Monarchs of Europe: France

Religious Wars and Henry IV By the 1560’s 10% of France were Huguenots – French Protestants In 1562 a civil war began between Catholics and Protestants Toward the end of the war the Queen of France (Catherine) ordered the killing of Huguenots in Paris, starting with a group of nobles who were in Paris for the wedding of Henry of Navarre. This attack became known as the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre

Religious Wars and Henry IV Henry of Navarre was able to escape death by denying his Huguenot beliefs. Years later Henry became King Henry IV, but only after converting to Catholicism in However, he did still support the Huguenots rights by issuing the Edict of Nantes in 1598 that allowed limited freedom of religion, but still stressed that Catholicism was the official religion

Louis XIII and Richelieu In 1610 Henry IV was assassinated making Louis XIII King, even though he was only 9 years old Later on in life Cardinal Richelieu became Louis’ most trusted advisor and in many ways was the ruler of France

Louis XIII and Richelieu Richelieu… –Wanted to strengthen the monarchy –Kept Huguenots out of French towns –Ordered cities to only practice Catholicism –Had spies that uncovered a planned revolt by nobles against the King, and harshly punished those involved

Louis XIV After his father died Louis XIV became King at age 5 As an adult Louis XIV was more confident as King than his father and did not allow his advisors to control him as Richelieu had done with his father Louis demanded that he be it total control of the military, the economy, and all political issues “L’etat, c’est moi” = I am the state Louis chose the sun as his symbol, implying that the sun revolved around him, leading him to be known as the Sun King Louis was King for 72 years!

Louis XIV Louis wanted to increase his own power and decrease the power and influence of the nobles One way he did this was by moving the palace from Paris to Versailles

Louis XIV Versailles… –Cost 5% of the country’s annual revenue –Created resentment among the people –Demonstrated the King’s power –Kept courts safer from the Paris crowds –Held the royal family and 10,000 servants, officials, and nobles

Louis XIV In 1685 Louis cancelled the Edict of Nantes and outlawed Protestantism In response over 200,000 Huguenots fled France

Louis XIV Louis not only wanted wealth, but also power and land. War of Spanish Succession – the Spanish King Charles II (Great-grandson of King Philip II) had no heir so he named Louis XIV’s grandson Philip V to succeed him. The rest of Europe did not want France and Spain to be so closely connected so they went to war with both France and Spain After many years of fighting, Philip remained King of Spain but in the Treaty of Utrecht, France had to give up much of the territory it had wanted to claim