Absolute Monarchs of France

How was the French Monarchy weakened by Louis XIV?

• After the death of his father, Henry IV, Louis XIII became king

• Louis XIII, a Bourbon, was a weak king

• So Louis appoints a Catholic Cardinal to help him rule

• Richelieu would have more power than the king

• Richelieu’s goal is to strengthen the Bourbon family’s monarchy & expand France’s Empire

• Richelieu will side with German Protestant Princes against the powerful Hapsburg Family in 30 Years War

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

• Louis XIV was a strong ruler and benefited from the way Richelieu strengthened the monarchy

• France & German Princes win 30 Years War, France gains new territory from defeated Hapsburgs

The Sun King’s Disastrous Wars

• Louis XIV was also known as the “Sun King”

• Louis XIV builds France’s wealth through the fur trade

• Louis XIV will try to expand France’s territory

• Louis ties to invade the Netherlands

• He is stopped by England’s King William of Orange

• France & Spain try to unite thrones, King of Spain dies with no heir

• Louis tries to install his grandson as King of Spain

• Six countries unite to fight France in the War of Spanish Succession

• England was the big winner gaining the territory of Gibraltar & control of Spain’s slave trade

• Overall, Louis XIV would leave France in debt and with less power

• After his death, his son Louis XV will lose France’s Canadian territory to England in the Seven Years War

France’s Debt under Louis XIV

One Livre = $11 US Dollars

0

500,000,000

1,000,000,000

1,500,000,000

2,000,000,000

2,500,000,000

1643 1648 1661 1683 1699 1708 1715

Livres

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)?