Studied by 3 people
when did Louis XVI become King and at what age
1774, 20
Louis XVI weaknesses
king at young age, not expected to take throne, politically unaware, weak willed ad indecsisive
what did the divine right mean
absolute power, could imprision those who went against him, alone right to make laws
letters issued by the king to arrest them instantly
lettres de cachet
Coseil d'Etat role
dealt with major issues of the ststae and foreign affairs
Conseil des Dépêches
Received despatches from the King's officials in the provinces and dealt with Church affairs
Conseil Royal des Finances
Managed state finances and household costs - from 1787 it also handled economic policy
who were included in the weekly cousil meetings
King's chief minissters: Secretaries for the State of War, Foreign Affairs, Navy, Royal Household, Controller-General
How was Louis influced to choose ministers
pressure from MA and intrigues from court
Who are intendants?
appointed to the provinces by the king as royal agents to maintain his rule and feedback info
how many intendants
33
Intendants responsibilities
finance, policing and justice: ensured taxes were paid, ensured kings edicts were carried out, presded over locl courts, coordinated the prevots and raised troops
Issues with intendants
had to rely on order from king;s council to act, gov didnt always back their decisions
geographical issues in france
as land was gained different agreements were made to respect orginal customs --> different laws, practises and taxation throughout F
how many provincial govenors
39
provincial govenors responsibilities
maintaining order, right to call provincial parlement and preside over munciple bodies
venality
the custom of selling administrative offices --> increased royal income
how many venal offices
70,000 including judicary, army offiers and more
what is pays d'etats
6 areas of F how negotated taxation with Crown and payed in lump sum, had powerful assemblies
limittions on intendants
venality, pays d'etats, provincial govenors, seigneurs, Paris Parlement
who are the seigneurs
land owning nobels who could run their own courts
rural court hierachy
prevotes, bailliage up to 13 parliaments (sovereign courts)
Which parlement was the most important and why
Paris, responsible for 2/5 of F
what did the Paris parle do
heard civil and crimnal cases
controlled guilds, corporations, markets, gov finace, law ad order
what was the most important rght of the parlements
registering kings edicst to ensure it confirmed with previous legislation and provincial codes
what power did parle have over decrees
question and criticise, force king to rethink by sending a remonstrance
what is lit de justice
process where king overruled parle and forced edict though
what is Noblesse De Robe?
12 magistrates who manned parle and bought their positions
who chose the the magistrates from noblesse de robe
intendants ad crown
Supreme courts
chambre des comptes, cour des aides, cour des monnaies, chatelet
how was law in villages kept
seigneural courts and church courtd
issues with mare anotinette
symbol of unpopular alliance from defeat in 7 years war, gambling made debt run to 0.5 million livres, brother-in-law called her Madame Defecit
Note 
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