Lesson 1: Louis XIV and The Ancien Regime

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Louis XIV and the Ancien Regime

The Age of Wigs and Revolutions (1700- 1800)

In the foreground you can see a guillotine, this was a device invented to make beheadings more hygienic and painless/human. The French king Louis XVI and his wife were beheaded by such a device. Later, all kinds of enemies of the revolution were beheaded with it. In the background you can see someone taking an oath. A key moment during the French Revolution in which it was sworn to write a new constitution limiting the absolute power of the king.

Lesson goal

At the end of the lesson you can tell how Louis XIV governed France and what the life of the French people was like during the reign of absolute monarchs.

Questions

1. Who was Louis XVI and what was his nickname?

2. Louis was in charge on his own. What do you call this power?

3. How did Louis think about the nobility? How did this come about?

4. What was the name of Louis XIV's palace?

5. Why did Louis XIV surround himself with the nobility?

6. What was the name of the minister of finance and economic affairs? What did he do to fill the treasury?

7. Who had to pay for everything in France?

npo.nl

1. Who was Louis XVI and what was his nickname?

2. Louis was in charge on his own. What do you call this power?

3. How did Louis think about the nobility? How did this come about?

4. What was the name of Louis XIV's palace?

5. Why did Louis XIV surround himself with the nobility?

6. What was the name of the minister of finance and economic affairs? What did he do to fill the treasury?

7. Who had to pay for everything in France?

L'État, c'est Moi

• The king's will is law. This is called absolutism: The king is accountable only to god and to no one else.... 
• Louis XIV was a French king with asolute power. 

• This power was given by god: droit divin (divine law)

• Thus, no one need doubt the king either

The Sun King

• Louis did not trust the nobility, he had a large palace built at Versailles where he gathered the nobility around him to keep an eye on them.
• People who did not follow the king's rules risked getting a lettre de Cachet 

• Had everyone adress him as 'the Sun King' > erverything revolved about Louis.

• Louis wanted everyone to be Catholic -> banned the Edict of Nantes -> many Hugenots fled to Germany and Amsterdam.

https://youtu.be/X235vpOToVU

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Colbert

Finance minister, wanted to:

1. French people to earn more money = increased tax revenues. -> encourage trade, discourage foreign import.
2. make collection of taxes more efficient, more money in state treasury. -> reviewed which titles were exempted form taxation + banned the sale of noble titles.

Colbert achieved his goals, but the king spend the additional income.

effects of Louis' reign

Upsides:

• taken power away from the nobility
• made collection of taxes more efficient
• modernized economy
• trendsetter in art and culture for other rulers.

Downsides:

• Ordinary people had to pay high taxation.
• Homes and estates were looted by travelling soldiers. 

Society of estates

• Since the Middle Ages, French society had been divided into 3 classes: ‘prayers, fighters and workers’

• This division could not be doubted: God had willed it.

The first estate

• Clergy: the people of the church.

• Task: soul salvation of their flock.

• Exempt from taxation

•  large landowners

The second estate

• The nobles: the people of nobility. 
• Task: Administration + Protection (army) 
• Exempt from taxes (we already bleed on the battlefield...)

• The king did not trust them.

The third estate

• The farmers and the citizens/the rest.

•  In the 3rd estate, great differences. 

rich bourgeoisie, the bourgeoisie. These were people with their own business or a degree.

• The 3rd class had all the duties: for example, they did have to pay taxes.

How did Louis governed France as a monarch?

Why did Louis surround himself with nobles?

What effects did Louis' reign had on France?

Who was responsible for the paying of taxes before the French revolution?

What do we mean with the first estate?

1. Nobles
2. Clergy
3. Citizens and farmers

What do we mean with the second estate?

1. Nobles
2. Clergy
3. Citizens and farmers

What do we mean with the third estate?

1. Nobles
2. Clergy
3. Citizens and farmers