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Richelieu helped advance royal absolutism by making crown able to override parlement,
Aristocratic elite didn’t like Richelieu due to the Thirty Years War and increased Huguenot freedom
Strengths-
Religious warfare with Huguenots was settled by La Rochelle in 1628-29,
Frances position as key power in Europe aided by Thirty Years War,
Weaknesses-
Estates were messed up-
3rd Estate - 90% of population, was poor, Richelieu’s constant increasing of taxes (3x more than 1620) made it hard for them to keep up,
2nd Estate - Nobility who were self interested and selfish. Had a resentment towards crown, foundation for Frondes,
1st Estate - Clergy and Church.
Communication was hard due to size of France leading to high levels or robbery’s by bandits,
Taxation was flawed as it was wasteful and inefficient-
75% of 19 million livres of tax on luxury goods was lost in 1641,
Tax evasion was widespread,
Pays d'états made up 1/3 of France but paid 10% of all taxes,
Richelieu’s reliance on unreliable sources-
High interest rates - between 20-33%,
Office sales reached 40,000 administrative posts, more than was needed, led to corruption and taxes going to nobles.
Army was poor and corrupt-
Troops were unpaid,
Corrupt commanders recruited peasants and exploited finances by keeping dead soldiers on role,
He was French Cardinal and Chief Minister between 1624-1642,
He advanced royal absolutism by weakening Paris Parlement and removing its right to protest against royal edicts through Chambres de l’Arsenal in 1643 however it led to resentment amount nobility and was a reason for the Frondes,
Thirty years war - very costly for France.
Louis XIII’s will couldn’t be upheld due to French constitutional law preventing king binding successor to any decree or will.
Anne overturned Louis’ will by -
Asking support from Conde family who commanded the army,
Told Omer Talon (Paris Parlement Lawyer) that a lit de justice can be made on Louis XIV behalf on Louis XIII’ will,
Led Louis to formal lit de justice session with Paris Parlement for removing restrictions placed on her by Louis XIII 4 days after he died,
Placed Louis on throne in Parlement hall of justice,
Surrounded herself with powerful nobility like Gaston, Conde and Vendome.
She won support of Paris Parlement by -
Reduced power of regency to advisory role in line with Paris Parlement,
Won support of Chancellor Seguir who became minister of regency council. Also won Omer Talon’s support.
Exacerbated financial situation in France -
Borrowed 115 million livres with interest rate of 15-20%,
Reached expenditure of 136 million livres in 1645, with 42% of it going to secret expenses (paying off Frondeurs and financing war) and 33% going unaudited,
Riots occurring leading to troops having to collect taxes as the collectors were attacked. by 1645, serious revolts affected areas like Arles and Marseille,
Disliked amount aristocracy, forming a gang against him in 1643,
His ‘divide and rule’ policy to suppress aristocracies personal ambitions by promising but never delivering angered them,
Hated for extending war for personal gain,
Paris Parlement hated him due to their salaries having to be reduced to gain money lost in war -
1643 - Parlement salaries were 1,200,000 livres in arrears. Salaries were cut by 25% in 1645 and 1648.
Peace of Westphalia (1648) put France in a stronger position internationally, made France a European contender,
Treaty of Westminster (1655) stopped Spanish ambitions to gain English support against France,
Treaty of Pyrenees (1659) helped France in many aspects of foreign power.
France-
Brought to light selfish and self-motivated ambitions of aristocracy and nobility,
Reminded Parlement that it couldn’t obstruct royal edicts when Louis entered Paris without contest.
Louis XIV-
Louis had a strong resentment towards nobility as shown by later in his reign when he moved Paris courts to Versailles.
Economy-
Economy was in disarray with 451 million livre debt left by Mazarin,
Pre-industrial economy composed of 85% agriculture, their methods were proprietary too,
Communication was inadequate,
Bandits meant urban trade across land was hard meaning merchants had to take 100-mile detours,
Artois and Bordeaux suffered economic depression due to war,
Mazarin’s policies harmed France’s economy. Imposing duties on English textiles led to retaliatory tariffs on French wine,
French mines produced 1/3 of England despite a larger population,
Pay d'état covered 1/3 of France but only paid 10% of tax,
Only 37% of tax reached treasury in 1661,
Tax farms were corrupt with farmers siphoning 70% of taxes,
66% of tax revenue was taken as collection costs,
By 1661, interest payments on royal debt was 27 million livres,
2/3 of taille and farm revenue was lost by 1661.
Society-
Tax system was corrupt and exempted those who could afford the most -
Third estate - 75% of population, 75% of peasants were farmers working on poor land meaning they were unable to meet tax amounts due to backwards farming methods. Tithe (10% tax paid to church) coupled with taxes being doubled since 1635 led to rebellions when it reached its highest point in 1661.
He restored order by increasing power of conciliar government whilst reducing conciliar influence.
