Chapter 5, Section 2 FRANCE DURING THE AGE OF ABSOLUTISM

Remember…… FRANCE was a predominantly CATHOLIC country. The Protestants there (the HUGUENOTS) were the minority. There was constant fighting between these groups during the mid-late 1500s.

Henry of Navarre is strong, athletic, charismatic – he becomes the French king in His title is HENRY IV. He is the 1 st BOURBON monarch. Although he was born and raised as a HUGUENOT, he became a CATHOLIC when he got older. He tries to make the lives of the French people better, by “putting a chicken in every pot.”

Henry issues the Edict of Nantes – a declaration of religious toleration, mainly aimed at making the Huguenots’ lives easier Henry IV is assassinated in 1610 and is succeeded by his son, Louis XIII.

Cardinal Richelieu is Louis XIII’s minister (advisor) who rules France *He increases the power of the Bourbons by limiting the Huguenot’s freedom *He also weakens the power of the nobility

SKEPTICISM is the idea that nothing can ever be known for certain *Writers like MONTAIGNE (who wrote the first essays) and DESCARTES (who used observation and reason to create a new philosophy) were popular during the era

Louis XIV will become the most powerful ruler in all of French history…. He becomes king, at the age of 5, when his father (Louis XIII) dies. However, his mother and Cardinal Mazarin will actually rule on his behalf until he is about 25 years old.

Louis XIV finally takes control of his kingdom in 1661 (at the age of 25) when Cardinal Mazarin dies. He appoints INTENDANTS (government officials) to collect taxes throughout his realm.

Jean Baptiste Colbert, Louis’ FINANCE MINISTER, helps the French economy grow. In 1685, Louis XIV revokes (cancels) the EDICT OF NANTES, which denies religious freedom to the Huguenots. This causes many of them to flee from France.

Versailles becomes a center of the arts (and the purpose of the arts is the glorify Louis XIV!) Louis XIV lives in GRAND style; he builds a magnificent palace at VERSAILLES. He keeps the nobles at the palace in order to increase his power over them.

Versailles *cost an estimated $2.5 BILLION (in 2003 dollars) *Louis forced 36,000 laborers and 6,000 horses to work on the project *Many consider the HALL OF MIRRORS to be the most beautiful room in the palace, with 17 tall mirrors on one side of the room and 17 windows on the opposite wall *Versailles contained 5,000 acres of gardens, lawns & woods, along with 1,400 fountains

Louis fought multiple WARS during the 1660s and 1670s to expand France’s empire *In the 1680s, many countries united against him in the League of Augsburg

During this time, France is also weakened by POOR HARVESTS, WARFARE, And HIGH TAXES…

The war of the Spanish Succession begins in 1701 (this was Louis’ attempt to unite France with Spain, which was ruled by his grandson at the time). The war ends in 1714 with both France and Spain losing territory; Louis must sign an agreement saying that he will never try to unite with Spain again.

Louis XIV dies in 1715 leaving a mixed legacy: *His rule makes France a major military and cultural power in Europe *His wars and palace leave France with heavy debts

Major ways that Louis XIV exemplified ABSOLUTISM: 1. Nickname “Sun King”

2. Palace of Versailles (life of luxury & extravagance) 3. Controlled his country’s RELIGION when he cancels the EDICT OF NANTES

4. Pursued an aggressive FOREIGN POLICY (fights many WARS to make his empire bigger!) 5. Exercised unlimited power when he refused to let France’s lawmaking body, the Estates General, meet in 54 years

The End of section 2