france under louis xiv

France Under Louis XIV

Dr. Matthew’s World History

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

Henry IV

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

Cardinal Richelieu

French Writers

• Skepticism• “Idea that nothing can be known for certain”

• Michel de Montaigne• Essay

• “Brief written work that expresses a person’s thoughts and opinions.”

• New beliefs replace old ones – Never have absolute knowledge

• René Descartes• “Father of Modern Philosophy” (and Math

too…)• Scientific Method• “I think, therefore, I am”

Michel de Montaigne

René Descartes

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…

Cardinal Mazarin

Louis XIV

• Louis = 22 when Mazarin dies• Weakened Noble Power

• Excluded From Councils• Intendants

• “Government Agents/Tax Collectors/Police”

• Economic Growth• Jean Baptiste Colbert (kawl•BEHR)• Minister of Finance• Believed in Mercantilism• Wanted France to be self-sufficient, no imports

Louis XIV

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)

The Sun King

• 8:30 Wake-up Call• 100 Nobles - 4 Help Him Dress• 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

Palace at Versailles

War Time

• Louis invades neighbors to the west• Success makes him want to go north• Not as successful, flood countryside• European-wide alliance

• League of Augsburg• Austria, Sweden, and Spain = France

• Poor harvests, war, high taxes

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

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…

This said that all Huguenots could live in peace in France, Louis XIV

later repealed it.

A. Treaty of UtrechtB. Treaty of TordesillasC. Edict of NantesD. Divine Right

I helped Louis XIII run France and was responsible for getting France involved in the Thirty Years’ War.

A. Jean Baptiste ColbertB. Cardinal RichelieuC. Cardinal MazarinD. René Descartes

I am a skeptic. I also helped develop the idea of the scientific method.


I helped Louis XIV run France until he was old enough to do it himself. I pulled France out of the Thirty Years

War.


I was Louis XIV’s Minister of Finance. I wanted France to be 100% self-

sufficient.


I became France’s most powerful ruler and called myself “The Sun

King”

A. Louis XIIIB. Louis XIVC. Henry IVD. Henry VIII

Louis XIV’s magnificent palace was called this

A. El EscorialB. The Sun PalaceC. VersaillesD. Palace of Westphalia

This war was to prevent the thrones of France and Spain to combine.

A. War of Spanish SuccessionB. Thirty Years’ WarC. Spanish-American WarD. Seven Years’ War

france under louis xiv

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