Western European Absolutism

The Absolutism World Tour: Western Europe

Mr. NeifferAP European History @ Capital High School

17th Century France

The Estate System

First Estate: the Clergy (1% of the population)

Second Estate: the nobility (3-4% of the population)

Third Estate: everyone else

Bourgeoisie... the middle class

Henry VI (Henry of Navarre)

First king of the Bourbon dynasty

Controlling the nobility...

Nobility of the Robevs.

Nobility of the Sword

The Duke of Sully

Mercantilism: the role of international trade/colonies is to make profits for the mother county

Louis XIII

Age 9 at coronation

Mother and regent: Marie de’ Medici

Cardinal Richelieu

Open disagreement with the Queen Mother and regent Louis XIII

the Intendant System

Persecution of the Huguenots: Peace of Alais (1629)

The Thirty Years’ War

France’s involvement largely executed by Richelieu and Louis XIII

Louis XIV

“L’etat, c’est moi” ... I am the state!

Divine Right of Kings

the Sun King

Cardinal Mazarin

Regent to Louis XIV

The Fronde

The War of the Spanish Succession

Charles the II of France

Dies in 1700, leaving no direct heir

Treaty of Utrecht (1713)

One of the most important treaties in the 17th and 18th centuries

Key consideration is the balance of power

Spain’s international interests were partitioned

Louis’s grandson becomes Philip V of Spain, but the unification of the households is prohibited

Results of the Louis XIV Wars

French economy destroyed

20% of French subjects perish

Massive tax burden fa+s on the 3rd Estate; = massive social tensions