NOTES ON ABSOLUTISM IN FRANCE

(“Louis XIV: Sun King of France” by Tom Richey on YouTube)

FRANCE HAD A TRADITION OF WEAK KINGS

•Traditional royal symbol was the lily—a delicate flower•King Charles trusted in Joan of Arc—a woman•King Louis XIII was dominated by Cardinal Richelieu—a clergyman

LOUIS XIV BECOMES KING IN 1654

• Louis XIV become intent on reversing the tradition of French weak kings, but first he has to remove any impediments to his rule• He changed the royal symbol to the sun—hence he was “The Sun King”• Everything revolves around him, just like everything revolves around the sun• Louis’ point of view: “I am the state”

HIS POLICY FOR FRANCE: “ONE KING, ONE LAW, ONE FAITH”

• “One king”• All his nobles had to live at Versailles• Louis made a great show of his wealth• Nobles had to flatter him and wait on him constantly to get

favors from him• Sold titles of nobility to increase his revenues and pay for his

constant wars• He didn’t call the Estates General to meet• His actions would help bankrupt France after his death

“ONE LAW”

• The Code Louis standardized laws throughout France• The Result? Unity

“One faith”• Louis XIV’s grandfather, Henry IV, had previously issued the Edict

of Nantes, which granted religious toleration to Huguenots (French Protestants) • Louis was a devout Catholic and wanted to get rid of Protestantism

in France• Edict of Fontainebleau (1685) revoked the religiously tolerant Edict

of Nantes. By doing so, Louis banned Protestantism, began destroying Huguenot (French Protestant) church buildings, and forced many Huguenots to leave France for England and America• Defenseless Protestants died as a result of Louis’ persecution.• Gallicanism: Louis would not listen to the Pope in political matters

“I AM LEAVING YOU, BUT THE STATE REMAINS FOREVER.”

•Louis XIV was an egomaniac, intent on strengthening his power and the power of France at the expense of others•But he built up France as a great nation