Louis XIV

Louis XIII

dies at young age

Louis XIV

becomes king of france at age 5

risky situation, opportunity for other families to wield power

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Anne of Austria and Cardinal Mazarin

M - highest religious power at the time

anne and cardinal helped rule for Louis XIV

Anne takes Louis to Austrian home for 9 years to protect her son

various nobles

Actions of Various Nobles

attempt to “work together” to rule France -- Shitstorm

everyone wants more power than the other

trying to get things to benefit their family

france is a wreck

They Invite Louis back home --angry

Maria theresa

Louis marries spanish princess

Alliance

Moves capital of France:

From Paris to Versailles

to cut out the nobles

1st Step towards Democracy

He isnt seeking out help from nobility

does research on who can actually help rule country

want people who worked in the field and has experience, use them as advisors

Jean Baptiste Colbert

Economist

called to fix france’s economic problems

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Reform #1

made one standard/common currency

(was unstable with multiple kinds of currency)

Reform #2

Banks become regulated by the government

Reform #3

Colbert:

made nobles start paying taxes

nobles not happy

Reform #4

Mercantilism (economic concept):

all about resources

offers protection if they side with colony

harvests sugar cane on St. Lucia

was put on french gov ships, processed in france

creates jobs for people in france

sold it back to st. lucia

did same in New France w/ lumber, beaver pelts

Impacts of Mercantilism in France

Became economic powerhouse by late 1600s

• As economy improved, (through mercantilism), Louis XIV gave citizens tax break

• Citizens were happy

Who was hired to do Military Reforms?

Francois de Tellier

Reform 1:

• Military is not standardized

  • North and south trained differently

• Problem as they have to fight together at some point, if haven't been trained the same harder to coordinate efforts

• Training Uniform, equipment become standardized

Reform 2:

• Permanent Standing Army

• Army always at the ready, only job is that they’re soldiers

• Used to call up by militia

Reform 3:

• Gets better equipment

• Improves weaponry of french army

  • Cannon technology, navy

Quest of Expansion

• North america, caribbean, far east

• Creating colonies

• Expand europe itself

• Land that has assets, agriculturally

What were Francois de Tellier’s reforms?

Standardization of Army, Permanent Standing Army, Improvement of equipment technology

What lead to unrest during Louis XIV’s reign?

Huguenots Persecution, War of Spanish Successsion

Huguenots Persecution

• Louis’ Policies regarding religion aren’t progressive

• Jealous of Huguenots success

• “Only faith you can practice is catholic, everything else is illegal”

• When Hugenots leave, take business’ with them

  • Other french people didnt take over

  • Impacts economy of france negatively

War of Spanish Succession

• No heir for spain

• Think louis’ grandson is technically heir to the throne of spain

• Other royal families dont want this

• War breaks out with France vs everyone else

What did France and King Louis XIV lose through the War of Spanish Succession?

• All land they took over previously is gone

• Lose ⅓ of their colonial empire

  • Ex Acadia

• War went on way longer than they thought it would

• Louis was forced into militia

  • People weren’t happy

  • Thousands died

• Taxation went up

  • People weren’t happy

• People got used to other people having say other than the king

• People were really not happy

• When Louis XIV dies, public didnt want another ‘ruler’, wanted more democratic

• Sets up spanish revolution