6.3 ABSOLUTISM - TEACH -

• History
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

6. The Time of Regents and Monarchs

6.3 Absolutism

+ disaster hits the Republic

Louis inherited the French throne when he was only four years old.

Louis XIV (1643 - 1715)

Louis adopted the sun symbol to show that he was God's representative on earth and that he, like the sun, was the center of the universe

the king is holy

His most famous quote

Louis XIV spent 40 years and used over 35,000 workers to build the sickest palace of all time 13 miles away from Paris in Versailles

The palace had over 700 rooms (and 1 toilet)

Louis was actually a small guy (1,62 m)

But with an enormous wig and high heels he appeared to be 2,13 m

Louis promoted red-heeled shoes as the ultimate status symbol. 

For the next century, Louis’s red shoes remained a necessary finishing touch to any noble ensemble.

Big Ego, Big Style. Now simply known as "Style Louis XIV"

The king owned over 1,000 wigs and 413 beds!

Besides his wife, he had 3 mistresses

at least 13 illegitimate children

and countless other lovers

Royal intolerance

The Catholic Sun King decided that his own faith should be the only faith. 

Code Noir

This law normalised slavery,

gave free black people less rights,

and slaves had to be baptised

France’s territory in the America was called the Louisiana Territory 

In 1803 this land was sold to the United States

Louis spent 50 years of his reign fighting wars of agression

In 1672 he invaded the Netherlands 

6.3 ABSOLUTISM

• King Louis XIV (14th) of France is the best known example of an 
• "absolute monarch"

This means that:

1. The king's power was absolute. He could make every decision without consulting anyone.
   
2. His monarchy was divine: he was made king by God to carry out the will of God (so he claimed).
   

• go to Google Maps

• search for Versailles palace

• walk around and in the palace yourself

• first one inside the "hall of mirrors" wins.....

VERSAILLES today...

MERCANTILISM

• Comes from the word merchant / merchandise.
• What? rules about TRADE 
• Who? European countries
• Why?  to make their own country rich and more powerful
• How? make sure you export (sell) more goods than you import (buy).

• The colonies play an important              role in this: 

= raw materials

= manufactured goods

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Disaster Year 1672

Two factions in the States General:

Orangists          vs           Anti-Orangists

Disaster Year 1672

orangists          vs           Anti-Orangists

Stadtholder                   Grand Pensionary

Disaster Year 1672

orangists          vs           Anti-Orangists

Stadtholder                   Grand Pensionary

(=military leader)         (= political leader)

Disaster Year 1672

orangists          vs           Anti-Orangists

Stadtholder                   Grand Pensionary

(=military leader)         (= political leader)

Prince of Orange          Johan de Witt

Disaster Year 1672

Orangists            vs         Anti-Orangists

Stadtholder                   Grand Pensionary

(=military leader)         (= political leader)

Prince of Orange          Johan de Witt

Because prince William III was still very young, most power was for the Grand Pensionary.  

Disaster Year 1672

The Republic was attacked from 3 sides:

• - the Germans came from the east
• - the British attacked from the west
  
• - the French invaded from the south
  

• Only a stadtholder (general) could save the Republic now.
  
• William III was appointed. He succesfully ended the war. Johan de Witt was murdered.
  
• The Oranges now became more important...