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