Catherine de Medici

1519-1589

Wife of Henry II, Queen of France

Her husband’s mistress was actually the 2nd in power. When her husband was wounded in a jousting

tournament she was able to gain control and banish the

mistress from France.

3 of her sons would rule while she was alive, but it was

actually she who would do the ruling!

St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre

1572Catholics killed thousands of Huguenots in Paris. Similar massacres occurred

throughout France. Over

100,000 killed. Government

pardoned everyone involved

Between 1562 – 1598 the

Catholics and Huguenots

fought 8 wars in France

Catherine Medici viewing the wreckage Her daughter was promised to be wed to Henry of Navarre who was a Huguenot, but she used the wedding as a decoy to attack Protestants.

Henry IV (“the Great”) of France

1553 – 1610Began Bourbon

DynastyHe was a HuguenotEnacted the Edit of

Nantes which allowed religious toleration

in FranceHis potential mother-

in-law, Catherine Medici, is thought to

have allowed the marriage of her

daughter to Henry so that the Protestants could be massacred.

He was finally assassinated by a

fanatic in 1610

Louis XIII of France 1601-1643

He became king at the age of 8 and his mother

helped rule. In 1624, Cardinal Richelieu became

his chief advisor

Louis XIV, King of France (“The Sun

King”)

• He weakens the power of nobles• He increased the power of

government agents called intendants (tax collectors/judges)

• Along with his minister of finance, Jean Baptiste Colbert, they attempted to make France self-sufficient (mercantilism)—they used tax breaks, tariffs and encouraged colony development (e.g. fur trading)

Cardinal Richelieu 1585 – 1642

Rose thru the ranks of the clergy and was

appointed to the States-General (1st Estate).During the Huguenot

rebellion he made himself indispensable in court and in 2 years had

intrigued against the chief minister and

became the King’s Prime Minister

Since Louis XIV was so young, the real ruler of France was Cardinal Mazarin.

Mazarin was hated by many, especially the nobles.

Because of the years of anti-Mazarin riots, Louis decided when he took control he would never be weak.

Château of Versailles

Château of Versailles

Château of Versailles

Versailles's chapel

Marie-Antoinette's pastoral pond side Hameau in the park,

Fountain of Apollo

Fountain of Apollo

The Grand Perspective

Hall of Mirrors

Hall of Mirror

s

Bedchamber

Bedchamber

Throne Room

A little theater for the King & his friends

• Intendents – they collected taxes and administered justice. They were under the central control of the king. Louis XIV increased their power when he reduced the nobles power (he excluded them from councils)

• Jean Baptiste Colbert – minister of Finance. Believed in mercantilism (selling more goods than purchased – purchase goods made in home country, not imported)

• Skepticism – the idea that nothing can ever be known for certain. Doubting old truths was the 1st step towards finding the truth.

• War of Spanish Succession – When other European countries worried about Bourbons gaining strength, they fought this war. The Treaty of Utrecht allowed Louis’ grandson to remain king of Spain as long as Spain & France were not united (in America this war was called Queen Anne’s War)