The age of AbsolutismThe age of Absolutism

Unit 3Unit 3

Absolutism defined:Absolutism defined:

In the absolutist state, In the absolutist state, sovereignty resided in sovereignty resided in kings-kings--not the nobility or the parliament--who -not the nobility or the parliament--who considered themselves responsible to God considered themselves responsible to God alone (Divine Right)alone (Divine Right)

Absolute kings created new state Absolute kings created new state bureaucracies and standing armies, bureaucracies and standing armies, regulated all the institutions of government, regulated all the institutions of government, and secured the cooperation of the nobility. and secured the cooperation of the nobility.

Divine right of ruleDivine right of rule

Divine Right – The right to rule is granted Divine Right – The right to rule is granted by God. He is the highest power except by God. He is the highest power except for the monarch.for the monarch.

VideoVideo

The foundations of French absolutism: The foundations of French absolutism:

Henry IV, Sully, and RichelieuHenry IV, Sully, and Richelieu

Henry IV cared for his people, lowered Henry IV cared for his people, lowered taxes, achieved peace, and curtailed the taxes, achieved peace, and curtailed the power of the nobility. power of the nobility.

His minister, Sully, brought about financial His minister, Sully, brought about financial stability and economic growth. stability and economic growth.

Henry IV and Duke of SullyHenry IV and Duke of Sully

Louis XIII and queen anneLouis XIII and queen anne

Cardinal Richelieu broke the power of the French nobility.Cardinal Richelieu broke the power of the French nobility. His policy was His policy was total subordinationtotal subordination

of all groups to the Frenchof all groups to the French monarchy. monarchy.

He changed the royal council,He changed the royal council, leveled castles, and crushed leveled castles, and crushed aristocratic conspiracies. aristocratic conspiracies.

He established an efficient administrative He established an efficient administrative system using system using intendantsintendants, who further , who further weakened the local nobility. weakened the local nobility.

– They delivered royal orders, recruited men for They delivered royal orders, recruited men for the army, collected taxes, and more.the army, collected taxes, and more.

Mazarin continued Richelieu's centralizing Mazarin continued Richelieu's centralizing policies, but these policies gave rise to a policies, but these policies gave rise to a period of civil wars known as the Fronde. period of civil wars known as the Fronde.

– FrondeFronde meant anyone who opposed the policies meant anyone who opposed the policies of the government. of the government.

– Rebellion was widespread (middle class and Rebellion was widespread (middle class and nobility.) nobility.)

– The conflicts hurt the economy and convinced The conflicts hurt the economy and convinced the Louis XIV that civil war was destructive of the Louis XIV that civil war was destructive of social order and that absolute monarchy was the social order and that absolute monarchy was the only alternative to anarchy.only alternative to anarchy.

3 results of the fronde3 results of the fronde

Government would need to compromise Government would need to compromise with bureaucrats and elites.with bureaucrats and elites.

Disruption of the economyDisruption of the economy

Scared young King Louis XIV (he would Scared young King Louis XIV (he would always distrust the nobility afterwards)always distrust the nobility afterwards)

Cardinal MazarinCardinal Mazarin

Mazarin continuesMazarin continues

Richelieu’s policies toRichelieu’s policies to

strengthen the crown butstrengthen the crown but

isn’t as good at it.isn’t as good at it.

King Louis XIVKing Louis XIV

Louis XIV believed the alternative to Louis XIV believed the alternative to anarchy was absolute monarchy.anarchy was absolute monarchy.

He had a practical educationHe had a practical education

Devout CatholicDevout Catholic

Had complete cooperation of the nobilityHad complete cooperation of the nobility

Required powerful nobles to live at Required powerful nobles to live at Versailles with him.Versailles with him.

Versailles was used to reflect his power and Versailles was used to reflect his power and French genius.French genius.

He excluded nobles from his council.He excluded nobles from his council.

Pg. 537-539 maintaining absolute powerPg. 537-539 maintaining absolute power

Palace of versaillesPalace of versailles

Hall of mirrorsHall of mirrors

Door to Salon of AbundanceSalon of Mirrors

A Day in the Life of the Sun KingA Day in the Life of the Sun King

8.30 am: 'It is time, Sire', declares the First Valet 8.30 am: 'It is time, Sire', declares the First Valet de Chambre, waking the king. The levee, or de Chambre, waking the king. The levee, or ceremonial rising, thus begins. Doctors, family ceremonial rising, thus begins. Doctors, family and a few favoured friends successively enter the and a few favoured friends successively enter the King's Bedchamber where he is washed, combed, King's Bedchamber where he is washed, combed, and every other day shaven. The Officers of the and every other day shaven. The Officers of the Chamber and the Wardrobe then enter in turn Chamber and the Wardrobe then enter in turn for full levee, during which the king is dressed for full levee, during which the king is dressed and has a breakfast of broth. The most important and has a breakfast of broth. The most important officials of the kingdom are admitted; it is officials of the kingdom are admitted; it is estimated that the usual number of people estimated that the usual number of people attending numbered one hundred, all male.attending numbered one hundred, all male.

