Absolution in France By: Bridget, Erin, Stefi, and Reed

Louis XIV Courts started to grow in size –Nobles were very close to the king At court everything was focused on the king –Meals, mass, ect. Believed he ruled by Divine right which means that God appointed him as king he alone made laws and policy –Absolute monarchy Only person who unified the different regions and people of France Known for good manners Largest army in Europe –Strengthen the eastern frontier by conquered the province, Alsace and the city of Strasbourg Louis XIV- King of France and the most powerful ruler in Europe during the 2 nd half of the 17 th century.

Versailles Were courts took place Before was a hunting post then turned it into a palace Symbol: sun god, Apollo Louis called himself the “Sun King” King rooms were placed in the center of the palace. Versailles – Louis XIV’s palace near Paris begun in the 1660s and housing the king after 1683.

Wealth and growth of Colonies Jean Baptiste Colbert developed a strategy to increase France’s national wealth – Canada went from 3,000 people to 25,000 people – Developed a national economic policy Founded settlements in Gulf of Mexico at Mobile and New Orleans – Secured the land in North America Finances were gone because of wars 1693, crop failure due to the Little Ice Age – Famine in which over a million people died from hunger and disease Jean Baptiste Colbert – (1619 – 1683) Louis XIV’s financial minister who implemented French mercantilist polices

40 Years of Warfare First years of Louis’s reign were peaceful – Eastern border was weak This worry of weak border launched a series of wars – Dutch war – France’s 1672 – 1678 invasion of the Netherlands aimed at breaking Dutch control of international trade and shipping 1672, invaded the Dutch William III, Dutch, flooded the Low-lying country to stop the French Peace sign in 1679, because no one could win Louis refused to declare war against the Turks in 1683, even though they besieged Vienna 1689, war against Austria, warfare because of Eastern border again – War of the League of Augsburg – Ended: 1697

40 Years of Warfare cont. War of Spanish Succession – Louis XIV’s last great war, with France and Spain allied against the Austrians, Dutch, and English – Charles II is ruler but dies without an heir Wills his land to the Bourbons instead Habsburgs – Habsburgs didn’t listen and went to war with Bourbons – Most devastating war Louis ever fought Finances became shattered Crop failure in 1709 Coldest winter in the century, leaving 1,000s frozen to death – End: Philip (Bourbon) stays emperor – Treaty of Utrecht stated that France and Spain cannot become a single state Austria received Northern, Southern Italy, and the Netherlands Treaty of Utrecht – treaty signed in 1713 between France and the states fighting France that ended the War of the Spanish Succession Overall, the wars increased the size of France and strengthen its Eastern borders – 1713, France became bankrupt and the economy in shambles War of the League of Augsburg – First of Louis XIV’s two great wars fought against Austria, England, and Dutch Republic

A Unified French State Wars had a unifying effect on France After 1688, Louis searched for new revenue and sold new offices 1695 Louis imposed the capitation tax on all French subjects – Introduced taxation on all people in defense of the state – Louis relied on his intendants, local royal administration, to supervise the collection of the taxes The intendants informed the king about the state of economy Louis was able to reduce the power of the parlement This taxation helped reduce there debt The royal armies were now appreciated – Seen as protectors Under Louis reign the government functioned more efficiently His policy of coaxing the most powerful nobles to his court with promises of honors, careers, and money was designed to tie them closely to the fortunes of the Crown Louis wanted to have religious unity in France – “One King, One Law, One faith” Thought the Huguenots were rebellious, therefore he revoked the Edict of Nantes Huguenots had to convert to Catholicism if they could not they had to flee – Fled to Dutch Republic, England, and American – Fronde – rebellion of the French nobles against Cardinal Mazarin and the regent, Queen Anne, during Louis’ early years as king

A Unified French State cont. Those who remained in France, were subject top quartering of troops in their houses, while in the mountainous south, a Protestant region, royal troops burned 100s of villages. – In retaliation, peasants carried on a guerrilla war against a royal army Louis was now seen as a vicious tyrant Louis campaign against the Huguenots resulted not only from a belief that France should be religiously unified but also from fear that the Huguenots were secretly Republicans Louis fought with the pope by supporting the French clergy’s adoption of the Four Gallican Articles – Four Gallican Articles – decrees of 1681 proclaiming church councils superior to the pope and denying Rome’s power to alter internal rules governing the French church Their relations improved when Louis supported the pope’s condemnation of the Jansenists – Austere Catholics whose notions about human sinfulness struck some Catholics as too close to the views of John Calvin During the famine of 1709, Louis issued a letter asking his subjects for help – As a result, Louis and his subjects bonded in an effort to meet the crisis, and a new sense of collective identity was forged Louis’s regulation of religious affairs, his control of the French nobility, his efficient royal administration of tax and economy policies, and his establishment of better working relations with his subjects all promoted a growing sense of national unity exemplifying French royal absolutism in action

Louis XV Tried not to get involved in long wars after 1715 He used absolutism to increase activity in France He established professional police forces – 1700 police forces started 197 officers then in 1760 it became 725 officers The state began to care for the poor – Poor children and the elderly were housed in “hospitals” – Very strict in “hospitals” Had to go to prays twice a day Had to work – People outside of the “hospitals” saw it as a way to isolate the poor Jansenists they were a problem – After the Four Gallacia Articles the Parlement of Paris said the pope was invading on their problem 1715, Duke of Orleans allowed the Parlement of Paris to condemn the kings policy 1730, the Parlement condemned the kings problem with the Jansenists – Parlement did not like absolutism because the king only made laws Louis XV couldn’t keep religious peace in France Absolutism made the French government more connected and responsive even thought the Parlement didn’t like it