1. Chapter 16 Section 2
France Under Louis XIV

2. Religious Trouble 1500’s France torn apart by wars of religion
Catholic majority vs. French Protestants (Huguenots)
St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre > 3,000 Huguenots killed

3. Bringing Peace Henry IV (Huguenot) takes the throne
Converted to Catholicism to end fighting
Issues Edict of Nantes
Gave Huguenots religious toleration
His govt. tried to improve every aspect of French life
Reduced noble influence
Laid foundation for absolute rule

4. Royal Authority 1610 Henry IV is assassinated
Louis XIII takes throne (9 yrs. old)
Cardinal Richelieu appointed chief minister
Strengthened central govt.
Destroyed power of Huguenots and nobles
Richelieu death > Louis XIV takes throne
Successor Mazarin > chief minister

5. Absolute Monarch Rises
Disorder early on > the Fronde > uprising
Mazarin dies > Louis XIV ready to rule
Believed > divine right
Louis XIV never called on the Estates General
Expanded the bureaucracy
Built up French Army to enforce policies
Finance Minister > Jean-Baptiste Colbert
France became wealthiest state in Europe

6. Versailles
Palace of Versailles > most magnificent building in Europe
Home of the King, nobles, officials, etc.
Elaborate ceremonies
Levee > the rising
Nobles were a threat then why house them in your home?
Angling for privileges rather than for power
Louis XIV > major patron of arts and sciences

14. Strong State Declines
Louis XIV ruled for 72 yrs. > longer than any other monarch
His decisions hurt France later on
Lots of money spent to finance wars to expand France’s border
Rival rulers made alliances to check the balance of power
War of Spanish Succession
Treaty of Utrecht > France gives up
Persecuted Huguenots > Protestants > Revoked Edict of Nantes > Protestants fled > hurt the economy
Similar to expulsion of Jews and Muslims from Spain