The Reign of the Sun King Louis XIV

The Reign of the “Sun King”, Louis XIV

Henry IV • 1589 inherits the throne of France • Last name: Bourbon • Converts to Catholicism from Protestantism – “Paris is well worth a mass” • 1598 - Edict of Nantes- French Huguenots (Protestants) could live in peace and set up their own houses of worship • Restores the French monarchy to peace and financial strength. • 1610 - stabbed to death in his carriage by a religious fanatic.

Louis XIII • Weak King • Gets help from a strong minister: Cardinal Richelieu

Cardinal Richelieu • The true ruler of France during Louis XIII’s reign • Increases power in two ways: – Moves against Huguenots • Protestant cities cannot have walls around them – Weakens the Nobles powers • No walls around their castles • More government agents from the middle class • Wants France to be the strongest state – The Hapsburgs- rulers of Spain, Austria, the Netherlands and parts of the Holy Roman Empire are in his way! – France becomes involved in the 30 yr. war to limit Hapsburgs power.

Louis XIV • “L’etat c’est moi” • “I am the state”

France – Louis XIV Ruled 1643 - 1715 Ø Called himself the Sun King Ø Made French army the strongest in Europe Ø France was the wealthiest country in Europe under Louis XIV Ø V spent huge amounts of money Ø Built Versailles Ø War of Spanish Succession - Discuss later

Louis XIV a boy king • Becomes king in 1643 at the age of 4. • Cardinal Mazarin has all of the control until his death in 1661. – Greatest triumph was ending the 30 yr. war. – Increased taxes – Strengthens the central government – Nobles hated Mazarin, threatened Louis’ life – Louis never forgets, vows to be so strong they can never threaten him again! • Louis is 22 when he takes control of the government himself.

Control of the Nobility • • • Louis is dressed by the 4 highest nobles. – Handing him his slippers or holding his sleeves for him 100 people would be surrounding him Lesser nobles stood in the hallway hoping to get a glance or a nod from him. He excluded all nobles from his council and increased the power of his government officials (intendants) who collect taxes. During his 72 -year reign, Louis did not once call a meeting of the Estates General.

Economic Growth • Goal- make France self-sufficient – Gave government funds and tax benefits to French companies – Put a high tariff (tax) on imported goods – Encouraged people to migrate to Canada to increase the fur trade, which added to French trade and wealth. • Louis slows economic progress by canceling the Edict of Nantes, causing thousands of Huguenot artisans and business people to flea France.

Palace of Versailles Ø Expanded from a hunting lodge in 1669. Ø Built in the countryside, it drew nobles away from their homes & made them dependent on the king. Ø Became the symbol to European monarchs of the wealth and power of the king of France. Ø Seat of French government for nearly over 100 years. Ø Its upkeep consumed as much as 25% of the income of France.

The Sun Myth Louis XIV chose the sun as his emblem. The sun was associated with Apollo, god of peace and arts, and was also the heavenly body which gave life to all things, regulating everything as it rose and set. Like Apollo, the warrior-king Louis XIV brought peace, was a patron of the arts, and dispensed his bounty. Throughout Versailles, decoration combines images and attributes of Apollo (laurel, lyre, tripod) with the king's portraits and emblems (the double LL, the royal crown, the sceptre and hand of justice). The Apollo Salon is the main room because it was originally the monarch's state chamber. The path of the sun is also traced in the layout of the gardens.

The Bourbon Family Crest

Louis XIV as Apollo

The Sun Symbol

Versailles Statistics f f f f f f 2, 000 acres of grounds 12 miles of roads 27 miles of trellises 200, 000 trees 210, 000 flowers planted every year 80 miles of rows of trees 55 acres surface area of the Grand Canal 12 miles of enclosing walls 50 fountains and 620 fountain nozzles 21 miles of water conduits 3, 600 cubic meters per hour: water consumed 26 acres of roof 51, 210 square meters of floors 2, 153 windows 700 rooms 67 staircases 6, 000 paintings 1, 500 drawings and 15, 000 engravings 2, 100 sculptures 5, 000 items of furniture and objects d'art 150 varieties of apple and peach trees in the Vegetable Garden

Louis XIII’s Old Chateau

Versailles Today

Palais de Versailles

Chateau de Versailles

Versailles’ Northern Gardens

Chateau de Versailles Gardens

The Orangery

Grounds at Versailles

Fountains, and More Fountains!

And More Fountains!

And More Fountains!

And Even More Fountains!!!

Hall of Mirrors

Louis XIV’s Chapel

Louis XIV’s Chapel Altarpiece

Louis XIV’s Opera Stage

The Gallery of Battles

State Apartment

Venus Room ceiling

Venus Room

Louis and his family portrayed as Roman gods in a 1670

Mars Room ceiling (during Louis XIV’s reign Filled with silver furniture)

Apollo Room, Throne Room

War Room or Council Room

Gold Plate room

Louis XIV’s Carriage

Attempts to Expand • Louis invades the Spanish Netherlands (1667) • 1672 he invades the Dutch Netherlands – Stopped by the flooding of the countryside – France gains some additional land through a treaty • League of Augsburg- England, Austria, Sweden, and Spain form alliance against France

Charles II – King of Spain (last Spanish Habsburg) 1. Literally insane for most of his life (the happy product of inbreeding!!!) 2. Suffered from Mandibular Prognathism A disfiguring genetic disorder where the lower jaw outgrows the upper one. (Actually, often referred to as “Habsburg jaw” or “Habsburg lip” due to its prevalence in the blood line. Charles II had it so bad, he was unable to chew. Only painting I could find of him… (as a young man)

Charles V had it… (grandfather) Philip II had it too… (father)

Charles hangs on for 35 years as King of Spain - everyone is trying to position themselves to take over – no heir King Louis XIV – marries his eldest sister (Maria Theresa of Spain) HR Emperor Leopold I – marries his other sister (Maria Anna)

What does Charles II’s will say? 16 yr. old Philip V is named as successor - He is Louis XIV’s grandson & Philip IV of Spain’s great-grandson - This begins the Bourbon Line ruling Spain

War of the Spanish Succession • England, Austria, Dutch Republic, Portugal, German, and Italian states united to stop the combination. • 1701 -1714, war ends with the Treaty of Utrecht – Philip V gets to remain king, but cannot unit kingdoms with France. – England is big winner – they get Gibraltar (still have it today)