France’s BackgroundFrance’s Background

Last ½ of 15Last ½ of 15thth c. –France enjoyed a c. –France enjoyed a period of peace.period of peace.• Had driven out English and were able to Had driven out English and were able to

solidify powersolidify power Peace doesn’t lastPeace doesn’t lastRivalry with Rivalry with

Charles V of Spain and religious Charles V of Spain and religious conflict plunged France into turmoilconflict plunged France into turmoil• 1500’s torn by war1500’s torn by war

Religious StrifeReligious Strife

1560s-1590s-war btw Catholic (majority) 1560s-1590s-war btw Catholic (majority) and Huguenots.and Huguenots.

St. Bartholomew’s Day (Catholic holiday-St. Bartholomew’s Day (Catholic holiday-Aug. 24, 1572)-Hugenots and Catholic Aug. 24, 1572)-Hugenots and Catholic nobles gathered for royal wedding.nobles gathered for royal wedding.

Led by Catholics-3,000 Huguenots Led by Catholics-3,000 Huguenots slaughtered.slaughtered.• Over next few days-1,000s more killed.Over next few days-1,000s more killed.• Complete breakdown in FranceComplete breakdown in France

Bringing Peace to a Shattered Bringing Peace to a Shattered Land-Henry IVLand-Henry IV

1589-Henry IV-Huguenot prince 1589-Henry IV-Huguenot prince inherited the throneinherited the throne

4 years-fought against Cath. 4 years-fought against Cath. opposition to gain control of France. opposition to gain control of France.

Converts to Catholicism BUT-issues Converts to Catholicism BUT-issues Edict of NantesEdict of Nantes-granting religious -granting religious toleration and other freedoms.toleration and other freedoms.

Henry IV cont.Henry IV cont.

Wants to repair France-Expands role Wants to repair France-Expands role of govt-royal officials administered of govt-royal officials administered justice, improved roads, built justice, improved roads, built bridges, and revived agriculture.bridges, and revived agriculture.

By building royal bureaucracy and By building royal bureaucracy and reducing influence of nobles, Henry reducing influence of nobles, Henry IV laid foundation on which French IV laid foundation on which French monarchs would build absolute monarchs would build absolute power.power.

Cardinal Richelieu Strengthens Cardinal Richelieu Strengthens Royal AuthorityRoyal Authority

Henry IV-killed by assassin Henry IV-killed by assassin in 1610in 1610

Louis XIII (9 yrs) takes the Louis XIII (9 yrs) takes the throne.throne.

1624-Louis appointed 1624-Louis appointed Cardinal Richelieu as chief Cardinal Richelieu as chief minister-devotes 18 yrs to minister-devotes 18 yrs to strengthening central govt.strengthening central govt.

An Absolute Monarch RisesAn Absolute Monarch Rises Sought to destroy power of Hugenots and Sought to destroy power of Hugenots and

nobles…again wants to strengthen central nobles…again wants to strengthen central govt.govt.

Disorder yet again…Disorder yet again… Richelieu passes power to Cardinal Mazarin Richelieu passes power to Cardinal Mazarin

and Louis XIV inherits throne at age 5and Louis XIV inherits throne at age 5 FrondeFronde-uprising of nobles, merchants, -uprising of nobles, merchants,

peasants, and the urban poor to protect peasants, and the urban poor to protect royal power.royal power.

Cardinal Mazarin dies when Louis XIV is 23-Cardinal Mazarin dies when Louis XIV is 23-and he decides to rule for himself.and he decides to rule for himself.

Believed in divine right to rule- “I am the Believed in divine right to rule- “I am the State”--Known as Sun KingState”--Known as Sun King

During reign-didn’t call meeting of Estates During reign-didn’t call meeting of Estates GeneralGeneral

Followed policies of Richelieu to Followed policies of Richelieu to strengthen state.strengthen state.