Ousted and publicly disgraced Finance Minister Nicolas Fouquet. This was because,
He mocked ide of Louis being his own first minister, displayed wealth to Louis on his visit to his chateau in 1661,
He was arrested and accused of embezzlement and of fortifying his castle Belle-Isle to defy Louis,
Imprisonment served as a warning to other ministers and gave Louis chance to control finance until 1665 when Jean-Baptiste Colbert became Controlleur-General.
Ousted Chancellor Seguir, replacing him with Colbert who was Louis’ puppet,
Limited Parlements power by,
Making royal decrees superior to Parlement in 1661 and 1665,
Reducing capital value of officers and Parlements capacity to discuss edicts,
Removing rights to remonstrance (protest) in 1673,
Rebuked ministers when needed,
Overruled Colbert in 1671 when he questioned royal policy.
He wanted to streamline legal codes by passing new civil law (1667), criminal law (1670), maritime law (1672) and commercial law (1673).
Intendants were meant to enforce this in provinces and increase provincial authority like police work and overseeing tax collection.
However,
Intendants failed to remove institutional checks on Louis’ provincial authority. 70,000 tribunal courts were allowed alongside lower levels of judicial system which was very corrupt. This meant Royal edicts were ignored in areas like the Pays d’Etat’s,
Lack of infrastructure and poor communication meant dishonesty was common. Intendants were not dispatched evenly with there only being 33 in 1673. Areas like Bearn had no intendant until 1682 and Brittany until 1689. Intendants were overworked and understaffed meaning the reports from intendants were superficial as they didn’t have the time to do them thoroughly.
Hated them after their rebellions and laziness after the Fronde as they completely disregarded the state of France,
Wanted absolute control of government and France.
Made royal council decrees superior to parlement decrees in 1661 and 1665,
Reduced Parlements capacity to discuss edicts,
Removed Parlements right to remonstrance (protest) in 1673 meaning they couldn’t discuss laws before they had been passed,
Made Versailles Louis’ permanent residence and seat of government in 1682.
Versailles housed 5% of nobility so his plan to reduce their power wasn’t fully effective,
Made nobles more dependent on Louis - Duc de Bouillon helped Louis into his dressing gown in the morning.
Fabricated his image and created a stage for being a king with divine right and having control over aristocracy,
It ‘exemplified victory of rule over disorder’ by making the garden massive and well kept with 300 sculptures, 1,500m canal and 1400 fountains which depicted him as a god,
It was the best way for Louis to increase his gloire by making a massive palace made almost completely out of gold, showing his immense power and wealth.
Helped Louis dominate patronage (the power to control appointments to office) and ensure loyalty,
enabled Louis to reward informants that helped increase royal tax revenue. Comte d’Armagnac received 10,000 livres in 1685 for denouncing an embezzler,
When he moved his palace to the Court of Versailles in 1682, he ensured loyalty. However, only 5% of nobility were housed in Versailles and many didn’t attend,
Louis dominated offices and refused to give offices to nobility that didn’t attend.
Established in 1635 for French language. In 1671, it promoted a positive view on the culture of France. Held prizes for best work praising the king,
Medals and tapestries made to increase Louis image,
Making plays comparing Louis to Apollo and Hercules, Was made president of Academie in 1672.
Created in 1666,
Funded scientists and 50% of people who worked in astronomy or mathematics. Funded astronomical observatory in 1672, a lab and pension to Cassini, who founded Jupiter’s Great Red Spot.
Dedicated hours to manufacturing King’s image. Met 5 Academe Francaise members every Tuesday and Friday to discuss inscriptions of Louis,
Edited and proofread texts before publication to make sure they increased Louis image,
Established Academy of Opera in 1669, Academy of Architecture in 1671 and Academy of Dance in 1672,
Formed Conseil de Police in 1666-7, employing 48 commissioners to patrol and report on printing.
Increased revenue from loans. Chambre de Justice exploited Fouquet’s disgrace and concerns of corruption to fine 500 financiers 156 million livres by 1665,
Reduced interest payments from 27 million livres in 1661 to 8 million by 1683. However, Dutch War consumed 66% of expenditure,
Reduced direct taxation from 60% to 40% of revenue and net taille yield (tax on land owned) from 42 million livres to 35 million livres,
Taxation lost in 1661 was 52% which went to 20% in 1683, whilst increasing indirect tax yields by 250% in 1661-75 and by 74% in 1683,
Introduced tax farms in 1668 which saw 4x yields by 1672-
However, Taille yields in pays d'états were still poor and was 94% lower than in the pays d’elections (regions of France that had representation in government). 30%% of taxes remained lost with the rick avoiding tax altogether.
Colbert conducted ‘Grand Enquiry’ into nobles, finding 1000 fake nobles in Provence alone, however this enquiry ended in 1670,
Third estate was burdened with office sales (ways the government made money by selling offices that provided power and opportunity for profit. They also had a chance of becoming a noble), numbering 60,000 by 1683. He failed to reduce peasant tax burdens and increase indirect tax on salt, drink and tobacco, causing revolts in Bordeaux in 1673 and Brittany in 1675-6, requiring 10,000 troops to restore order,
Colbert was inefficient in reforming finance. Claimed to reduce debts of 67% between 1681-3 but Le Pelletier (his successor) found discrepancies in figures. Deficit in 1679 was 2x more than 1672.
