FRENCH ABSOLUTISM

THE RISE OF ABSOLUTE MONARCHS (1650-1750)

“Absolute power corrupts absolutely”

The Divine Right of KingsThe Modern Nation State

Weak Medieval KingsPower Feudal Nobel LordsReligious WarsFrance, England*, Spain (Western)Prussia, Russia, Austria – (Eastern)

DiverseGradual shift from loyalty to regional,

local lords – monarch rise of the Modern

God’s earthly representativeObedience to God – Obedience to the KingKing could do no wrongBishop Jacques BossuetPolitics Drawn From the Very Words of the

Holy Scripture “The person of the king is sacred, and to attack

him in any way is an attack on religion itself.”

Poltitique Poltitique – “The (politiques) believed man lived primarily in the state, not in the church.”

“The politiques were men who concluded that too much was being made of religion, that no doctrine was important enough to justify everlasting war, that perhaps afterall there might be room for two churches, and that what the country needed above all else was civil order.”

Paved the way for French Absolutism by helping to restore internal peace

New Nobility – “Nobles of the Robe”Disorders of religious wars germinated the

idea of royal absolutism and the sovereign state

Henry IV – assassinated 1610 by a Catholic Fanatic

1610-1643Son of Henry IV6 years old when his father diesMother Marie de Medici – RegentHuguenot revoltsPromoted Cardinal Richelieu –

Chief Advisor

1585-1642 Chief advisor – 1624-1642 Shrewd, Brilliant, Energetic, Loyal,

Catholic Shaped the destiny of France France – supreme power in Europe Strengthened the power of the king

Threats to royal power?Huguenots – “state within a state”Peace of Alais (1629) – amended the Edict

of NantesMilitary rights of Huguenots must be

removedProtestantism often served as a religious

cloakSiege of La Rochelle

Royal CommissionersMiddle class, lesser noblesAdministrative SystemFrance divided into 32 districtsDuties: collect taxes, recruit men for

army, administer laws, regulate economic activities

RICHELIEURICHELIEU“If you give me six lines

written by the most honest man, I will find something in them to hang him.”- Cardinal Richelieu (Armand-Jean du Plessis)