French Finals People and Events

Francois I

King who passed the Edict of Villers-Cotterets which made French the official language of France

Johannes Gutenberg

invented the printing press which helped spread ideas

John Calvin

theologian who started Calvinism

Martin Luther

started the Protestant Reformation which condemned indulgences, salvation by works, and the ultimate authority of the pope

Henry IV

converted to Catholicism to unite France, but also passed the Edict of Nantes which allowed Huguenots to live in France

Francois Rabelais

wrote Pantagruel and Le jugement de Jehan le Fou

Michel Eyquem de Montaigne

wrote Contre le colonialism

Richelieu

ruled as regent for Louis XIV and curbed the power of the nobles (by banning duels), Protestants (confiscating their property), Austrian House (fought a war against them) and he established the French Academy under the supervision of the king

Louis XIV

ruled with absolute power in France, started the construction of Versailles, and fought in many wars which depleted the royal treasury

Marie Therese

Married to Louis XIV as an alliance with Spain

Colbert

mercantile financial minister of Louis XIV who believed that peace, not war, helped commerce

Louvois

Louis XIV's war minister who believed that war brought glory and expansion as well as helped the economy

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin

wrote L'École des femmes (Moliere)

Vatel

cooked dinner for the king and his court, but the pressure was too much and too much went wrong so he killed himself

Louis XV

king of France who facilitated a grand, lavish lifestyle despite the poor conditions in the rest of France

John Law

created the initially successful Company of Mississippi, but after its profits were used to clear the debts of the royalty, it failed as most people rushed to take their money out

Jeanne Poisson

supported the arts and was close to Louis XV, so she could promote the freedom of thought to him (Madame de Pompadour)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

wrote The Stolen Ribbon which was about guilt

Francois-Marie Arouet

wrote Candide ou l'optimisme which critiqued "tout est pour le mieux dans le meilleur des mondes possibles" (Voltaire)

Louis XVI

king of France who had good intentions, but did not do enough to save France from revolution

Marie Antoinette

queen of France during the French Revolution who was known for her affairs and extravagant spending

Madame de La Motte

masterminded the theft of Marie Antoinette's necklace by having one of her lovers have her commission it

Le comte de Mirabeau

he was a representative in the Estates General and the National Assembly in which he argued for a constitutional monarchy

Arthur Young

an Englishman who took a trip to France where he gave an account to the desperate poverty of the French peasants

Louis Capet

Louis XVI's name given to him after the revolution which demeaned him as Capet came from the first king of France who was elected

Maximilien Robespierre

took over the revolution after condemning Danton to death for his liberal beliefs and he executed all of those who did not follow his rules. he was similarly executed by the people