Colbert’s aims with mercantilism was to maximise French share of gold bullion (gold bars) wealth, make France self-sufficient, sell more to foreign power then buy from foreign powers and increase state control of manufacturing and commercial activity,
Colbert wanted to create all industries and attract skilled immigrants. He did this by-
establishing high-end domestic manufacturing companies like the 1665 Abbeville Van Robias textile factory, which employed 400 artisans,
Beauvais, Chaillot and Gobelines tapestry goods sold abroad and helped develop mercantilist policies as well as employing 500,000 skilled fine cloth workers.
Strengths-
Attracted skilled immigrants which helped increase standards and removing duties meaning that Dutch and English competition was removed.
Weaknesses-
Industries were costly (costing around 20 million livres) and neglected agriculture, increasing its fall behind other countries in its methods,
Entrepreneurs became discouraged as they only received 2.5% of 20 million livres awarded,
37% of skilled Huguenot workers fled France from 1661-79,
Increase in import tariffs in 1667 increased inflation and French wine tariffs in retaliation.
93% increase in merchant ships carrying brandy, cloth and olive oil from 1664-84,
Trade ships from Bordeaux and La Rochelle tripled,
Opened trading companies like the West Indies Company and the East Indies Company in 1664, Company of the North in 1670 and the Levant Trading Company in 1671. West Indies Company experienced successes through increase of sugar production by 67% from 1664-72,
New France population increased by 53% helping discover Louisiana,
However, colonial companies only received 0.13% of domestic product as well as nobles and merchants not caring due to European economic depression in 1660-85.
Type of Roman Catholics that argued man was too sinful and that their lives were pre-determined by god as well as who would enter heaven,
Louis saw the Jansenists as insurgent threats. They had been involved in Frondes, including Gondi and Longueville,
They resisted papal bulls in 1653 and 1655 which condemned 5 Jansenist propositions,
Louis supported popes attempts to make all church members sign a legislation that condemned Jansenist propositions,
1664 - Louis got help from the Archbishop of Paris to make nuns sign the legislation. when they refused he stated ‘you may be as pure as an angel but as proud as Lucifer’,
1665 - Papal bull stating 5 propositions in Jansen’s book were heretical in Popes eyes. It gave clerics 3 months to accept or face excommunication. Louis tried to intimidate by sending 200 men, however it resulted in 85% of nuns and Parlement not signing the bull,
Louis’ Jesuit confessor from 1675, Pere La Chaise, convinced Louis that Jansenists challenged his rule so he passed an edict suppressing Jansenism in Paris and Port-Royal in 1677. He ordered the reduction of Port-Royal to 50 women and 7 defenders and patrons by 1679.
Protestants that lived in France. They were given rights in the 1598 Edict of Nantes however they were sealed in yellow rather than green wax of permanence. The rights they had included-
Ability to coexist with Catholics,
Freedom to worship and have a job,
Right to fortify certain towns.
Louis wanted them to be Catholic and was scared by their 1659 rebellion. Turenne’s conversion in 1668 showed that they could be made Catholic with enough pressure.
Dismantled 70% of Huguenot churches by early 1680’s,
Bribed Huguenots to convert in 1676 with 2 years immunity from taille,
Forbid religious intermarriage and requiring mixed religion children to be brought up as Catholic from 1680,
Excluded them from professions like lawyers, doctors and town officials.
Huguenot population fell by 85% in 1661-79,
Dragonnades prompted 75% of Huguenot conversions.
Conversions were exaggerated with rebellions still occurring in Cevennes in 1683,
6 livres for Peasants and 3000 livres for nobles to convert was unsustainable,
Ruined Louis image as ‘Most Christian King’ and caused the formation of the Grand Alliance in 1691,
Passed Edict of Fontainebleau, revoking Edict of Nantes-
Banned outdoor worship,
Exiled ministers that refused to conform within 2 weeks,
Insisted Protestant children baptised and educated as Catholic,
Banned emigration with punishment of prison.
Furthering his reputation as ‘Most Christian King’ and developing his gloire -
Became allies with Bavaria who envisaged election as Holy Roman Emperor from 1658 due to Leopold mot having an heir until Charles was born in 1678. This increased Bourbon dynasty,
German electors like Brandenburg didn’t want to fight with Leopold against the Ottomans and so fought with France,
Gains during war of Devolution and Franco-Dutch War led to an increase in his gloire,
Lack of defence and establishment of ‘precarre’ main concerns due to French eastern and North-eastern borders being vulnerable -
Spanish Netherland threatened French security as Spanish troops invaded France there during the Frondes,
Spanish possession of France-Comte meant Alsace, Metz and Toul could be attacked easily,
Vauban’s promotion to Brigadier in 1674 emphasised Louis need to strengthen borders.
