17th-18th Century France
“The Absolute Monarchy Reigns”
Louis XIII
Born 1601 - Died 1643
Reigned 1610-1643
•Father was Henry IV – the first Bourbon King
•Took throne at age 8 ½ after father’s assassination
•Mother ruled until he was 13
•November 9, 1615, at age 14, was married to a
Hapsburg Princess, Anne of Austria, daughter of King
Philip III of Spain
•Begins construction of Versailles in 1624
17th-18th Century France
“The Absolute Monarchy Reigns”
Louis XIV
“The Sun King”
Born 1638 - Died 1715
Reigned 1643-1715
• Only 4 when father dies so power goes
He is known
as The Sun
King (in French,
“Le Roiadvisor
Soleil”)
to Cardinal
Richelieu
(had been
because it was thought that, just as the planets revolve
Louis
XIII
aroundtothe
Sun, so
toosince
should 1624)
France and the Court
revolve around him.
17th-18th Century France
“The Absolute Monarchy Reigns”
•When Richelieu dies, power passed to
Cardinal Mazarin until his death in 1661
•Cardinals led France to prominence in
Europe (especially Richelieu)
•Louis XIV crowned King in 1661 (23 years
old) and marries Maria Teresa – Infanta of
Spain
17th-18th Century France
“The Absolute Monarchy Reigns”
• Voltaire refers to Louis XIV as “L’etate, c’est moi” – “I
am the State”
• This sums up Louis’ view on absolutism
• Louis takes total control of government, isolated and
controlled the nobility by moving them to Versailles in
1682
• Life for nobility was an endless succession of
meaningless social rituals centered on honors
bestowed by the king
VERSAILLES
VERSAILLES
17th-18th Century France
“The Absolute Monarchy Reigns”
• Still depended upon advisors, but they no
longer came automatically from the
nobility – rather, he selected wellqualified people
• Went to war four times from 1667-1715
• Depleted treasury
• Levied even more taxes on an already poor
citizenry (except nobility)
17th-18th Century France
“The Absolute Monarchy Reigns”
 Louis XV
•
•
•
•
 Born 1710 - Died 1774
 Reigned 1715 – 1774
Great-grandson of Louis XIV
Came to throne at age five, married to Maria Leczinska
at age 15, father at age 16
VERY inept leader
Three wars gained some territory from Poland, but lost
North America to Great Britain
17th-18th Century France
“The Absolute Monarchy Reigns”
 Louis XVI
•
•
•
•
 Born 1754 - Died 1793
 Reigned 1774 – 1793
Grandson of Louis XV
VERY incompetent, dull-minded, weak ruler – lacked
leadership skills and decision-making capabilities
Didn’t really want to rule, forced to when Louis XV dies
Power greatly limited after 1789 revolution –
Constitutional Monarchy (really just a figurehead)
17th-18th Century France
“The Absolute Monarchy Reigns”
Louis XVI
• Married to Marie Antoinette of Austria (in some ways she
was more of a leader than he was)
• Both were executed after the revolution, during the
Reign of Terror
17th-18th Century France
“The Absolute Monarchy Ends”
1793-1794 The Jacobins Rule under Robespierre
* executed July 28, 1794
1794-1799 The Directory (National Convention)
1799-1815 Napolean Bonaparte