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Louis XIV

(1643-1715)The Sun King

L’etat, c’est moi!!

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Key Terms• Edict of Nantes

• Declaration of Clergy of France

• Jean Baptiste Colbert

• Code Louis

• Wars of Expansion

• Robert de La Salle

• Louisiana

• Louis XIV

• Sun King

• Bourbon Family

• Fronde

• Alsace-Lorraine

• Intendants

• Palace of Versailles

• Levee

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Background• Louis XIV was born into the French Royal

Family “The Bourbons”

• Mother could not have a child for 12 yearso Birth seen as a miracle o "Louis-Dieudonné" (Louis the God-given)

• Father died in 1643o Louis became king at age 4

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Reign of Louis XIV• Ruled France for 72 years

o Longest in European history

• Achievements:o Centralized Power to an extent never seen in Modern

Europeo Expanded French Territoryo Made France the greatest economic, political, and cultural

power in Europeo Built the Palace of Versailles

• Louis XIV can be seen as the quintessential absolute monarch due to his centralization of power, expansion of territory, and pursuit of personal glory.

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Outline

• I. Centralization of Power

• II. Expansion

• III. Glory & Spending

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I. Centralization of Power

A. Reigning in the Nobility

B. Religion

C. Military

D. Economy

E. Law

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A. Reigning in of Nobility

• For centuries, nobles had unchecked powero Ran the militaryo Refused to obey lawso Constant insurrection

• Fronde (1648)- Insurrection by Nobles to keep feudal power, and not pay taxes

• Louis built the Palace of Versailleso 20 km outside of Pariso Forced Nobles to live thereo Nobles had to participate in courtly rituals

• Louis could keep an eye on Nobles• Levee – (rising) nobles competed to hold a wash basin

for Louis in the morning.

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A. Reigning in of Nobility

• Replaced Nobles with Intendantso Nobles were loyal to the Nobilityo Intendants – officials loyal to Louis XIV

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B. Religion• Eliminating freedom of

religiono Louis cancelled the Edict of

Nantes• Edict of Nantes (grandfather,

1598)– allowed freedom of religion for Hugenots (French Calvinists)

• Limits on the power of the Catholic Churcho Declaration of Clergy of France

• Limited the Pope’s power in France, Louis had authority

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C. Military• Historically, French Nobles served as

generalso Often challenged the king

• Louis built a strong centralized military loyal only to him.o Nobles OUTo Administrators IN

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D. Economy• Louis arrested the old

finance ministero Accusation of

Embezzlement

• Gave the post to a trusted allyo Jean Baptiste Colbert

• Practiced Mercantilism• Made France rich!!!

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E. Law• Historically, France was ruled by several

different codes of lawo Feudal past

• Louis instituted the Code Louiso Centralized, uniform code of law for all of

France

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II. Expansion

A. Wars in Europe

B. Expansion in the Americas

C. Foreign Diplomacy

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A. Wars in Europe• Louis expanded French territory

through several warso Franco-Dutch War

• Gained lands in the Netherlands o (from Spain)

• France remained as the Great Power

o War of the Grand Alliance• Everyone vs. France• Louis XIV gains Alsace Region

o Half of the Alsace-Lorraine Region

o War of Spanish Succession• Ultimately unsuccessful attempt to take

over Spanish territories

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• Alsace-Lorriane – Region which France and Germanic Empires constantly fought over

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B. Expansion in the Americas

• Robert de La Salle explored: o Gulf of Mexico, o Mississippi River, o Great Lakes

• Entire Mississippi River Basin claimed by Franceo Named?o Louisiana – After Louis

XIV

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C. Foreign Diplomacy

• Opened diplomacy with the Ottomanso Trade

• Found Pondicherry in India

• Missionaries in China

III. Glory & SpendingA. Lavish Lifestyle and Spending

o Diamond encrusted shoeso Expensive parties daily

B. Palace of Versailleso 20 year constructiono Regarded as the most

magnificent palace in Europeo Symbol of the Wealth and

absolute power of the “Sun King”• Also a symbol of the monarchy’s

alienation from the people

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Queen’s Chamber

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King’s Chamber

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Hall of Mirrors

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Hall of Mirrors (2)

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Outline

• I. Centralization of Power

• II. Expansion

• III. Glory & Spending

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ConclusionPros Cons

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Videos• Rap

o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWlqQb8GJoI

• Etiquette o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

KgiZj34vGb4