Podcast
Questions and Answers
How did Louis XIV consolidate power within France?
How did Louis XIV consolidate power within France?
- By establishing a parliament to represent the interests of the people and nobles.
- By abolishing the system of intendants, thereby reducing the reach of the central government.
- By constructing the Palace of Versailles and compelling nobles to reside there, limiting their independent influence. (correct)
- By decentralizing governmental functions to empower regional authorities.
What was the significance of the intendants in the French governmental structure under rulers like Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu?
What was the significance of the intendants in the French governmental structure under rulers like Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu?
- They were royal officials dispatched to the provinces to enforce the central government’s policies, including tax collection. (correct)
- They acted as independent judges, separate from royal influence, resolving disputes between the monarchy and the people.
- They were regional representatives elected by the local populace.
- They served primarily as ceremonial figures with no real administrative power.
Which statement best describes the political philosophy underpinning French Absolutism during the reigns of leaders such as Henry IV and Louis XIV?
Which statement best describes the political philosophy underpinning French Absolutism during the reigns of leaders such as Henry IV and Louis XIV?
- The government should be checked and balanced by multiple branches.
- The monarch possesses divine right, consolidating lawmaking and justice within their person. (correct)
- The king's authority is derived from a social contract with his subjects.
- Power should be distributed equally among the aristocracy and the clergy.
What long-term consequence resulted from the French monarchs' reluctance to share power, particularly during and after Louis XIV's reign?
What long-term consequence resulted from the French monarchs' reluctance to share power, particularly during and after Louis XIV's reign?
How did Cardinal Richelieu contribute to the growth of absolutism in France during the reign of Louis XIII?
How did Cardinal Richelieu contribute to the growth of absolutism in France during the reign of Louis XIII?
Flashcards
Absolutism
Absolutism
A system where the monarch has complete authority, unconstrained by laws or a constitution.
Jean Bodin
Jean Bodin
He advocated for the divine right of the monarchy, influencing French rulers.
Intendants
Intendants
Royal officials who executed the orders of the central government in the provinces, collecting taxes.
"L’etat, c’est moi"
"L’etat, c’est moi"
Signup and view all the flashcards
Versailles
Versailles
Signup and view all the flashcards
Study Notes
- In contrast to England, the French government became more absolute in the 17th and 18th centuries.
- This meant the King held complete authority.
- Henry IV of the House of Valois ruled from 1589-1610.
- Henry IV listened to his advisor Jean Bodin, who advocated the divine right of the monarchy.
- Louis XIII ruled from 1610-1643.
- Cardinal Richelieu (Louis XIII's minister) moved to greater centralization of the government.
- Richelieu developed the system of intendants, who were royal officials sent to the provinces to execute the orders of the central government.
- Intendants oversaw the collection of taxes in support of the royal governments; they were sometimes called tax farmers.
- Louis XIV, known as the Sun King, ruled from 1643-1715.
- Louis XIV espoused a theory of divine right and was a virtual dictator.
- Louis XIV's aims were to hold absolute power and expand French borders, just as Richelieu's had been.
- Louis XIV declared that he was the state: “L’etat, c’est moi.”
- Louis XIV combined the lawmaking and justice system.
- Louis XIV kept nobles close to him in his palace at Versailles, making it difficult for them to act independently.
- Louis XIV and his successors’ refusal to share power eventually weakened the French government.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
The French government became more absolute in the 17th and 18th centuries, where the King held complete authority. Key figures like Henry IV and Louis XIV, along with advisors like Cardinal Richelieu, centralized government power through divine right and systems like intendants.
