L’etat, c’est
moi!!
Louis XIV
(1643-1715)
The Sun King
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Key Terms
• Louis XIV
• Sun King
• Edict of Nantes
• Bourbon Family
• Declaration of Clergy
of France
• Fronde
• Jean Baptiste Colbert
• Alsace-Lorraine
• Code Louis
• Intendants
• Palace of Versailles
• Levee
• Wars of Expansion
• Robert de La Salle
• Louisiana
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Background
• Louis XIV was born into the French Royal
Family “The Bourbons”
• Mother could not have a child for 12 years
o Birth seen as a miracle
o "Louis-Dieudonné" (Louis the God-given)
• Father died in 1643
o Louis became king at age 4
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Reign of Louis XIV
• Ruled France for 72 years
o Longest in European history
• Achievements:
o Centralized Power to an extent never seen in Modern
Europe
o Expanded French Territory
o Made France the greatest economic, political, and
cultural power in Europe
o Built the Palace of Versailles
• Louis XIV can be seen as the quintessential
absolute monarch due to his centralization of
power, expansion of territory, and pursuit of
personal glory.
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Outline
• I. Centralization of Power
• II. Expansion
• III. Glory & Spending
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I. Centralization of Power
A. Reigning in the Nobility
B. Religion
C. Military
D. Economy
E. Law
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A. Reigning in of Nobility
• For centuries, nobles had unchecked power
o Ran the military
o Refused to obey laws
o Constant insurrection
• Fronde (1648)- Insurrection by Nobles to keep feudal
power, and not pay taxes
• Louis built the Palace of Versailles
o 20 km outside of Paris
o Forced Nobles to live there
o Nobles had to participate in courtly rituals
• Louis could keep an eye on Nobles
• Levee – (rising) nobles competed to hold a wash basin
for Louis in the morning.
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A. Reigning in of Nobility
• Replaced Nobles with Intendants
o Nobles were loyal to the Nobility
o Intendants – officials loyal to Louis XIV
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B. Religion
• Eliminating freedom of religion
o Louis cancelled the Edict of
Nantes
• Edict of Nantes (grandfather, 1598)–
allowed freedom of religion for
Hugenots (French Calvinists)
• Limits on the power of the
Catholic Church
o Declaration of Clergy of France
• Limited the Pope’s power in France,
Louis had authority
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C. Military
• Historically, French Nobles served as
generals
o Often challenged the king
• Louis built a strong centralized military loyal
only to him.
o Nobles OUT
o Administrators IN
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D. Economy
• Louis arrested the old
finance minister
o Accusation of
Embezzlement
• Gave the post to a
trusted ally
o Jean Baptiste Colbert
• Practiced Mercantilism
• Made France rich!!!
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E. Law
• Historically, France was ruled by several
different codes of law
o Feudal past
• Louis instituted the Code Louis
o Centralized, uniform code of law for all of France
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II. Expansion
A. Wars in Europe
B. Expansion in the Americas
C. Foreign Diplomacy
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A. Wars in Europe
• Louis expanded French territory
through several wars
o Franco-Dutch War
• Gained lands in the Netherlands
o (from Spain)
• France remained as the Great Power
o War of the Grand Alliance
• Everyone vs. France
• Louis XIV gains Alsace Region
o Half of the Alsace-Lorraine Region
o War of Spanish Succession
• Ultimately unsuccessful attempt to take over
Spanish territories
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• Alsace-Lorriane – Region which
France and Germanic Empires
constantly fought over
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B. Expansion in the Americas
• Robert de La Salle
explored:
o Gulf of Mexico,
o Mississippi River,
o Great Lakes
• Entire Mississippi River
Basin claimed by
France
o Named?
o Louisiana – After Louis XIV
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C. Foreign Diplomacy
• Opened diplomacy with
the Ottomans
o Trade
• Found Pondicherry in
India
• Missionaries in China
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III. Glory & Spending
A. Lavish Lifestyle and Spending
o Diamond encrusted shoes
o Expensive parties daily
B. Palace of Versailles
o 20 year construction
o Regarded as the most
magnificent palace in Europe
o Symbol of the Wealth and
absolute power of the “Sun King”
• Also a symbol of the monarchy’s
alienation from the people
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Queen’s Chamber
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King’s Chamber
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Hall of Mirrors
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Hall of Mirrors (2)
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Outline
• I. Centralization of Power
• II. Expansion
• III. Glory & Spending
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Conclusion
Pros
Cons
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Videos
• Rap
o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWlqQb8GJ
oI
• Etiquette
o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgiZj34vGb4
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