Louis XIV: Absolutism, War, and the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes

Vocabulary flashcards covering key figures, events, and concepts from the notes on Louis XIV’s reign, including centralization, the Fronde, Versailles, religious policy, and the War of the Spanish Succession.

Louis XIV

French king (reigned 1643–1715) who centralized royal power, took personal control of government in 1661, built Versailles, waged costly wars, and revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685.

Mazarin

Cardinal who regent-controlled the government during Louis XIV’s youth; described as manipulative; died in 1661, after which Louis centralized power.

Fronde

Noble-led uprisings (1648–1653) against royal authority; forced Mazarin to flee Paris and ultimately led to strengthened Bourbon centralization.

Versailles

Extravagant royal palace built by Louis XIV; symbol of absolutist power and a center for court life and French governance.

Edict of Nantes (1598)

Policy granting Protestants (Huguenots) toleration to practice their faith in France.

Revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685)

Louis XIV’s decree ending religious tolerance for Protestants, prompting mass emigration and economic/cultural consequences.

Maria Theresa of Spain

Daughter of the King of Spain; married Louis XIV in 1660; treated with politeness due to her royal lineage.

Centralization of government under Louis XIV

Louis took personal control of the government after Mazarin’s death (1661), centralizing the legal system and military and reducing noble influence.

War of the Spanish Succession

Conflict over succession to the Spanish and French crowns; ended with Philip renouncing the French claim and France incurring heavy debt.

Philip of Anjou

Louis XIV’s grandson (named heir to the Spanish throne in 1700) who later became Philip V of Spain; his succession fueled fears of a united Franco-Spanish empire.

Louis XV

Louis XIV’s great-grandson who succeeded to the throne after Louis XIV, continuing the Bourbon dynasty amid France’s exhaustion from wars.

Smallpox and Measles

Deadly childhood diseases; high mortality contributed to dynastic challenges and reflected limited medical remedies of the era.