Largest army expansion in Europe -
Warfare was 20% of total expenditure from 1650-6,
Consumed 42% in 1662-69 - 66% in 1670-9,
83% increase in spending from 1630-1672.
French had edge over Dutch -
40% larger than from 1635-59 and recruitment was incentivised by regular pay and tax exemptions,
At height of Franco-Dutch war, France had 66% more soldiers than Dutch in 1667,
Foreigners attracted to army including 20,000 Swiss.
It was prepared for war however still had problems -
Louis was Colonel-general of infantry in 1661,
Louvois developed magazine system (food and weapons stockpiles accessible by French soldiers),
Navy was developed from rutting hulks in 1661 - 111 ships by 1671, 31% more ships than Dutch in 1680,
Desertion rates were high. 43% of Vivonne’s men ran away in 1677,
Army was hard to supply and command,
Faggoting (temporary drafted men to look like recruitment was better) was high with General Luxembourg having to send half of his troops back to France.
Louis established a military academy to train army -
Aimed to formalise drills and training and bring on next generation of officers,
Elite military school in 1664 created ‘Musketeers of the King’ which recruited and trained nobles from 16-25. Developed formidable reputation,
1668 - Military academies created at Metz and by early 1680’s, 6 were in Paris and 20 in Provinces. They were expensive and as a result, 2/3rds of nobles avoided it as it cost them 500 livres a year.
He was the son of Le Tellier and worked with him. He went with Louis armies and as a result became war minister in 1677,
He helped improve French fighting capacity by -
Improving royal army supply and control,
Introduced new promotion system,
Taking strict disciplinary measures,
Introducing new weapons,
introducing magazine system (food and weapon stockpiles on French border). Meant French forces had enough grains during the Franco-Dutch war for 200,000 rations a day for 6 months,
Centralised army by establishing 5 royal administrative bureaux and establishing new contracts. 92% of army regiments had permanent titles as regular royal army units by 1691.
Improved order and structure by -
introducing unpurchaseable ranks - lieutenant, colonel and major,
Requiring senior post applicants to gain more battlefield experience.
However, corruption was still common after this with Magazines being stolen from 1673,
Modernised weaponry by introducing artillery, socket bayonets, bayonet charges, mortar bombardment and flintlocks.
Decreasing population-
From 1650, Spain’s population was 34% of Frances and declined to 23% by 1700.
Prolonged economic depression-
1660-69, Spanish imports of South American Bullion (gold bars) were 53% lower than 1650-59.
Declining financial resources-
1667- Debt was 221 million ducats, 2.6x higher than in 1598.
Declining troop numbers, allies and adequacy of defences-
Troops in Spanish Netherlands fell from 73% between 1640-61 to 39% from 1661-1667.
Civil war and a crisis of strong royal governance-
Carlos, syphilitic and paralytic was heir to Philip,
Civil wars in Spain with Catalan separatists and with Portuguese, exposing poor state of Spanish army in 1666, they lacked forces to go on offensive towards Portugal.
Controlled several strategic positions to attack France,
Had a ring around the French through Spanish Netherlands and territories in the East and South. Peace of Pyrenees solved a lot of this.
Made King of England after Cromwell’s period as Lord Protector,
Son of Louis’ aunt,
Bought by Lionne to support French interests made possible by Treaty of Westminster in 1655,
Relations between 1662 and 1685 were beneficial though temporarily disrupted by England joining Triple Alliance in 1668,
Charles sold Dunkirk to Louis for 5 million Livres in 1662, Giving Louis avenue to attack Spanish Netherlands as well as signing Treaty of Dover in 1670 for 3 million Livres which isolated the Dutch.
Had absolute authority with 16 ministers between 1661-1715 serving him,
Gloire was high after Franco-Dutch war,
Was capable of asserting authority over ministers -
Louvois ordered burning down of Treves in 1690, Louis overturned this and rebuked him in his council chamber for defying him in 1691, suppressing all investigations into Louvois death. He took control of all military strategy from 1691,
Louis grabbed fireplace tongs and was prevented of smashing his head in by Madame de Maintenon.
Manipulated Paulette (annual tax magistrates paid to allow transfer of office to a son). In 1701, 5.67 million livres came from Paulette and in 1702, Chamillart ignored protests by Paris Parlement Frist President against paying another 5.67 million livres into Paulette. Louis got this money by creating more offices to make up for revenue shortfall,
Enabled strong government outside of provinces by extending indirect taxation to consumer goods and dealing with crisis, including organising alms (money, food or other material) for poor during 1694 famine,
Versailles created illusion of Louis’ authority. Many competed for royal favour.
