France’s Ultimate MonarchFrance’s Ultimate Monarch21.221.2

1562 – 15981562 – 1598Religious Wars Divide France Religious Wars Divide France

Henry IV Henry IV Establishes the Establishes the Bourbon DynastyBourbon Dynasty

• 1589: Became king 1589: Became king

• 1598: 1598: Edict of NantesEdict of Nantes: : allowed Freedom of allowed Freedom of WorshipWorship–Ends wars between Ends wars between

Catholics & HuguenotsCatholics & Huguenots

Cardinal Richelieu Cardinal Richelieu Increases the Increases the Bourbon MonarchyBourbon Monarchy

• Prime Minister to King Louis XIII

• Weakened nobility to strengthen Monarchy

• Involved France in Thirty Thirty Years WarYears War = France gained power + Hapsburg Austria got weaker.

Writers Express SkepticismWriters Express Skepticism• Religious Wars influenced Religious Wars influenced

writers to question ideaswriters to question ideas

• Influenced the Age of Influenced the Age of Enlightenment of 1700sEnlightenment of 1700s

• Michel de Montaigne Michel de Montaigne developed the “Essay”developed the “Essay”

Louis XIV Louis XIV “The Sun King”“The Sun King”• 1638 – 17151638 – 1715

• Ruled with Absolute Ruled with Absolute PowerPower

• Weakened nobles + Weakened nobles + Protestants, levied Protestants, levied crushing taxes, crushing taxes, increased bureaucracyincreased bureaucracy

Louis XIV Builds the Palace of Louis XIV Builds the Palace of VersaillesVersailles

Louis Patronized the Arts, But Louis Patronized the Arts, But Bankrupted his NationBankrupted his Nation

• Built largest military in Europe

• Hunger for territory led nations of Europe to ally against France

• High taxes, military losses, food shortages led France toward Revolution

War of Spanish Succession War of Spanish Succession 1701 - 17131701 - 1713

• Bourbon Dynasty gained Bourbon Dynasty gained Spanish throne.Spanish throne.

• Britain & other nations Britain & other nations fought to keep both fought to keep both monarchies separate monarchies separate

• Weakened France; Weakened France; strengthened Britainstrengthened Britain