1.1 Structure of the ancien regime

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

1. heard civil and crimnal cases
2. 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