1. Louis XIII, Louis XIV, & Louis XV

2. Louis XIII • Henry IV assassinated in 1610, son, Louis (XIII) took the throne at age 8 • Mother, Marie de Medici (intense Italian Catholic), and Cardinal Richelieu were regents • Marie and Richelieu disagreed on many things, leading to brief civil wars, power struggles, and Marie's eventual exile. • Richelieu was pro-Catholic and very pro-France

3. Louis XIV • Became king at age 5, mother (Anne of Austria) and Cardinal Mazarin were regents • Dealt with rebellious nobles in the frondes • 1652—Louis (and Mazarin) put down the frondes • 1661—Mazarin died, Louis took over in reality • Beginning of the Sun King

4. Versailles • Designed to show Louis’ greatness; the king was the heart of France • Elaborate decoration (Hall of Mirrors) and gardens (fountains, statues) • Became the center of court life (no longer Paris) • Louis made the nobles come to Versailles and instituted elaborate court rituals

5. Absolutist Policy • Agenda mostly included making war and peace, the regulation of religion, and the oversight of economic activity • New nobility of lawyers and administrators—owed their titles to Louis, not family lineage • Lettre de cachet—could send anyone to prison for any reason, without trial • 1st and 2nd estates did not pay taxes, led to tax riots • often conferred with councils and the regional judicial bodies called the parlements • Famine; freezing winter 1709

6. Louis XIV and Religion • Repression of Jansenists • 1685—revoked the Edict of Nantes • Protestant pastors had 15 days to leave the country; many Huguenots left in response—economic loss for France • “One King, one law, one faith.” • Why did Louis XIV oppose religious toleration? What connection did he make between religious unity and political unity?

7. Louis XV • Grandson to XIV (age 5 at ascension in 1715) • Had regents until 1726 • Seen as lazy and frivolous • Spent $ on court life and wars, increased the national debt • Mississippi Bubble disaster—currency doubted • Attempts at tax reform were squashed by nobles (who hadn’t been paying taxes for a long time, and had become generally lulled by the court of Louis XIV) • Renewed the authority of the parlements…mistake??