1. Aim: How did French Rulers ensure absolute power? Do Now: Pretend your home was featured on the show “MTV Cribs” describe some of its highlight features. What information could we use to support about some of the people who have appeared on that show? Key Terms Louis XIV Problems Faced By Louis XIV Centralized Government Versailles Coach Smith

2. When Louis XIV became king, he wanted to rule France alone.

3. Coach Smith Louis XIV did not want powerful Cardinals of the Catholic Church to influence his decisions.

4. Coach Smith However, French nobles were not accustomed to paying taxes or listening to their king.

5. Problems Faced by Louis XIV Each noble had his own army. Nobles paid little attention to the king. Sometimes nobles and their armies fought against the French king. Nobles frequently did not pay their taxes. Coach Smith

6. All these problems existed because France had no central government.

7. A Centralized Government Louis XIV centralized the French government or created one, strong government to rule France. He appointed officials to collect taxes. He increased the size of the French army. Every soldier in the French army wore the uniform of France. Coach Smith

8. Every French soldier wore the uniform of France.

9. Coach Smith Louis XIV built a palace at Versailles.

10. Versailles Louis XIV built a palace at Versailles. He expected nobles to spend most of the year at the royal court, under his watchful eye. By closely monitoring nobles, Louis XIV could try to prevent rebellions against his regime. Coach Smith

11. Louis XIV was called the “Sun King” because of his absolute power.

12. Coach Smith Louis XIV fought many wars.

13. Coach Smith Louis XIV’s wars cost French taxpayers a tremendous amount of money.

14. Questions for Reflection: How did Louis XIV differ from previous French monarchs? What problems faced Louis XIV? How did Louis XIV centralize the French government? Why did every French soldier wear the uniform of France? Why did Louis XIV build Versailles? Coach Smith