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
          Thirty Years War  against Hapsburg power
     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.  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 France to grandson
           a. grandson of Louis XIV named to the throne
           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 in Panama -- slaves
      D. The Decline of Spain
            i.  Philip III   (1598 - 1621)
            ii.  Philip IV   (1621 - 1665)
            iii. Charles II (1665 - 1700)