Download - Western European Absolutism
The Absolutism World Tour: Western Europe
Mr. NeifferAP European History @ Capital High School
17th Century France
The Estate System
First Estate: the Clergy (1% of the population)
Second Estate: the nobility (3-4% of the population)
Third Estate: everyone else
Bourgeoisie... the middle class
Henry VI (Henry of Navarre)
First king of the Bourbon dynasty
Controlling the nobility...
Nobility of the Robevs.
Nobility of the Sword
The Duke of Sully
Mercantilism: the role of international trade/colonies is to make profits for the mother county
Louis XIII
Age 9 at coronation
Mother and regent: Marie de’ Medici
Cardinal Richelieu
Open disagreement with the Queen Mother and regent Louis XIII
the Intendant System
Persecution of the Huguenots: Peace of Alais (1629)
The Thirty Years’ War
France’s involvement largely executed by Richelieu and Louis XIII
Louis XIV
“L’etat, c’est moi” ... I am the state!
Divine Right of Kings
the Sun King
Cardinal Mazarin
Regent to Louis XIV
The Fronde
The War of the Spanish Succession
Charles the II of France
Dies in 1700, leaving no direct heir
Treaty of Utrecht (1713)
One of the most important treaties in the 17th and 18th centuries
Key consideration is the balance of power
Spain’s international interests were partitioned
Louis’s grandson becomes Philip V of Spain, but the unification of the households is prohibited
Results of the Louis XIV Wars
French economy destroyed
20% of French subjects perish
Massive tax burden fa+s on the 3rd Estate; = massive social tensions