Louis became weaker after anal fistula in 1687 and struggled controlling Louvois. Power became more of an illusion,
French foreign and anti-Huguenot policies became more aggressive, damaging Louis ‘Most Christian King’ reputation and showing Louvois’ influence over royal policy by persecuting Huguenots. This caused defeat in Cologne election and anti-French alliance being formed (Grand Alliance),
Royal authority was challenged outside of Paris -
Intendants had lot of information but little infrastructure to communicate this information. Insufficient governance was still prevalent with places like Brittany having no intendant until 1689. Intendants were often unpaid, overworked and easily bribed,
Compromise among local elites was main part of governing outside Paris, especially Franche-Comte, where loans to the crown was made upon guarantees of magistrate privileges and office property rights.
Corruption was rife. Tax farmers’ accounts were not submitted to intendants. 1692- Officers could repurchase offices already held, increasing finance for war,
Government struggled with capitation (Direct tax to cope with war costs) and dixieme (requirement to declare the income that received from any property owned) of 1695 and 1710,
Dixieme yielded 96 million livres in 4 years but saw defiance of royal authority with75% of Auvergne’s nobility refusing to declare and Lyon’s merchants refusing to register and pay.
Provincial tax collection was inefficient. Pays d'état was only paid after collectors’ fees and estate local charges were paid. Tax was underpaid as they paid indirect tax rather than taille. Pays d'état only paid 10% of yield of pays d’elections in 1687, only 5% of ordinary revenue charges,
Louis lost support of Paris Parlement after his Gallican religious policy in 1693 and invitation of papal condemnation of Jansenism,
Versailles was in ruins, dominated by malaria, overcrowding, a lack of toilets, serious hygiene issues and weekly cleansing of faeces and dire from hallways in 1715.
Became governess of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan’s illegitimate children from 1669. Charmed Louis by speaking to him as equal and not immediately succumbing to his advances. Came to Versailles in 1680 and secretly became his second wife after Maria Theresa died in 1683,
Her influence on him was more of a spiritual and confidant mentor than a political one, however, she was still hated by Paris Parlement for supposedly manipulating Louis to do what she wanted of him,
She did have some succession influence over Louis. She became fond of the Duc of Maine and Toulouse and encouraged Louis to make them princes of the blood in 1714, securing his succession,
She damaged Louis reputation through English propaganda like ‘The French King’s Wedding’ in 1708, depicting Louis as weak in relation to her for trying to keep the marriage a secret,
She quietly encouraged Quietism, as did Fenelon and Guyon, leading to her being banished to her room for a month, showing that she didn’t have full control over Louis.
After 1687, taxation revenues were too low for Louis increasing expenses, caused by mismanagement of tax farms by Le Peletier who replaced single lease tax farms with double lease tax farms in 1687, leading to higher collection costs and lower takings amounts-
Tax farms charges as a percentage comparison to the amount reaching the treasury went from 40% in 1685 to 345% in 1707.
Embezzlement and tax evasion was rife. By 1709, tax farms brought in half of what they did in the 1680’s.-
1709 - Desmaretz claimed tax farms were less than 2/3 their ordinary value, which couldn’t meet 10% of annual expenses in 1712.
Famines between 1692-4 and the winter of 1708-9 caused depopulation leading to a decreased tax base,
Taille yield decreased as charges increased from 20% of the taille in 1685 to 32% in 1706 causing % of taille reaching treasury to decline accordingly,
New taxes on nobility, capitation (Direct tax to cope with war costs) and dixieme (requirement to declare the income that received from any property owned) meaning an increase in office sales resulting in 70,000-80,000 officers by 1709, all of whom were tax exempt. This raised 900,000 livres however was offset by gages which cost 51% more in 1699 than in 1683.
% of tax lost in charges went from 20% in 1683 to 72% in 1715 as percentage reaching the treasury went from 80% to 28%,
Tontines (Investment linked to living person giving the investor money until the person dies) offered unsustainable rates to investors which was counterproductive.
Currency manipulation was inefficient as they attempted to inflate money supply, generate more disposable income, revalue coins upwards against livres and devalue livres against gold and silver but increase its wealth abroad, negatively affecting the army,
French economy stagnated and declined badly due to this poor management after Colbert’s death. However, not all of it died-
Marseilles revived from 1690’s and privateering got 220 million livres,
Iron production remained strong, 211 iron forges by 1693,
Cloth manufacturing revived until 1708 and wool production rose threefold in Languedoc,
Indirect taxes introduced on playing cards, wigs, oysters and oil,
Manufacturing goods demand was lowered due to rising tax burdens and inflation,
Emigration of skilled Huguenot workers hurt wool industries, especially in Lyon as 75% had left by 1702. 200,000 Huguenots left overall (37%),
Agriculture continued to be neglected. Land values fell 40% by 1686 and disposable money was neglected due to hyperinflatory bread prices in 1692-4 and 1709 and low wheat selling prices in Aix in 1688-9, leading to depressed peasant incomes.
