17th Century Crisis and Rebuilding; Absolutism in France and Spain

1. M A G I S T E R R I C A R D
A P E U R O
1 7 T H C E N T U R Y C R I S I S A N D R E B U I L D I N G A N D
A B S O L U T I S M I N F R A N C E A N D S P A I N
CH 16: Absolutism and
Constitutionalism in Western
Europe (1589-1715)

2. Questions to Consider
 How absolute were the absolute monarchs?
 To what extent did absolute and constitutional
monarchs use different methods to achieve similar
ends?
 What are the conditions that promoted the rise of
absolutism in France and constitutionalism in
England?

3. C H A P T E R 1 6 : A B S O L U T I S M A N D
C O N S T I T U T I O N A L I S M I N W E S T E R N E U R O P E
( 1 5 8 9 - 1 7 1 5 )
17th Century Crisis and
Rebuilding

4. Economic and Demographic Crisis
 Vast majority of 17th century Europeans lived in rural
settings
 Bread was the primary element of diet
 Rural societies lived on edge of subsistence
 Poor weather conditions further stressed agriculture
and industry
 Peasants and urban poor suffered most from bad
harvests and economic depression

5. 17th Century State Building
Common Obstacles and Achievements
 Both constitutional and absolutist monarchs
attempted to:
 Protect and expand frontiers
 Raise new taxes
 Consolidate state control
 State building faced considerable obstacles
 Privileged groups (nobility) resisted centralization of European
monarchies
 Most states succeeded, achieving new levels of
central control
 Larger, more powerful states required new sources of revenue

6. Warfare and the Growth of Army Size
 Driving force behind 17th century expansion was
warfare
 Armies grew larger, more professional, and more expensive
 War becomes a source of revenue

7. Popular Political Action
 Popular revolts (populus) were common in England,
France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy during 17th century
 In France, so common it became accepted as a fact of life
 Authorities were often unable to overcome popular
revolts, did not have the means
 By the end of the 17th century, states were better able to handle
revolts and popular discontent

8. C H A P T E R 1 6 : A B S O L U T I S M A N D
C O N S T I T U T I O N A L I S M I N W E S T E R N E U R O P E
( 1 5 8 9 - 1 7 1 5 )
Absolutism in France and Spain

9. Foundations of French Absolutism:
Henry IV, Sully, and Richelieu
 Henry IV lowered taxes on peasants
 His chief minister, Sully, streamlined tax collection
 As economy grew, tax revenue increased
 In 1598, Henry IV issues Edict of Nantes
 Henry is assassinated in 1610
 Marie de Medici (queen) rules until Louis XIII comes of age
 Appointed Cardinal Richelieu in 1624

10. Foundations of French Absolutism:
Henry IV, Sully, and Richelieu
 Cardinal Richelieu appointed to council of ministers
in 1628 (Louis XIII r. 1610-1643)
 Richelieu curbed power of the nobility
 Reshuffled royal council
 Leveled castles
 Executed conspirators against the king
 Divided France into 30 generalites, each overseen by
one intendant

11. Foundations of French Absolutism:
Henry IV, Sully, and Richelieu
 Intendants were beholden to the king
 Appointed from newer nobility of the robe (not older nobility
of the sword)
 Recruited soldiers
 Supervised tax collection
 Kept an eye on local nobility
 Administered local law
 Regulated economic activity

12. Foundations of French Absolutism:
Henry IV, Sully, and Richelieu
 In 1627, Louis XIII ended Protestant independence
 Revoking the Edict of Nantes
 During later 17th century urban revolts increase over
high taxation
 After deaths of Louis XIII and Richelieu, Mazarin
provokes aristocratic rebellion known as Fronde
(1648-1653)
 The Fronde convince Louis XIV only alternative to
anarchy is absolute monarchy

13. Louis XIV and Absolutism
 Secures the collaboration of nobility in projects that
increased his prestige and theirs
 Royal court at Versailles becomes a tool for state
policy
 Overawes subjects and dignitaries
 Becomes copied by other monarchs
 French language and culture become prestigious and
fashionable all over Europe

14. Louis XIV and Absolutism
 Louis XIV used court ceremonies, entertainment,
spies, and informers to reduce the power of nobility
 In 1685 formally revokes Edict of Nantes
 Views it as an affront to his power
 French monarch never intended religious toleration to be
permanent
 Religious liberty not a popular policy
 Had a negative impact on economy and foreign affairs
 Staffs administration with members of nobility of the
robe and upper middle class
 Shows Louis XIV will not share power

15. Financial and Economic Management
Under Louis XIV: Colbert
 Financial problems weakened Louis XIV’s
administration
 Tax revenues fell short of needs (deficit)
 Tax exemptions for nobility/elites placed burden on peasants
 Chief financial minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, used
subsidies for domestic industries, tariffs, and policies
to attract foreign artisans
 Makes France self-sufficient and boosts French exports
(mercantilism)
 Expands French navy, merchant marine, promotes
colonization in North America

16. Louis XIV’s Wars
 France was at war 33 of 54 years of his reign
 Developed large and efficient military which
answered to him directly
 Grabbed new territory in the Low Countries and
Lorraine before running out of steam in 1680s
 High taxes and bad weather lead to mass starvation
in areas of France (1688-1694)

17. Louis XIV’s Wars
 King Charles II of Spain dies in 1700
 Spanish throne passes to Louis XIV’s grandson
 England, Holland, Austria, and Prussia unite against
France to preserve European balance of power
 Need to check French expansion in the Americas, Asia, and
Africa
 Knows as the War of the Spanish Succession
 Ends in 1713 with Peace of Utrecht
 Checks France, finishes Spain as a great power, expands
English overseas empire

18. Decline of Absolutist Spain
 Absolutism in Spain precedes France’s
 During the 1500’s Castile develops characteristics of absolute
monarchy
 Gold and silver from Americas basis for Spanish power
 By 1715, Spain was a 2nd rate power
 Agricultural crisis
 Population decline
 Lack of a middle class, brought about by expulsion of Jews and
Muslims
 Lack of investment in productive enterprises

19. Colonial Administration
 How was Spain able to rule a vast empire in the
Americas?
 New World territories divided into 4 viceroyalties
 Charles III (r. 1759-1788) introduced system of
intendants
 Spanish policies based on mercantilism
 Portuguese governed Brazil in a similar fashion