Louis XIV“the sun king”

Absolute Monarchy in France

Absolute Rule in FranceUnder the Bourbon Family

• Henry IV 1589 – 1610

• Louis XIII 1610 – 1643– Cardinal Richelieu (chief minister)

• Louis XIV 1643 – 1715 (The Sun King)– “I am the State”

Coordinating a French Golden Age

1. Henry IV of Navarrea. A Calvinist (Huguenot: French Protestant)b. Involved in the Wars of Religion early in lifec. Goal as king of France = he wanted to avoid the

problems that plagued Spain, but still wanted to follow the idea of absolutism

• Accomplishments: Providing religious tolerance: signed the Edict of Nantes – Allowed Protestantism (wants to avoid the religious

conflict that Spain experienced)

2. Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieua. Henry IV was assassinated and his heir, Louis XIII, too young to ruleb. Richelieu acted as Louis’ chief advisorGoals:

1. Strengthen France and its absolute monarchy2. Take power from Spain

• Accomplishments: – Cutting costs: Demolition of Feudal Castles

• no more upkeep costs/ no more place to hid for rebellious nobles

– Increasing education and manufacturing: French Academy (people from different social classes attend)

3. Louis XIV “The Sun King”The Absolute Absolute Monarch

a. Takes complete control over state– Refuses to call The Estates General

(council of French society) so no check on royal power

– Built an efficient bureaucracy

b. Economy advisor Jean-Baptiste Colbert makes France rich– Diverse economy, regulates trade

The Sun King’s Accomplishmentsa. Built a palace (Versailles) as a symbol of his

powerb. Organizing the economy (Colbert)– Kept tariffs (taxes) on imported goods to limit import– Managed the amount of money in circulation to limit

inflation– Built up trade*France expands it’s borders

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0d/France_1552-1798.png

Steps to Absolutism in France• Providing religious tolerance: Edict of Nantes (Henry

IV)– Allowed Protestantism

• Cutting costs: Demolition of Feudal Castles (Louis XIII and Richelieu)– no more upkeep costs

• Increasing education and manufacturing: French Academy (Louis XIII and Richelieu)

• Organizing the economy (Louis XIV and Colbert)– Kept tariffs (taxes) on imported goods to limit import– Managed the amount of money in circulation to limit

inflation– Built up trade

The Craft of Kingship(craft – an occupation or trade requiring skill)

• What are the skills of a good absolute monarch according to Louis XIV?

Versailles

Visual Demonstrations of Power during the Age of AbsolutismWarm Up Question

1. What are your first impressions of Versailles? 2. What message do you think Louis XIV is trying to send by building Versailles?

Palace of Versailles Grounds

250 acre garden with miles of meticulously laid flower beds. The landscape includes ornamental lakes, dozens of classical statues, and even a small

canal!

The Apollo Fountain

The Orangerie

Visual Demonstrations of PowerQueen’s Chambers

Hall of Mirrors

http://en.chateauversailles.fr/homepage

Compare and Contrastconsider: purpose of the buildings, types of rooms or structures in the buildings, cost of the building, culture

created or stored in the buildings, size of the buildings

El Escorial

Versailles

Questions

• What part of the palace most impressed you?

• In What way does this palace represent the idea of absolutism?

The Craft of Kingship(craft – an occupation or trade requiring skill)

• What are the skills of a good absolute monarch according to Louis XIV?

Compare and ContrastPhilip II of Spain Louis XIV of France

Absolute Ruler Absolute Ruler

sources

• http://www.chateauversailles.fr/homepage

• http://www.podcast.tv/video-episodes/Introduction%20:%20Versailles%20and%20Louis%20XIV-7313403.html