Took up large amount of government expenditure, Dutch war consumed 66% of revenue and further increased costs through office sales and tax exemption increase, meaning rentes (Unearned income) reached 7-10% (exceeding Colbert’s 5% limit) causing royal debts to quadruple between 1672-4 and 1680,
War expenditure went from 42% in 1662-9 to 54% in 1689. This coupled with government expenditure increasing anyway due to increasing demands for pay and food made it unsustainable,
Occupation of Lorraine and Savoy cost France heavily. Bad harvests in Lorraine in 1693-4 weakened gabelle (Tax on sale of consumer goods) yield,
Nine Years War increased royal debt 5x. Capitation (tax taken during wartime) didn’t work and was abolished in 1698. Colbert’s deficit had been exceeded 68% by 1697,
Spanish succession cost France a lot. Wealth transfer problems meant difficulties supplying troops-
France was committed in Spanish Netherlands, Milan, Naples, Sicily and Spanish Iberia so it had to move money abroad, increasing costs alongside the devaluation causing costs to be doubled from 1702-5.
Occupation cost a lot. From 1700, enemy territory provided only 10% of military expenditure,
Defeat was hurting France as in 1704, 200,000 livres was lost after French defeat at Blenheim,
Spanish Succession war was the final straw for French economy. Between 1702 and 1713, royal debt was 118 million livres - 71% higher than Colbert’s deficit warning-
By 1715 debt reached 2.3 billion livres,
Checks on royal money handler’s stopped. By 1714, checks from 1700 onwards still hadn’t been done, causing corruption,
By 1706, borrowing was 85% of annual royal finances,
War cost 10x more from 1710 than money raised by Desmaretz’ dixieme (property owners having to state how much money they made off of each property).
Variations in views of them. After 1685, Louis went against the pope over French diplomatic asylum in Rome (1687) and Cologne election (1688),
Pope Innocent angered by Louis’ publishing of Four Gallican Articles and the failure to help defend Vienna against Turks,
Louis invaded Avignon in 1688 due to his loss in the Cologne election (1688) and installed his bishop by force. Reducing his European opinion and contributing to formation of Grand Alliance,
When Innocent died in 1689, Louis restored relationship with Rome by returning Avignon and removing the Four Gallican Articles. He managed to keep Gallicans on his side by letting the articles still be read and taught,
However, Gallicans started to resent him due to his struggle with Jansenism and Quietism bringing him closer to the Pope,
Further Gallican unease came when bishops were required to condemn respectful silence (Jansenist want) in 1705. Gallican opposition saw 3 propositions saying-
Bishops right over pope for judging in-doctrinal (Beliefs taught and believed to be true) issues,
Papal rulings over church only binding after ecclesiastical discussion,
Acceptance required collective judgement of General Assembly of Clergy.
Issue of Edict of Fontainebleau in 1686, where the Edict of Nantes was revokes was obviously of concern for Huguenots and would destroy their relationship with Louis as they lost all rights and were effectively forced out of the country,
200,000 Huguenots (37%) fled France as a result, providing soldiers for William of Orange, 50% of workers left Reims, Tours and Rouen causing wool manufacturing to decline. 65,000 Huguenots fled to Holland, increasing their bank deposits by 45% from 1696-1700 than from 1681-85,
However, this economic damage was exaggerated. It was not all Huguenots who were leaving, 4500 Catholics fled to England for Opportunities and the cloth production didn’t seriously decline. 75% of protestants remained in France.
Collaboration between Pope and Louis to get rid of Jansenists in their small covert of Nuns Port-Royal ended in a loss for Louis,
Opportunity to attack Port-Royal came when several defenders died and 75% of its original nuns had died by 1710. They were very outspoken at trying to tarnish Louis name, angering him further,
1709 - Louis sent 300 archers and 3 police officers to arrest nuns, destroy Port-Royal buildings and dig up 3000 corpses of leading Jansenists,
Due to this attack Louis lost his supporters: Gallicans. 86% of Parisian bishops opposed Louis and the Popes endeavours against Jansenism and Jansenist allegiances grew as a result, leaving the church divided.
They were a religious sect emphasising individuals ability to communicate with God. Became an issue when Guyon wrote a book on ‘Short and Vert Easy Way of Praying’,
Madame de Maintenon liked the book and asked him to work at her school of Saint Cy. Maintenon’s confessor, Bishop of Chartres, convinced her to condemn Guyon, leading to him being imprisoned.
Huge gaps between Estate system. Elites avoided tax and clergy sidestepped taxes by using their religious nature. Church became very aristocratic as self-made bishops fell by 22% between 1661 and 1715,
Church paid 6.5 million livres yearly to get out of tax between 1688 and 1697 which they called ‘don gratuis’. Church contributed 5% of royal income,
First estate removed itself from Dixieme (tax on income from property) for 24 million livres, adding to ordinary tax and tithe burdens on Third estate.
