France under the Sun King

1
France under the Sun (King)

• 1643-1715

2
Cardinal Richelieu and Mazarin

• Richelieu rules France during the end of Louis
  XIII (dies 1642)
• Mazarin rules 1642 until 1661 under Louis XIV
• Both lay the groundwork for Absolute rule in
  France
• The Fronde- a series of revolts by the Protestant
  nobles against the policies of Mazarin. Most
  fail. Louis XIV however sees this as a sign that
  hard line policies could endanger the monarchy.
• Therefore, when Mazarin dies, Louis takes over
  all policy making at the age of 23.

3
I am the State (coo coo kachoo)

• This means the nobles would be directly
  challenging the King and not the advisors.
• Growing up Louis was tutored in the idea of the
  Divine Right of Kings by Bossuet.
• Old Testament origins
• If God can judge the Pope and the Pope can judge
  the King, God can judge the King and therefore
  cannot be judged by parliaments and the people
• This education reportedly prompts Louis to
  proclaim Letat cest moi. (I am the State)

4
Louis early wars

• France had the finances to raise and maintain a
  fairly large army
• First target Holland
• Secure the Northern border of the Spanish
  Netherlands, Alsace, Lorraine and Franche-Comte.
• Secure southern borders near Spain and harass the
  Habsburgs

5
Wars of the Devolution

• Fought to insure Louis first wife, Maria Therese,
  inherited the Spanish Netherlands
• Due to complex legalities, the Sp Netherlands
  devolved to her
• Ended by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen)
  France gains part of the Sp Neth.

6
France/England vs. Holland/HRE

• Treaty of Dover forges French/English alliance
• William of Orange bands with the HRE
• France is now seen as a menace to all of Europe,
  regardless of religion
• Ended by Treaty of Nijmwegen, wherein France
  gains more land at Hollands expense (1672)

7
Jean-Baptiste Colbert

• Economic minister to Louis XIV
• Created new jobs and industries in France based
  on new technologies
• Helped establish the French Academy (Science)

8
The REAL Colbert
9
Colbert and the French Academy
10
Religious Issues

• Edict of Nantes still law
• Jansenists- Catholic movement opposed to the
  ideas and policies of the Jesuits
• Believed in the teachings of St. Augustine
• Opposed free will and believed the original sin
  has corrupted mankind that no one could save
  themselves

11

• Jansenism made inroads among several noble
  families in France
• Some were involved in the Fronde
• 1653- Pope Innocent X declares Janseists to be
  heretics
• 1656- Pope bans their books
• 1660- Louis allows Papal Bull to be enforced in
  France
• Jansenists go underground

12
Reverse Nantes

• Louis revoked the Edict of Nantes (see handout)
• 1.75 million Protestants in France
• Louis tries to unite France religiously
• Was influenced by his mistress Madame de
  Maintenon
• Louis hounds Protestants out of public life, bans
  them from government, and excludes from printing
  and medical professions

13
Big Mistake

• Revoking the Edict was bad- Louis now became a
  target for all Protestants
• Many highly skilled workers (mostly Protestants)
  left France (some left for North America)
• Made England look moderate in terms of repression