Age of Absolutism King Louis XIV Louis XIV

Age of Absolutism: King Louis XIV

Louis XIV (r. 1643 -1715) • Personal rule began in 1661 with the death of Cardinal Mazarin. • "L'État, c'est moi" (the state is me) • Symbolized as the “Sun King. ” (Center of France; rays of sun reflect off of monarch onto subjects).

Châteaux de Versailles • King’s residence and center of government. • Spent vast sums of money on expansion. • Royal apartments were at the center of the complex.

Court Life at Versailles • King served dual functions • Both functions were aimed at state-building. • Louis distrusted the nobility, so he appointed officials from middle-class origin. • He also continued the practice of selling titles (“nobles of the robe” as opposed to “nobles of the sword”).

Jean-Baptiste Colbert (1619 -1683) • Served as controller of finances from 16621683. • Supported mercantilist policies. • Built roads and canals. • Credited for many of Louis’ economic successes and failures.

Domestic Policies • Louis enacted absolutist ideas through domination of the central bureaucracy which had greater control of state finances, the execution of laws and the use of armed force. • Increased royal control • Revoked the Edict of Nantes in October 1685 and began persecuting Huguenots; over 200, 000 fled France.

Expansion under Louis XIV • Through a series of expensive wars Louis slowly expanded French territory.

The End of an Era • Louis XIV was one of the great statebuilders of Europe • Despite this, the peasants of France suffered as they never had before or since. This would bring government welfare as a state function it the 18 th century • His absolutist policy solidified the place of France as the dominant power in Europe.