High levels of poverty due to 80% of people depending on agriculture. When there are good harvests like in 1686-7 prices were depressed as supply >demand, causing regional poverty,
Bread shortages caused peasants to eat nothing but acorns and boiled grass in Cevennes. In Auvergne in 1689, 75% of people ate roots and grasses for 3-4 months a year,
Crop failures and famine between 1692-4 caused wheat priced to increase 4x their 1686-90 average. Small cities would block grain getting to big cities and falsifying stock reports to prevent grain losses causing wheat prices to increase by 80% in Paris, reducing 50% of Reins to beggary,
Bread became unaffordable to third estate - 400% price increase in Picardy. Harsh winters in 1709 destroyed crops and livestock and leaving vineyards barren for 5 years. Bread prices made up 85% of Lyon workers’ wages,
High deaths was an issue. 6% of population died in 1693-4, more than during WWI. In 1709-10, 140% increase of deaths in East.
by 1711, Fenelon advised Burgundy to reduce royal expenses and court numbers of officials and taxation so agriculture would flourish. Increasing poverty in Rouen made Boisguilbert criticise Louis,
Boisguilbert demanded taille abolition and removal of criminal taxes on farm products. Vauban lobbied for reforming of royal policy in 1689 and blamed depopulation for high taxation and increased inefficiency and inequality of the tax system,
Cevennes revolt of 1702 was very popular where Camisard guerrillas stabbed Chief inquisitor Abbot Chayla 52 times. Civil war plagued France till 1710,
1693-4 and 1709 saw alms and spending on housing for homeless increasing but it wasn’t enough and rebellions still went on. 1701-8, troops were needed to enforce taxation in Languedoc and in 1710, troops were sent to keep order in Paris.
In 1685, there wasn’t much challenge to Louis, especially in England. Charles II was a successful puppet of Louis that would do whatever he wanted for money, especially secure when Catholic James II/VII became king in 1685,
Glorious Revolution of 1688 changed this. Coup taken to overthrow James II backed by the Dutch. James II was overthrown and William of Orange was invited to take control of England,
England was no longer a French ally and had to join William in his anti-French coalition. Williams path to power in England was supported by 3 main factors-
James II alienated elites because he was Catholic. English believed Catholicism = extremism. Gunpowder plot of 1605 scared James that it would happen again. Earls of Danby and Halifax with the Bishop of London invited William of Orange to invade in June 1668,
William assembled an invading force of 21,000 to invade England. He wanted to restrict France to the 1659 borders with the help of English troops,
Even thought James mustered 25,000 men to defend England, James put up no fight and fled to London due to Anti-Catholic riots and his own daughter deserting him.
By 1689- William of Orange was English king. Louis inability to help James in the defence of England was one of the main reasons that this happened and caused England to be entered into the anti-French coalition. Instead of helping, France captured Philipsburg and devastate the Palatinate from September 1688-1689,
Grand Alliance reformed in 1689 with England, United Provinces, Lorraine, Spain, Savoy, Leopold and German Protestant princes. France was encircled.
Defensive alliance between princes of Franconia and Rhineland in 1686. By 1688, it included Brandenburg, Bavaria, Elector of the Palatinate, Saxony, Spain, Sweden and the United Provinces as well as Leopold. League mainly arose from-
Leopold’s freedom to fight Louis after beating the Turks in 1686,
Pope Innocent XI’s approval to Leopold, who said ‘war with France is the only prompt and effective means of bringing her to compensate all of Europe’,
German Protestant revulsion against Louis’ aggression,
Spain’s need for security after they were bullied during the Reunions by France, making them look more aggressive,
Louis’ treatment of the Huguenots,
Major blame was due to the aggressive foreign policy of France from 1687-8-
1687 - Demanded Leopold to recognise reunions as permanent territory, increasing military presence in Rome,
1688 - Threatened pope for choosing Leopold’s candidate for the Cologne election (1688). Gave Leopold 3 months to recognise all the reunion territories as permanent and make French candidate Furstenburg Archbishop of Cologne,
September 1688 - Louis forcibly takes Cologne and makes Furstenburg Archbishop, confirming his image as ‘Most Christian Mars and Turk’.
Louis claimed defensive ambitions for seizing the Palatinate, suggesting such action was vital for defending France (in particular Alsace) and that conflict was inevitable. Louis knew Leopold and Palatinate were threats to French security,
The Archbishop of Cologne, the Palatinate, Spain and Bavaria were allied with Leopold. Louis saw pre-emptive attack as the only form of defence. By invading them and forcing his troops into the papal state of Avignon as well as devastating the Palatinate, Louis was perhaps being defensive. Louis had also sensed it was also a matter of time before Leopold attacked, who’d vowed to retake Alsace, had the full partisan support of Pope Innocent XI and who also wanted to take France back to the borders of Westphalia, allegedly,
Leopold constantly tried to thwart French diplomatic interests by-
1685 - Refusing to convert Ratisbon to permanent peace. Denied Elizabeth inheritance rights to Palatinate and got his own godfather William the elector of Palatinate,
Rejected all lands gained by Reunions, by forming League of Augsburg,
1687 - Continued to reject offers to make Ratisbon permanent,
1688 - Worked with pope to deny ‘an elected bishops rights’ in Cologne. Louis had lost a willing ally after Maximillian Henry died. Leopold’s ally Joseph Clement was installed as opposed to Furstenberg, despite not having a 2/3 majority.
