis XIII, too young to ruleb. Richelieu acted as Louis’ chief advisorGoals:
1. Strengthen France and its absolute monarchy2. Take power from Spain
• Accomplishments: – Cutting costs: Demolition of Feudal Castles
• no more upkeep costs/ no more place to hid for rebellious nobles
– Increasing education and manufacturing: French Academy (people from different social classes attend)
3. Louis XIV “The Sun King”The Absolute Absolute Monarch
a. Takes complete control over state– Refuses to call The Estates General
(council of French society) so no check on royal power
– Built an efficient bureaucracy
b. Economy advisor Jean-Baptiste Colbert makes France rich– Diverse economy, regulates trade
The Sun King’s Accomplishmentsa. Built a palace (Versailles) as a symbol of his
powerb. Organizing the economy (Colbert)– Kept tariffs (taxes) on imported goods to limit import– Managed the amount of money in circulation to limit
inflation– Built up trade*France expands it’s borders
Steps to Absolutism in France• Providing religious tolerance: Edict of Nantes (Henry
IV)– Allowed Protestantism
• Cutting costs: Demolition of Feudal Castles (Louis XIII and Richelieu)– no more upkeep costs
• Increasing education and manufacturing: French Academy (Louis XIII and Richelieu)
• Organizing the economy (Louis XIV and Colbert)– Kept tariffs (taxes) on imported goods to limit import– Managed the amount of money in circulation to limit
inflation– Built up trade
The Craft of Kingship(craft – an occupation or trade requiring skill)
• What are the skills of a good absolute monarch according to Louis XIV?
Visual Demonstrations of Power during the Age of AbsolutismWarm Up Question
1. What are your first impressions of Versailles? 2. What message do you think Louis XIV is trying to send by building Versailles?
Palace of Versailles Grounds
250 acre garden with miles of meticulously laid flower beds. The landscape includes ornamental lakes, dozens of classical statues, and even a small
canal!
The Apollo Fountain
Visual Demonstrations of PowerQueen’s Chambers
http://en.chateauversailles.fr/homepage
Compare and Contrastconsider: purpose of the buildings, types of rooms or structures in the buildings, cost of the building, culture
created or stored in the buildings, size of the buildings
El Escorial
Versailles
Questions
• What part of the palace most impressed you?
• In What way does this palace represent the idea of absolutism?
The Craft of Kingship(craft – an occupation or trade requiring skill)
• What are the skills of a good absolute monarch according to Louis XIV?
Compare and ContrastPhilip II of Spain Louis XIV of France
Absolute Ruler Absolute Ruler
sources
• http://www.chateauversailles.fr/homepage
• http://www.podcast.tv/video-episodes/Introduction%20:%20Versailles%20and%20Louis%20XIV-7313403.html