absolutism and the structure of the ancien regime Flashcards
What is Absolutism?
The Monarch holds supreme authority over all other authorities on earth.
Who was King Louis XVI?
Crowned at age 20 in 1774, he inherited the throne from his grandfather Louis XV.
What qualities did King Louis XVI lack?
He was indecisive, weak-willed, and disliked.
Who was Marie Antoinette?
The daughter of the Empress of Austria, married to Louis XVI at age 15.
What nickname was given to Marie Antoinette because of her origins?
‘L’Autrichienne’ due to her pro-Austrian influence.
What was the nickname given to Marie Antoinette because of her spending habits?
‘Madame Deficit’ for her reputation of being a spendthrift.
Where did King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette live?
The Palace of Versailles.
What was the royal levee?
A ceremony for the King’s waking.
What are pensions and gratuities?
Pensions were regular sums of money given by the King and gratuities were gifts given by the King.
What was the role of the ‘King in Council’?
The decision of the monarch influenced by chosen advisors.
What was the Council d’etats responsible for?
Dealing with major issues of state and foreign affairs.
Who were intendants?
Royal agents appointed by the King to maintain his rules.
How many generalities were there in France?
36 generalities.
What is a lettre de cachet?
A request for imprisonment or exile by the intendant.
What are pays d’etats regions?
The 6 regions with assemblies that negotiated directly with the crown on taxation.
What was the role of the parlements?
The supreme courts of law and the nation’s highest court of appeal.
How many parlements were there in France?
13 parlements.
What was the main function of the Parlement of Paris?
To scrutinize laws before registering them.
What is the taille?
A direct tax on property and income.
What is the First Estate?
The clergy, consisting of about 150,000 members.
What did the clergy members pay instead of the taille?
A lump sum known as a don gratuit.
What is the Second Estate and how many members were there?
The nobility, approximately 200,000-400,000 members.
What privileges did the nobility enjoy?
- Could be beheaded rather than hanged
- Exempt from the taille and other taxes.
What is the Third Estate?
Everyone else not in the First or Second Estate.
What did peasants have to pay to landowners?
Annual banalties for using mills or ovens.
What is corvee royale?
Unpaid labor required from peasants, such as road work.
What was the quote from the First President of Parlement of Bordeaux regarding the people’s state?
‘The people are not wrong to complain, they are in no state to pay for their bread.’
What did Diderot suggest about the state crisis?
‘We are on the verge of a state crisis which will end in slavery or freedom.’