Louis ended the war without a decisive victory, meaning he needed to make big concessions. Louis hadn’t sold out at Ryswick but the balance of power no longer weighed in France’s favour,
The ending of French occupation of Lorraine, return of Luxembourg and permanent loss of German protestant allies in the Rhine also weakened France’s south eastern border security,
Gains of Lower Alsace and Strasbourg strengthened his perception that he could hold it down. The League of Augsburg, ultimately, failed to bind Louis to the treaties of Nijmegen, Westphalia and Munster. Louis’ precarre was strengthened,
Louis had abandoned two dynastic interests: the claim to the Palatinate and his second cousin’s claim to the English throne, James II. He had also recognised William of Orange as the King of England.
France was ultimately set back by-
Economically, much had been lost in the war to the United Provinces and England as they could now garrison towns such as Ypres.
The loss of almost all reunions land weakened France’s eastern border security with valuable Rhine crossing points like Zweibrucken and Montbellard now out of French control, leaving Franche-Comte, Alsace and Strasbourg exposed to attack.
Gone were days of lightning victories over the Spanish. Until 1697, French forces were too light to break through in Catalonia, which was defended by only 12-13,000 troops.
France’s declining taxation revenue ultimately attributed to rebellion and social discontent in France.
William had improved English artillery and army medical services. The creation of the bank and national debt in 1694 allowed England to borrow securely at low interest and fund wars easily, thus Louis wanted him on-side.
From the years 1690-94, the strength of the British army was 80,000 soldiers. In 1694 and 1695, the army was changed by raising 3 cavalry regiments, 5 dragoon regiments and 12 infantry regiments. All this meant that on paper, Britain had a strength between 1695-7 of 100,000 troops, the British were prepared for war.
Carlos’ poor health meant William was on side for support of French claims in regards to Spanish inheritance. Louis also surrendering all land captured from Spain boosted his claim to the Spanish inheritance.
Spain remained an important naval and military power, depending on critical sea lanes stretching from Spain through the Caribbean and South America and westwards towards Manila and the far East.
The army was reorganised in 1704 and was ready for war.
The attrition and protracted nature of conflict from 1688-97 had a seriously debilitating effect upon France’s economic and military resources. Debt, borrowing costs and taxation had risen rapidly, causing severe social discontent within France, alongside economic stagnation.
France committed many soldiers to war. By 1694, the army had reached an estimated 400,000 strong, putting strain on France’s already depleted finances. Between 1690 and 1695, war consumed 78% of government expenditure, a 24% increase on 1680-89 and a 36% increase on 1662-69. Threat of invasion drove up fortification costs and expenditure reached record highs from 1689-1693.
Naval expenditure was poor and scaled back during the war. From having the 3rd most powerful navy, France seriously fell behind the English and Dutch. There was 32% more British ship completion compared to the French by the end of the war and there was a 4:1 ratio at which Allies outbuilt the French navy.
Exponential rises in wartime expenditure heightened pressures on taxation – 160 million livres worth was collected in the war which lowered demand for industrial and agricultural goods, encouraged emigration of skilled labour and contributed significantly to widespread economic difficulties. Government debts totalled 138 million livres in 1697.
By August 1715, Louis had gangrene in his left leg and was dying. Louis had managed to live a long life.
Louis left a divided France: depopulation was high due to famine; wheat prices were undergoing hyperinflation and a severe winter plagued France from 1708-9.
In northern France, doubling of wheat prices in 1708 caused more than a doubling of deaths in 1709.
State expenditure rose from 175 million livres in 1702 to 264 million in 1711. 2/3 had to be covered by offices. State debt soared to 2 billion livres. Louis left debts of up to 83% of France’s GDP.
Within 3 years of 1711, Louis lost his son, two grandsons and a great grandson. Philip d’Anjou couldn’t be king and Louis d’Anjou almost died and eventually became heir.
After Berry’s death in 1714, the 4-year-old Dauphin was Louis XIV’s only surviving legitimate descendant who could claim the throne, with power-hungry Duc de Orleans as regent.
Louis planned his will to prevent Philippe Duc d’Orleans influence as regent. He tried giving legitimacy to all his illegitimate children by making them Princes of the Blood through marriage within noble families. He tried making his illegitimate son regent which didn’t work.
Duc de Saint Simon recalled a sense of outrage in Parlement at the will.
The day after Louis died, Orleans asked the Paris Parlement to overturn the parts of his will limiting his power and promised right to remonstrance taken in 1667 and 1673. Parlement accepted.
Orleans further consolidated power by banning use of external mail to keep Philip V in Spain unknown of his actions as well as including Louis XIV’s and Montespan’s grandchildren in the regent’s council without any real influence.
Orleans’ position as regent was of immense significance. He returned right to remonstrance (forcibly protest) and allowed them to revoke the Bull Unigenitus (condemning Jansenists).
Louis’ grandchildren and sons were marginalised after his death.
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