1.3 The Fronde of the Parlement

Question 1

main dates of 1648?

Answer 1

January: regency exploit parlement to raise money
May: Chambres St. Louis programme
August: Broussel arrested
October: Anne and Mazarin leave Paris for St. Germain

Question 2

main dates of 1649?

Answer 2

January: Conde besieges Paris on behalf of the crown
March: Peace of Reuil
August: Louis returns to Paris, receives a huge welcome

Question 3

main dates of 1650?

Answer 3

January: Conde, Conti and Longueville arrested
December: Mazarin defeats Turenne at Rethel allied with the Spanish
Mazarin enters voluntary exile to Cologne
Parisians file through Louis’ bedchamber

Question 4

main dates of 1651?

Answer 4

7 September: Louis comes of age and recalls Mazarin

Question 5

main dates of 1652?

Answer 5

July
- Turenne beats Conde at the battle of Fauborg St Antoine
- Conde sets up a puppet regime, it fails
- Conde leaves for Spain
- Mazarin re-enters vountary exile

October
- Louis makes an uncontested entry into Paris
- a general amnesty is coordinated

Question 6

what are the three main causes of the Frondes?

Answer 6

Long term financial issues
- Richelieu’s poor policies
- Issues inherited by Mazarin
- Mazarin’s continued high-interest loans and borrowing
- the inevitability of this due to necessary foreign policy
- caused the regency to alienate parlement

Louis’ minority and the regency
- no simple authoratative figure
- widespread hatred of Mazarin (low-born foreigner)
- both Anne and Mazarin were foreign

The regency’s alienation of parlement and their missteps
- exploiting finances and privileges
- demands not accepted due to Louis’ minority
- arrest of the popular figure Broussel and others
- overturning Louis XIII’s will and removing the regency council
- inability to fully accept demands of Chambres St Louis

Question 7

what are the four main reasons for the failure of the Frondes?

Answer 7

disunited opposition
- vaying interest of different groups and individuals
- a persistent belief in absolutism and the divine right of kins and a fear of republicanism
- religion played no role, no common cause of higher purpose

no clear target
- in England blame could easily fall on Charles I
- Anne was only a temporary regent, Mazarin a good scape goat but not the king and not the leading figure
- Louis was too young to be blamed for anything
- ‘no identifiable adult goon’

no clear leader
- everyone kept switching sides too frequently
- Conde alienated everyone
- Turenne fought for the crown at times
- Parlement wasn’t elected like in England so less trust in them

military strength
- especially once Turenne had switched sides
- the army never turned on the crown
- other than the Ormee the rebellion stayed amongst the elite

Question 8

what were the four main terms of the Chambres St. Louis programme?

Answer 8

1. suppression/removal of intendants
2. reduction of the taille by a third
3. investigation into financiers conduct
4. Parlement to be consulted about taxation