Louis XIV King of France from 1642 to 1715 “ The Sun King”

Biography: Ascended to the throne in 1643 at age 4 Cardinal Mazarin & Anne of Austria -- advisors Centralized power in the king’s hands Encouraged trade Controlled the army Crushed unrest

Ascended to the throne in 1643 at age 4

Cardinal Mazarin & Anne of Austria -- advisors

Centralized power in the king’s hands

Encouraged trade

Controlled the army

Crushed unrest

Ruling Philosophy: At age 23 Louis XIV took over The Sun King ‘ as the earth depends on the sun, France depends on Louis XIV’ ‘ I am the state’ Divine Right Ruler, Absolute Monarch

At age 23 Louis XIV took over

The Sun King

‘ as the earth depends on the sun, France depends on Louis XIV’

‘ I am the state’

Divine Right Ruler, Absolute Monarch

Ruling Power: Brought army under King’s control Intendants - royal agents in provinces Staunch Roman Catholic - Louis crushed all opposition to the church Huguenots

Brought army under King’s control

Intendants - royal agents in provinces

Staunch Roman Catholic - Louis crushed all opposition to the church

Huguenots

The Palace of Versailles 12 miles (20K) from Paris Away from the rabble King & Court lived there King held courtiers ‘captive’

12 miles (20K) from Paris

Away from the rabble

King & Court lived there

King held courtiers ‘captive’

Social Hierarch of France Three Estates First Estate - Clergy Closest to God Second Estate - Nobility Controlled the land & much wealth Third Estate - everyone else Merchants and intellectuals Getting frustrated with their status

Three Estates

First Estate - Clergy

Closest to God

Second Estate - Nobility

Controlled the land & much wealth

Third Estate - everyone else

Merchants and intellectuals

Getting frustrated with their status

Jean Baptiste Colbert Finance minister

Finance minister

Colbert took charge of the economy… Mercantilist policies - make France rich Colonial trade Reformed tax system - burden on peasants Improved infrastructure Decreased provincial and town tariffs

Mercantilist policies - make France rich

Colonial trade

Reformed tax system - burden on peasants

Improved infrastructure

Decreased provincial and town tariffs

Wars At war for 30 of his 54 years as regent Wars with the Netherlands, England, Spain, Holy Roman Empire Expand France to its ‘natural frontiers’

At war for 30 of his 54 years as regent

Wars with the Netherlands, England, Spain, Holy Roman Empire

Expand France to its ‘natural frontiers’

Legacy: Palace of Versailles - monument to his greatness, strength & power Bankrupt treasury - expensive wars and life style left little in the treasury Model for an Absolute Monarch - revered and emulated by others Patron for Arts - plays, poets, musicians, fashion

Palace of Versailles - monument to his greatness, strength & power

Bankrupt treasury - expensive wars and life style left little in the treasury

Model for an Absolute Monarch - revered and emulated by others

Patron for Arts - plays, poets, musicians, fashion

The Palace of Versailles Chateau de Versailles official web site http://www.chateauversailles.fr/en/index.php

Chateau de Versailles official web site

http://www.chateauversailles.fr/en/index.php