Chapter 18 Section 2
France
Main Idea: A series of French kings turned France into a major powerhouse with an ideal vision of an absolute monarch
Religious Wars and Henry IV
-Most of France was Catholic
-Growing number of Huguenots (French Calvinists)
-Many noble families
-Clashed with Catholic rulers
-Fighting breaks out in 1562
-St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
-10K-70K killed
-Assassins sent out to kill Huguenots by order of Queen
-Henry IV (1593)
-Was Huguenot (survived St. Bart’s Day Massacre)
-Had to convert to Catholicism in order to be king
-Edict of Nantes (1598)
-Granted freedom of worship (limited) in France
-Gave Huguenots some freedoms
-Ended religious fights
-France’s power grew
-Eliminated debt, built infrastructure
Louis XIII
-Henry IV died in 1610 (murdered)
-Louis XIII becomes king
-Was
only child when crowned king
-Mom ran the country (regent)
-Cardinal Richelieu becomes main advisor
-Both wanted to regain lost power
-Laid siege to Huguenot townàsurrendered
-Forced town to tear down walls
-Only Catholic churches allowed
-Weakened power of nobles
-Executed nobles suspected of treason
-Louis XIII died in 1643
-Louis XIV becomes king
-Very young; mother ruled
-Raised to be a king
-Confidence
-Absolute monarch
-Demanded to be in charge of all important decisions
-Nobles lost power
-Built Palace of Versailles
-Huge mansionàCenter of government
-Nobles had to come see himànow dependent on king
-Palace grand example of power
-Revoked Edict of Nantes (200K Huguenots left France)
-Acquired more power
-Spent a lot of money
-Military became huge
-Palace of Versailles cost $$$
-Wars
-War of the Spanish Succession (1701)
-King of Spain diesàNo heirs
-Louis XIV claims throne
-Other countries went to war vs. France
-Too much power for France
-Treaty of Utrecht (1713)
-Louis’ grandson becomes king of Spain
-Fr. and Sp. can never be ruled by 1 king
-France had to give up land it gained during this time