France Administration after c. 1450
Government
Absolute
Kings: Henry IV (1589-1610), Louis XIII (1610-1643), Louis XIV - A.K.A. Sun King or Louis The Great (1643-1715)
Only source of power was king, who had complete authority (During 17-18th centuries)
Louis XIV (1643-1715):
- Made justice system and law making through his power
- Kept nobles close to him so they wouldn't act independently or plot against him
- Moved French government to his palace in Versailles
- Extended eastern borders
Cardinal Richelieu
Minister of Louis XIII
moved toward greater centralization of government and development of intendants
Intendants
Royal officials (bureaucratic elites) sent to provinces to execute the orders of the central government
Called "Tax Farmers" because they oversaw the collection of various taxes in support of the royal governments
Economy
Tax Farming
Tax Farmers were intendants
Tax farming: tax collection, by intendants, from provinces under France
Culture/Society
Palace at Versailles
Legitimized power and glory of Louis XIV because the palace was so grand
Nobles stayed here - to prevent them from starting a rebellion in their home provinces
Louis XIV commanded the building of this palace
Could accommodate hundreds of guests and about a 1,000 employees worked in the palace or on the grounds of it
Extremely spacious and elegant
Vocabulary
Divine Right of Kings
A common claim that the right to rule was given to a king by God
Absolute
Directed by one source of power
Cardinal Richelieu
Minister of Louis XIII that helped greaten centralization of the government and development of the system of intendants
Intendants
royal officials sent to provinces to execute the orders of the central government
Tax Farmers
Intendants
Louis XIV
Sun King or Louis the Great
King of France from 1643 - 1715
Versailles
Louis XIV's Palace at Versallies