The Reign of Louis XIV

21-2

The French Wars of Religion

• France in 1560 experienced militant religious civil wars

• Catholicism versus Protestantism– Catholics controlled the throne and most of the

population– Huguenots (French Calvinists) were only 7% of the

population but 40-50% of nobility, thus they had major influence and posed a real threat to the king

• The Huguenots were outnumbered and by Catholics and opposed by the ultra-Catholics who could pay to recruit larger armies

• War went on for 30 years until Henry of Navarre (leader of the Huguenots) succeeded the thrown as Henry IV

• Recognizing there could never be peace if the king of France was Protestant, he converted to Catholicism– To solve the problem religious problem he issued the Edict

of Nantes which made Catholicism the official religion of France, but gave Huguenots the right to worship and enjoy political privileges

Henry of Navarre(Henry IV)

Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu

• Louis XII takes over after Henry IX dies• Appoints Cardinal Richelieu as minister

– He runs France– He weakened Huguenots by forcing them to take

down city walls– Weakened the power of the nobles with spies– Involved France in the 30 Years’ War

Louis XIV

Louis XIV—Boy King

• Most powerful ruler in French history--“I am the state”

• 4yrs old when he became king• Cardinal Mazarin was his minister

– He ends the 30 Years’ War– Raised taxes and strengthened the central govt.– Nobles tried to rebel against him—they failed

Louis XIV Takes Power

• At age 22, Louis takes power

• Continued to take power away from nobles by excluding them from council.

• Increase the power of the central government by using intendants.

Jean Baptiste Colbert•Minister of Finance

•Believed in mercantilism

•Increased French manufacturing

•Placed high taxes on imports

•He was the major reason the French economy prospered

•Louis hurts the economy when he revokes the Edict of Nantes

Biography of Louis XIV

• http://www.biography.com/people/louis-xiv-9386885/videos/louis-xiv-full-episode-2073406805

Louis’ Style

• Lavish meals• Fancy clothes—100 people to help him dress• Forced nobles to surround him at the palace• Patron of the arts• Versailles was an immense palace

Hall of Mirrors inside Versailles

The Power of France

• Most powerful country in Europe

• Huge population– 4 x more than Spain– 10 x more than the Netherlands

• Develop a large and advanced army

• Louis XIV invades the Netherlands, gains 12 towns but the Dutch fight back

• Louis keeps getting France involved in wars—not very successful

• The rest of Europe unite against France– Balance of Power desired

Power of France Declines

• Causes of the Decline:– Bad harvests – Europe united against France– Constant warfare was too expensive– People were suffering

• Louis XIV didn’t regret how he managed France until the end of his reign– People rejoiced when he died

Louis XIV’s Death and Legacy

• Positive:– France was a dominate force in Europe– Leader in arts, literature, and statesmanship– Huge military development—best in Europe

• Negative:– Constant Warfare– Huge Debt– Forced people to pay high taxes– The peasants eventually revolt against the crown