MassMass10 am: On leaving the king's apartment, a 10 am: On leaving the king's apartment, a procession forms in the Hall of Mirrors. The procession forms in the Hall of Mirrors. The king leads the procession of courtiers through king leads the procession of courtiers through the Grand Apartment. The public can now see the Grand Apartment. The public can now see the king and even petition him with a written the king and even petition him with a written request. In the Chapel Royal, the king occupies request. In the Chapel Royal, the king occupies the tribune. Mass lasts roughly thirty minutes. the tribune. Mass lasts roughly thirty minutes. The choir known as the Chapel Music, famous The choir known as the Chapel Music, famous throughout Europe, always sings new music throughout Europe, always sings new music composed by Lully, Lalande, and others.composed by Lully, Lalande, and others.

CouncilCouncil11 am: Returning to his apartments, the king 11 am: Returning to his apartments, the king holds council in his cabinet. Sundays and holds council in his cabinet. Sundays and Wednesdays are devoted to Councils of State; Wednesdays are devoted to Councils of State; on Tuesdays and Saturdays, finances are on Tuesdays and Saturdays, finances are dealt with; Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, dealt with; Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, another Council of State might replace a another Council of State might replace a Dispatch Council (domestic affairs) or Dispatch Council (domestic affairs) or Religious Council, or perhaps the king will Religious Council, or perhaps the king will decide to focus on his building programme. decide to focus on his building programme. Five or six ministers usually advise the Five or six ministers usually advise the monarch who speaks little, listens a great monarch who speaks little, listens a great deal, and always decides.deal, and always decides.

DinnerDinner1 pm: The king dines alone in his bedchamber, at a 1 pm: The king dines alone in his bedchamber, at a table facing the windows. This meal is theoretically table facing the windows. This meal is theoretically private, but Louis XIV admits the men at court, private, but Louis XIV admits the men at court, making attendance similar to the levee.making attendance similar to the levee.

Promenade or HuntingPromenade or Hunting2 pm: The king always announces the afternoon 2 pm: The king always announces the afternoon programme in the morning. If he has decided on a programme in the morning. If he has decided on a promenade, it might be taken on foot in the gardens promenade, it might be taken on foot in the gardens or in a carriage with ladies. On the other hand, or in a carriage with ladies. On the other hand, hunting activities the Bourbons' favourite pastime hunting activities the Bourbons' favourite pastime will take place on the grounds (if the king goes will take place on the grounds (if the king goes shooting) or in the surrounding forests (riding to shooting) or in the surrounding forests (riding to hounds).hounds).

Social Gathering or WorkSocial Gathering or Work6 pm: Louis XIV often leaves his son to preside 6 pm: Louis XIV often leaves his son to preside over the private social gatherings known as over the private social gatherings known as soirées d'appartement. The king himself might soirées d'appartement. The king himself might sign the many letters prepared by his sign the many letters prepared by his secretary, then go to Madame de Maintenon's secretary, then go to Madame de Maintenon's quarters where he might study an important quarters where he might study an important file with one of his four secretaries of state.file with one of his four secretaries of state.

CoucheeCouchee11.30 pm: The couchee, or public ritual of 11.30 pm: The couchee, or public ritual of retiring, is a reverse, shortened version of the retiring, is a reverse, shortened version of the levee. levee.

France underLouis XIV

Financial and economic management under Financial and economic management under Louis XIV's minister, Colbert Louis XIV's minister, Colbert

– Louis's wars were expensiveLouis's wars were expensive

– Mercantilism is a collection of Mercantilism is a collection of governmental policies for the regulation of governmental policies for the regulation of economic activities by and for the state.economic activities by and for the state.

Louis XIV's finance minister, Colbert, tried Louis XIV's finance minister, Colbert, tried to achieve a favorable balance of trade to achieve a favorable balance of trade and make France self sufficient so the flow and make France self sufficient so the flow of gold to other countries would be halted.of gold to other countries would be halted.

Colbert encouraged French industryColbert encouraged French industry

He hoped to make Canada part of a French He hoped to make Canada part of a French empire.empire.

Though France's industries grew and the Though France's industries grew and the commercial classes prospered, its commercial classes prospered, its agricultural economy suffered under the agricultural economy suffered under the burdens of heavy taxation, population burdens of heavy taxation, population decline, and poor harvests.decline, and poor harvests.

The revocation of the Edict of Nantes The revocation of the Edict of Nantes

– In 1685, Louis revoked the Edict of Nantes--In 1685, Louis revoked the Edict of Nantes--then destroyed Protestant churches and then destroyed Protestant churches and schools; many Protestants fled the country.schools; many Protestants fled the country.

– Why? Because Louis XIV hated division within Why? Because Louis XIV hated division within France--and because most people supported France--and because most people supported this policy.this policy.