9. Absolutism in Western Europe: France & Spain, 1589-1715

Question 1

Explain Henry IV’s story (what family is he?)
1 thing he’s most importantly known for?
What was he an example of?

Answer 1

He was a huguenot turned catholic, in order to save French unity (“France is worth a mass”). When he became king as the first Bourbon, though, his Edict of Nantes granted religious toleration.
He was a major example of a politique.

Question 2

France’s tax system in Henry IV’s times

Answer 2

inefficient and inequitable. Nobles were exempt. The burden fell to the peasants.

Question 3

Henry IV’s chief minister

What did he do

Answer 3

Duke de Sully

- Improved the efficiency of tax system and improved economy

Question 4

Who were “nobility of the sword”

Answer 4

Traditional French nobles who inherited their nobility from the family.
Basically a military merit from the old times.

Question 5

Who were the “nobility of the robe” and why were they created by who?

Answer 5

Because the “nobles of the sword” posed threat to royal power, Henry IV and Sully began selling government offices to create new nobles, known as “robe nobles”. These new nobles were often members of prosperous bourgeoisie.

Basically, nobles of the robe: purchased bureaucratic merit

Question 6

Who ruled after Henry IV and why?

Answer 6

Henry was assassinated in 1610 so his son Louis XIII reigned

Question 7

How old was Louis XIII when he became second Bourbon monarch?

Answer 7

9 years old

Question 8

Louis XIII’s chief minister

Answer 8

Cardinal Richelieu

Question 9

What were Richelieu’s goals and was he successful?

Answer 9

• Enhance royal power & weaken nobility

yes, he was successful

Question 10

What were intendants and how were they used by Richelieu?

Answer 10

• They were officials drawn from the “nobility of the robe”
• To weaken the nobility, Richelieu replaced nobles with intendants who implemented royal orders. This system is known as the INTENDANT SYSTEM

Question 11

What was Richelieu’s international goal?

How did he manage to accomplish it

Answer 11

To limit Hapsburg power.

- By supporting Protestant powers in 30 years’ war, he helped defeat the Hapsburgs

Question 12

King and chief minister after Louis XIII and Richelieu

Answer 12

Louis XIV and Cardinal Mazarin

Question 13

How old was Louis XIV when he inherited the monarchy?

What bad thing happened because of it?

Answer 13

• 5 years old

- Nobles, sensing royal weakness, led rebellions against royal authority known as the FRONDE to limit the monarchy

Question 14

Who was Bishop Bossuet and what were his beliefs

Answer 14

• French theorist concerning about right of kings

- Argued that all power comes from God. Royal power was absolute

Question 15

The most powerful monarch in French history:

his nickname?

Answer 15

Louis XIV. the Sun King

Question 16

“L’etat, c’est moi”

Answer 16

“I am the State” boasted by Louis XIV

Question 17

Louis XIV’s domestic policies? list

Answer 17

• Increased the power of intendants
• refused to appoint a chief minister
• continued Richelieu’s policy of reducing political power of nobility

Question 18

What did the Versailles Palace symbolize

Answer 18

a visible symbol of Louis XIV’s absolute power and greatness

Question 19

What is the significance of France’s cultural dominance?

Answer 19

At these times, French cultures were envied and copied throughout the continent (IMPORTANT!!)

Just like how American stuff are popular around the world

Question 20

Louis XIV named Jean-Baptiste Colbert as:______

was this guy successful?

Answer 20

controller general of finances

- he successfully raised revenues and economic growth

Question 21

Colbert’s mercantilist policies:

Answer 21

• Expanded manufacturing by abolishing domestic tariffs that inhibited trade
• Protected French products by placing high tariffs on goods coming into the country
• Recognized the importance of colonies as source of raw mats

Question 22

What motto did Louis XIV believe in?

and what did he do to the edict of nantes

Answer 22

• “one king, one law, one faith”

- Revoked it in 1685. protestant churches were closed and persecuted

Question 23

Louis XIV’s international ambitions

Answer 23

To make France a global power, “universal monarchy

Question 24

What is the defensive strategy where weaker countries joined together to equal or exceed a powerful country?

Answer 24

Balance of Power

Question 25

War of the Spanish Succession years?

Why did it happen?

Answer 25

• 1701 - 1713
• Spanish king Charles II died without heir, and handed down the entire empire to Louis XIV’s grandson, Philip of Anjou. It upset the balance of power

Question 26

What did England form in fear of French universal monarchy? with which nations (important)?

Answer 26

the Grand Alliance with Austria, Brandenburg, and Italian duchy of Savoy (duchy means the land belonging to the duke)

Question 27

End result of War of Spanish Succession

Answer 27

costly struggle that left France battered and weakened. Huge debts.

Question 28

What treaty ended the Spanish Succession War?

How was the Spanish Succession settled?

Answer 28

• Treaty of Utrecht

- Louis’s grandson, Philip V, was allowed to remain king as long as Spain and France were not united

Question 29

What were the provisions of the Treaty of Utrecht-
for Austria?
for the Duke of Savoy?
for the Elector of Brandenburg?

Answer 29

• Spanish Netherlands(Belgium) became Austrian Netherlands
• Duke of Savoy was recognized king and received Sicily
• recognized as King of Prussia

Question 30

Key factors to Spanish Decline:
Economic?
Political?

Answer 30

• Inflation -> less exports, costly wars -> debts

- weak/inept rulers