The Grand Monarque and the Balance of Power

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Section 4.17

• The Grand Monarque and the Balance of Power

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Questions to Consider

• What observation may be made about the
  significance of western Europe in the development
  of modern civilization since about 1650?
• What general statements may be made about the
  nature of Louis XIV rule in France and about the
  role of France in European affairs during his
  reign?
• Why did Louis (14)s foreign policy arouse the
  opposition of the rest of Europe?
• Explain the nature of the balance of power that
  was employed against Louis. Of what broad
  significance has the balance of power concept
  been in diplomatic history?

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Europe, 1648
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Introduction

• Western World 1650
• Encompassed in 500 mile area
• centered on Paris
• What makes it Western?
• secular
• modern natural science
• capitalism
• modern state
• parliamentary government
• democratic ideas
• machine industry
• earths principal center of cultural diffusion

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Why was it centered in Dutch, English, and French
territories?

• Italian Renaissance fading out
• Religious wars end in 1648
• HRE in ruins
• Spain in decline
• Commercial Revolution generating wealthy,
  educated class

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Why did France rise in status?

• Dutch small population
• England Civil Wars (1630-1689)
• Charles I
• James I
• James II
• Oliver Cromwell
• Restoration
• Glorious Revolution
• France
• Large population (19 Million)
• Resources
• Succession of good rulers
• Henry IV
• (Louis XIII) Richelieu
• Louis XIV

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The Sun King

• Long stable reign
• Comes to power in 1643 at age 5
• reigns for 72 years (1715)
• took personal direction in 1661 at age 23
• Sun King
• Grand Monarque
• More than a figurehead
• takes over the institutions created by Richelieu

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The Absolutist Paradigm

• Policies, methods of government, war, diplomacy
  become models for others to follow
• French language, clothing, thought, architecture,
  cooking etiquette are standard for Europe
• Makes France the strongest country in Europe

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Why is Spain declining so rapidly?

• Charles II comes to the throne in 1665
• Weak leadership!!!!!
• The Bewitched
• Mandibular prognathism (Hapsburg Jaw)
• genetic disorder where the lower jaw outgrows the
  upper
• tongue was enlarged and he could barley be
  understood

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Why is Spain declining so rapidly?

• Acromegaly- pituitary gland disorder
• Causes excessive growth in hands, feet, jaw,
• Imbecilic product of generations of inbreeding
• Infertility (well-known)
• On the throne until 1700
• Spain
• What Turkey was later called sick man of Europe
• Fate of Spain and its colonial holdings is
  uncertain

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Louis XIV and expansion

• Marries Charles IIs sister
• uses his position to advance Frances borders
• Annex Spanish Netherlands, Franche Comte, and
  Burgundy
• Further weakens HRE

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Louis XIV and expansion

• Moves to secure Spain under his rule
• to achieve this he takes various interests into
  his pay
• royalists in England
• including Charles II of England
• republicans in Netherlands
• Potential for universal monarchy under throne of
  France is increasing
• Response to universal monarchy is the use of
  balance of power

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Balance of Power

• condition of equilibrium in power distribution
• power is distributed among many separate states
• if one state grows too powerful, the others form
  a coalition against it
• the coalition becomes the balance
• holding the balance of power refers to the power
  one state may bring to bear by
• foreign policy become the pursuit of tipping the
  balance preserving the independence of action to
  the utmost

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Balance of Power

• the basic rule was to form alliances against any
  state threatening domination and to maintain the
  balance
• objective was preserving sovereignty rather than
  peace
• had little to do with ideologies or sympathies
  (allies supported or rejected)
• balance model was effective during period of
  large number of small and medium sized states
• later will become downfall of Europe (WWI)
• Key players of the period are Louis XIV and
  William of Orange (William III) of the Dutch
• Key event of the period is the War of the Spanish
  Succession

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