Absolutism Part 2

French Wars of Religion

religious civil wars between Protestantism (Huguenots) and Catholicism (French monarchy)

Catherine de Medici

(1547-1589) The wife of Henry II (1547-1559) of France, who exercised political influence after the death of her husband and during the rule of her weak sons.

Henry IV of France

Orginally Henry of Navarre. He was a Politique . He became a Catholic because he knew most of France was Catholic.
Edict of Nantes

Huguenots

French Calvinists

Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre

series of targeted assassinations and mob violence against Huguenots (French Protestants) in France

The Edict of Nantes

document that granted religious freedom to the Huguenots (Henry IV)

Cardinal Richelieu

(1585-1642) Minister to Louis XIII. His three point plan (1. Break the power of the nobility, 2. Humble the House of Austria, 3. Control the Protestants) helped to send France on the road to absolutism.

Louis XIV

(1638-1715) Known as the Sun King, he was an absolute monarch that completely controlled France. One of his greatest accomplishments was the building of the palace at Versailles.

Cardinal Mazarin

(1602-1661), Successor of Cardinal Richelieu and his bad attempts to increase royal revenue and the state lead to the Fronde; ran the government while Louis VIII was still a child

The Fronde

a french rebellion that was caused by Mazarin's attempt to increase royal revenue and expand state bureaucracy, caused Louis XIV to distrust the state and turn to absolutism

Divine Right

Belief that a rulers authority comes directly from god.

Palace of Versailles

Lavish palace constructed by Louis XIV to reflect his power and might

Jean-Baptiste Colbert

An economic advisor to Louis XIV; he supported mercantilism and tried to make France economically self-sufficient. Brought prosperity to France.

War of Spanish Succession

This was the war between France and Spain in order to unite the two states under one ruler, Phillip V

Council of Trent

A meeting of Roman Catholic leaders, called by Pope Paul III to rule on doctrines criticized by the Protestant reformers.
Reaffirmed traditional Catholic teachings, forbade the sale of indulgences

Thirty Years War

A series of European wars that were partially a Catholic-Protestant religious conflict. It was primarily a batlte between France and their rivals the Hapsburg's, rulers of the Holy Roman Empire.

Treaty of Westphalia

Ended Thirty Years War in 1648; granted right to individual rulers within the Holy Roman Empire to choose their own religion-either Protestant or Catholic

Treaty of Pyrenees

The treaty that ended fighting between France and Spain that continued after the Thirty Years' War; the treaty marked the end of Spain's status as a major European power.