Outline: French Absolutism
I. The
Theory of Absolutism
A. Foundations of French Absolutism
In theory, the
ruler made all decisions
i. Cardinal
Richelieu
a. sought to
strengthen king's authority
b. sought to
weaken Huguenots
c. tried to
preserve balance of power --
Hapsburg threat
ii. Mazarin and the Fronde
(1648)
B. Hobbes and Leviathan
i. Bishop Bossuet:
Politics Taken From the Very Words of Scripture
no
one in France could limit the king's
actions / spending
C. The Reign of Louis XIV -- The Sun
King
--
l'etat c'est moi (1661 - 1715)
Revocation of the Edict of Nantes
i. Royal court
moved to Versailles (1682)
Life at the Chateau
de Versailles --
symbol of power
ii. gathered
nobles to control their activities
iii. lavish lifestyle
and court activities were expensive
iv. nobles of the
robe elevated to serve the crown /
nobles of the sword
v. intendants
vi. centralized army
vii. effect on French
culture:
Louis was a patron of the arts
France set the style in architecture, clothes, etc
II. Move toward centralization
B. Colbert and economic reform:
sought to reduce privileges for nobility
i. Mercantilism
: to promote prosperity &
increase revenues
a.
regulated production, wages, prices
b.
tariffs on imports to fight foreign competition
c.
eliminated internal tariffs
d.
improved roads
e.
developed navy to transport goods
C. The Three Estates:
i.
nobility: lost influence
a.
Versailles
b.
taxes
c.
intendants
ii. clergy:
Louis claimed control of church
a.
church
b.
suppression of Jansenists
c.
Edict of Nantes revoked -- 1685
iii. commoners:
paid taxes to support
centralization / finance wars
a. suppression of Parliament
III. The Wars of Louis XIV --
balance of
power key to foreign policy
frequent wars
proved to be expensive
A. War of
Devolution
i.
Spain and Charles II (1665 - 1700)
ii. The
Dutch
a. Dutch East India Company
b. Protestant and Republican Government
William of Orange
iii.
Treaty of Nijmegen -- 1678
The Franche-Comte
B. League of Augsburg
i.
Protestants and Catholics joined in fear
of Louis' ambitions
a. Holy Roman Emperor
b. Spain
c. Sweden
d. Electors of Bavaria, Saxony, Palatinate
e. Dutch Republic
f. England
ii.
Treaty of Ryswick -- 1697
C. War of the
Spanish Succession (1701-1713)
i.
Charles II willed Spain to grandson
a. grandson of Louis XIV
named to the throne of Spain
b. The Grand Alliance
-- Protestant League led by William
of Orange refused to accept French
influence in Spain
ii. Allied victories
a. Blenheim 1704
iii. Peace of Utrecht 1713 --
restored the balance of power
a. Philip V on throne of Spain
France and Spain must remain separate
b. end of Dutch Supremacy in commerce --
forts on frontiers
c. Duke of Brandenburg King
of Prussia
d. Britain was big winner:
received Nova Scotia, Newfoundland,
Hudson Bay from France
Gibraltar and Minorca
right of Asiento from the Spanish:
right to trade goods/slaves in Panama
D. The Decline of
Spain
i. Philip III (1598 - 1621)
ii. Philip IV (1621 - 1665)
iii. Charles II (1665 - 1700)
Absolutism in
Prussia
Austrian
Absolutism
Printable Version
Printable Version
*** History of Civilization Since 1648