Expanded bureaucracy and appointed Expanded bureaucracy and appointed intendents-royal officials who collected intendents-royal officials who collected taxes, recruited soldiers, and carried out taxes, recruited soldiers, and carried out his policies.his policies. jobs for wealthy middle- jobs for wealthy middle-classclass

Why?Why?

Strengthening the ArmyStrengthening the Army

Strengthens army into best of EuropeStrengthens army into best of Europe State fed, trained, paid and supplied State fed, trained, paid and supplied

up to 300,000 soldiers.up to 300,000 soldiers.

Why is this significant?Why is this significant?

Colbert Builds France’s FinancesColbert Builds France’s Finances

Jean-Baptiste Colbert-imposed Jean-Baptiste Colbert-imposed mercantilist policies to bolster the mercantilist policies to bolster the economy.economy.

New lands for faming, encouraged New lands for faming, encouraged industry, built luxury trading.industry, built luxury trading.

Imposed high tariffs on imported Imposed high tariffs on imported goodsgoods

Regulated trade to the coloniesRegulated trade to the colonies Helped make France Helped make France

wealthywealthyBUT Louis XIV’s court BUT Louis XIV’s court and foreign wars were too and foreign wars were too expensive even for Colbert’s expensive even for Colbert’s genius policiesgenius policies

Louis XIV’s Versailles: Symbol of Louis XIV’s Versailles: Symbol of Royal PowerRoyal Power

Makes Versailles most Makes Versailles most magnificent building in magnificent building in Europe. Europe.

Fine paintings, statues, Fine paintings, statues, chandeliers, mirrors, royal chandeliers, mirrors, royal gardens, flowers, trees etc.gardens, flowers, trees etc.

Symbolizes-wealth and Symbolizes-wealth and powerpower

Housed King, nobles, Housed King, nobles, officials and servantsofficials and servants

Conducting Court CeremonyConducting Court Ceremony

Had elaborate ceremonies that Had elaborate ceremonies that showed his importance.showed his importance.

Daily-levee-or rising ritualDaily-levee-or rising ritual• Significance-by luring nobles to take Significance-by luring nobles to take

part it eliminated them as a threat.part it eliminated them as a threat. Successful as it keeps their prestige Successful as it keeps their prestige

protected and they are exempt from taxes.protected and they are exempt from taxes.

Louis XIV’s Patronizes the Arts Louis XIV’s Patronizes the Arts

French styles became model for all of French styles became model for all of EuropeEurope

New forms of dance, drama, ballet, New forms of dance, drama, ballet, gained popularity at the French gained popularity at the French court.court.

Sponsored the French Academies.Sponsored the French Academies.

Strong State DeclinesStrong State Declines

Louis XIV-ruled for 72 years. Louis XIV-ruled for 72 years. France=strongest state in France=strongest state in

EuropeEuropebut sets up trouble for the but sets up trouble for the futurefuture

Strong State DeclinesStrong State Declines

• 1. Costly Wars-tried to expand borders-1. Costly Wars-tried to expand borders-but Dutch and English fought back for but Dutch and English fought back for balance of power.balance of power.

• 2. Philip V (Louis XIV’s grandson) took 2. Philip V (Louis XIV’s grandson) took Spanish throne in 1700-and war broke Spanish throne in 1700-and war broke out to stop union of France and Spain.-out to stop union of France and Spain.-War of Spanish Succession War of Spanish Succession

Treaty of Utrecht-Philip remained Spanish Treaty of Utrecht-Philip remained Spanish monarch-France agreed to never unifymonarch-France agreed to never unify

Persecuting HuguenotsPersecuting Huguenots

3. Louis XIV-revoked 3. Louis XIV-revoked Edict of Edict of NantesNantes in 1685 in 1685• Over 100,000 Huguenots fledOver 100,000 Huguenots fled• Settled in England, the Netherlands, Settled in England, the Netherlands,

Germany, Poland, and the AmericasGermany, Poland, and the Americas• He lost a great work force-hurts He lost a great work force-hurts

economyeconomy