Chapter 15 – Louis XIV and French Absolutism (pgs 449-454)

Key Concepts / Terms

• Sun King – Louis XIV; central figure of state.

• Divine Right of Kings – Monarch’s authority comes from God.

• Versailles – Palace to control nobles and show power.

• Revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685) – Ended Huguenot tolerance; religious unity but economic loss.

• Mercantilism – State-controlled economy to build wealth.

• Colbert – Louis XIV’s finance minister; implemented mercantilism.

Important People

• Louis XIV – Absolute monarch; “I am the state.”

• Colbert – Strengthened economy, funded wars.

• Bossuet – Defended divine right of kings.

Major Notes

• Louis ruled directly after Mazarin died; centralized power.

• Versailles kept nobles dependent and reduced their political power.

• Revoking Edict of Nantes forced Huguenots out; harmed economy.

• Colbert promoted trade, industry, and infrastructure to support monarchy.

• Art, ritual, and court life projected power and unified elites.

Cause & Effect

• Centralization → Versailles → control of nobles.

• Revocation of Edict → religious unity → loss of skilled workers.

• Mercantilism → more revenue → support wars and culture.

• Art and ritual → legitimized monarchy → suppressed alternative powers.

Big Picture

Louis XIV turned theory into practice: centralized power, controlled nobility, used religion, economy, and culture to strengthen absolutism. France rose in power but faced economic and social strains.