Rise of Absolute Monarchy in France

Discussion: NO note-taking!

Was Louis XIV an absolute ruler?NO. He did not exert far reaching direct control of the nation at ALL levels.

“I am the state”A “Divine Right” monarch could not be bound to the dictates of mere princes and

parliament. No one, except God, could judge the king.

The “Sun King”The radiant giver of life and warmth around whom the whole world revolves.

I. Louis the “Genius”

1. Made the monarchy the most important and powerful

institution in France while also assuring that nobles and other wealthy groups maintained their social standing AND political and social influence on the local level.

2. Did NOT destroy local social and political institutions, but

worked through them.

3. Local vs. central authority Once the nobles understood

the king supported their LOCAL authority, they supported his CENTRAL royal authority.

4. They needed each other

In Summary:1. Prior to Louis XIV, Henry IV & Louis XVII

with help of advisors increased monarchial power by:a) decreasing the power and influence of the nobility

b) centralizing the economy

c) crushing all opposition and using propaganda

II. Henry IV & Duke of Sully

1. Sought to curtail privileges of nobility. How?a) Parlements (the Paris parlement had the largest jurisdiction)

b) Parlements were NOT legislative bodies, but courts of appeal.

c) So, targeted the provincial governors and their regional parlements

d) How? They could reuse to register laws/could collect local taxes. Keep in

mind France was quite diverse in its legal system – a lot of variety. 2. Intendants Royal civil servants whose job was to supervise regional nobility in

order to prevent abuses such as collecting revenues.

3. Centralization of gova) established gov monopolies on some industries – gunpowder, guns, salt

b) the “Corvee”, which was a labor tax that created a national force of drafted workers to improve roads in an effort to facilitate trade. Even began a canal system to link the Atlantic to the Med sea for internal and international trade.

c) Prepared way for mercantilist policies of Louis XIV and Colbert

d) Mercantilism economic system with goal of increasing a nation’s wealth by the government’s regulations of commercial interests.

i. Basis for modern capitalist system

ii. Imperialism was fueled by mercantilism as Euro powers fought for available markets.

Adam Smith? His ideas on capitalism & free trade provided rationale to abandon mercantilism

e) Mercantilism holds prosperity of a nation dependent on supply of gold, silver and trade value SO….

f) Gov, ergo, should protect the economy

g) Positive balance of trade required, i.e., more exports & less imports

III. Louis XIII & Richelieu1. Louis XIII reigned from 1610 – 1643 (during much of the Thirty Years’ War.

Only 9 years old when becoming king, his mother appoints Richelieu as his chief advisor

2. Cardinal Richelieua) 2 goals: 1) Centralize power 2) weaken the Habsburgs - Spain

b) a great diplomat against parlements & govs Made clear “One law…the King’s law” Nobles who defied King’s law

were imprisoned or executed.

c) campaign against Huguenots (Edict of Nantes?) Richelieu begins this, but it is Louis XIV who instituted Edict

d) Propaganda Used to indoctrinate people on “Reason of State”

e) weakened Habsburg power and strengthened French government.

3. Louis XIII dies and Louis XIV is only 5 years old4. Enter “Mazarin” – the “regent” to Louis XIV

IV. Mazarin

1. Continued Richelieu’s policy of centralization

2. Fronde: nobles rioting/rebelling against absolutism

3. Why was Mazarin a “target”? He had imprisoned

nobles for treason 4. Mazarin and Louis XIV flee to Paris5. Fronde convinced most French that the rule of

an absolute monarch was preferable to tensions between nobles

6. Fronde taught Louis heavy-handed policies would not work.

7. Mazarin Dead = Louis takes control and rules for 72 years…the longest reign of ANY French monarch (& Euro Monarch)

V. Louis as Absolute Ruler1. Propaganda emphasized the grandeur of the crown.

2. Insured nobles/social groups would benefit from the growth of his own authority. He maintained control

over foreign affairs and limited the influence of the noble institutions on the monarchy. BUT, he never tried to abolish these institutions or limit their authority at the local level (e.g. parlement)

VI. Versailles

1. His daily routine (meals, awaking, going to bed, etc) were all part

of the highly organized court life. Keep in mind, 10,000 people worked at Versailles. Nobles who lived there were drawn into the fancy & expensive clothing they were expected to wear (some lest wealthy nobles simply couldn’t afford to attend court because of clothing). Nobles ate, played games – especially gambling which often required borrowing money from Louis XIV, further placing the nobility under his control.

2. Designed to “domesticate” the nobles. Keep them

“tame” and unconcerned with politics on the national level. It worked.

3. Did NOT threaten… nobles local standing.