Context

• The French monarchy has its origins in the Treaty of Verdun, in 843, with the division of the Frankish Empire. In 987, the Carolingian monarchy was extinguished. And the Capetingian dynasty began under Hugo Capeto (r. 987-996), which had vaguely extended its rights of suzerainty beyond its original base in the Île de France- in a gradual movement of concentric unification- until they reached from Flanders to the Mediterranean.

• The Capetingian dynasty was the feudal dynasty par excellence.

• During the reign of Philip IV the Fair (r. 1285-1314), the French monarchy came into conflict with the Church, the moment of the Schism of the West.

Hundred Years' War

• Furthermore, the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453), which ended with the French victory, brought about several transformations.

• The French made, for the first time in history, a paid and regular army, financed by the royal touch, a tax created during the reign of Charles VII (r. 1422-1461).

• The thinker Alexis de Tocqueville, in the 19th century, saw in this the beginning of the Ancien Régime in France.

Government

• In governments after that of Charles VII, tax revenues fluctuated, increasing in some periods and being reduced in others.

• However, despite the institution of new taxes and permanent troops, the new monarchy did not build a truly centralized state. Neither Francis I (r. 1515-1547) nor his successor, Henry II (r. 1547-1559), for example, were autocratic. They often consulted with regional assemblies- while respecting the privileges of the nobility and clergy.

The Civil War and the rise of the Bourbons

• Three major families of the French nobility became Huguenots: the Condé, the Coligny, and the Bourbons. In contrast, other families remained Catholic, such as the Guise and the Montmorency-Chatillon.

• These families controlled a large manorial territory and possessed a vast clientele. That influenced the state apparatus, loyal troops, and international allies.

• Upon Henry II's death, his wife Catherine de Medici took over as Queen Regent and remained in this position for two more reigns, as the young Francis I died months after taking the throne. And Charles IX was too young to assume the throne.

• Although Catholic, she maintained a policy of tolerance of Protestants, avoiding Catholic dominance. Her chancellor, Michel L'Hôpital (1507-1573), advocated universal religious concord. However, in 1562, the Guise massacred hundreds of Protestants.

• The Duke of Guise makes the young king and queen regent practically his prisoners.

Civil War

• A long and bloody civil war begins. In 1572, occurred an episode called "Night of St. Bartholomew, where thousands of Huguenots were massacred by the Catholics.

• During the war, King Charles IX died of tuberculosis at 23. His brother succeeded him, Henry III Valois (r. 1574-1589), was assassinated.

• Henry Bourbon was protestant and King of Navarre. He had married Margarette Valois (the "Queen Margot"), daughter of Catherine de Medici to the former king - so he will take over as Henry IV Bourbon (r. 1589-1610).

• Henry of Bourbon, incidentally, had the leader of the Catholics Henri Guise. Because of the presence of King Henry III Valois, Henry IV Bourbon, and the Catholic Henry Guise, the conflict became known as the "War of the 3 Henrys."

Bourbon dynasty

The rise of the Protestant Henry IV Bourbon marked the beginning of the Bourbon dynasty (1589-1792) and the end of the civil war.

Conclusion

• After the death and destruction, the population had grown tired of the wars.

• The nobility, faced with looting and peasant revolts, desired a strong Crown.

• In a sequence of actions, the king converted to Catholicism, compensated the Guise family 10 million pounds, and resumed the guarantee of religious tolerance through the Edict of Nantes (1598).

• Titles of nobility, to raise funds, were sold to the upper bourgeoisie, creating the toga nobility.