Louis XIV did not crush the nobility but instead incorporated them into his centralized state. The Evidence Henry IV parlements intendants corvee Louis XIII Cardinal Richelieu Cardinal Mazarin Fronde Bishop Bossuet Versailles Jean-Baptiste Colbert taille mercantilism Revocation of the Edict of Nantes Bossuet’s theory of divine right of kings led Louis XIV to declare “I am the state”. Building of Versailles to impress nobles and foreigners Use of intendants to manage state affairs and spies to control the nobles The promotion of members of the bourgeoisie to important roles in the state and sometimes to titles of nobility The selling of noble titles, which reduced their value Revocation of the Edict of Nantes and enforcement of religious uniformity Not calling the Estates General even once in his long reign, thereby depriving the nobility of their political platform Creating an elaborate patronage system at Versailles Use of art, architecture, and literature to enhance the prestige of the royal court Successfully expanding France’s borders to their natural limits Expanding the army Creating a national language through the French Academy Jean-Baptiste Colbert’s mercantilism increased the national wealth and improved royal finances