• 5/19 Focus:5/19 Focus: –Over time, French kings had

increased royal power by increasing the influence of the government and reducing the power of nobles

• Do Now:Do Now: –Which Russian monarch was able to

acquire a warm water port for Russia?

Henry IVHenry IV

• First king in the Bourbon Dynasty

• Converted from Protestantism to Catholicism

• Helped end years of religious conflicts in France– Edict of Nantes

granted religious freedom to Protestants

Louis XIIILouis XIII• Ruled from 1610-

1643• Cardinal Richelieu

was an important advisor to the king– Roman Catholic

cardinal – Protected and

strengthened royal authority in France• Forbid Protestant cities

from having walls • Ordered nobles to

destroy fortified castles– Helped make the

French army the strongest in Europe

– Basically ruled France with the king

• Ruled from 1643-1715– Ruled longer than

any other monarch in Europe

– Became king when he was four years old

– Cardinal Mazarin helped Louis XIV rule• Efforts to end the

Thirty Years War made France the most powerful nation in Europe

• Died when Louis XIV was 23

Louis XIVLouis XIV

Louis XIVLouis XIV

• Known as the Sun King– Louis XIV took the

Sun as a symbol of his power

• Once said “I am the State”

• Demanded complete loyalty from subjects

L’état, c’est moi

L’état, c’est moi

Divine RightDivine Right

• Louis claim to absolute power were supported by Bishop Jacques Bossuet– Argued that:• the king was

God’s representative on Earth• was entitled to

unquestioned obedience

Establishing Absolute Establishing Absolute PowerPower• Louis XIV expanded

the bureaucracy – Appointed officials to

collect taxes, recruit soldiers, carry out his rule throughout France

• Built a highly disciplined army which became the strongest in Europe– Got involved in a

number of wars• Spanish Netherlands • War of the Spanish

Succession

•

Cultural AdvancesCultural Advances

• Louis XIV promoted culture by supporting arts

• Art was used to promote values that supported and glorified Louis’ absolute rule

•

VersaillesVersailles • Built the Palace of

Versailles– Main palace was 500

yards long – Two wings each

were 150 yards long– 2,000 rooms

• Palace was meant to show the wealth and power of King Louis XIV

• Louis required nobles to move to Versailles– Could control nobles

who became dependent on him

Legacy of Louis XIVLegacy of Louis XIV

• Louis XIV drained French Treasury building Versailles, living extravagant lifestyle and fighting costly wars– Led to social

unrest among starving peasants

ClosureClosure

• What did Louis XIV mean when he said “I am the State”?

• What did Bishop Jacques Bossuet believe justified Louis XIV’s absolute rule in France?

• What long term impact did the construction of Versailles and involvement in military conflicts have on France?