Absolute Monarchs of France

1
Absolute Monarchs of France

• How was the French Monarchy weakened by Louis XIV?

2
Richelieu Strengthens the Monarchy

• Louis XIII, of the Bourbon family was a weak
  king

• Louis appoints a Cardinal Richelieu to help
  him rule

• Richelieus goal is to strengthen the Bourbon
  monarchy expand Frances Empire

• Richelieu, a Catholic, will side with German
  Protestant Princes against Ferdinand Hapsburg in
  30 Years War

• France German Princes win 30 Years War,
  France takes land from Hapsburgs

• When Louis XIII dies, his son Louis XIV became
  King

• Louis XIV will benefit from a strengthened
  monarchy

3
The Sun Kings Disastrous Wars

• Louis XIV was known as the Sun King
• Builds Frances wealth thru Canadian fur trade
• Louis XIV wants to expand Frances territory
• Louis invades the Netherlands
• Stopped by Englands King William of Orange
• 2. King of Spain dies with no heir
• Louis Spanish nobles try to put his grandson
  on the throne
• Starts War of Spanish Succession
• France/Spain lose. England gets Spains
  Gibraltar control of Spains slave trade
• 3. France weakened by wars and in heavy debt
• After Sun Kings death Louis XV will lose
  Frances Canadian territory to England in the
  Seven Years War

4
Frances Debt under Louis XIV
2 B
1.2 B
650K
450K
400K
400K
200K

• Add these questions to the reading guide
  worksheet
• 3. What year did France have the lowest debt?
• 4. How much debt would France owe in US Dollars
  (1715)?

1683
22 billion