The Valois and Bourbon dynasties shaped France's transition to a powerful, centralized monarchy. From to , French kings expanded royal authority, weakened the nobility, and pursued territorial expansion through wars and alliances.
Religious conflicts, like the , challenged royal power. But monarchs like found solutions, such as the , to restore peace and strengthen their rule. This set the stage for under Louis XIV.
French Monarchs
Strengthening Royal Authority
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Louis XI (r. 1461-1483) consolidated royal power by weakening the influence of the nobility, expanding the royal domain, and centralizing the administration of the kingdom
(r. 1515-1547) was a Renaissance monarch who patronized the arts and learning, waged wars against the , and formed alliances with the Ottoman Empire
Henry IV (r. 1589-1610), the first Bourbon king, ended the Wars of Religion by issuing the Edict of Nantes (1598), which granted religious toleration to the Huguenots
Louis XIV (r. 1643-1715), known as the "Sun King," epitomized absolute monarchy, asserting his divine right to rule and centralizing power in the monarchy
Territorial Expansion and Conflict
Francis I engaged in a series of wars with the Habsburg Empire, led by , over control of territories in Italy ()
Henry IV annexed the territories of Béarn and Navarre, strengthening the French monarchy's control over the southwest of France
Louis XIV pursued an aggressive foreign policy, engaging in wars such as the (1667-1668), the (1672-1678), and the (1701-1714) to expand French territory and influence in Europe
Religious Conflict and Resolution
French Wars of Religion (1562-1598)
Series of civil wars between Catholics and Protestants (Huguenots) in France during the 16th century
Conflicts were political as well as religious, with noble families vying for power and influence
Major events included the (1572), where thousands of Huguenots were killed in Paris and other cities
The wars ended with the ascension of Henry IV, a former Huguenot who converted to Catholicism, to the French throne
Edict of Nantes (1598)
Issued by Henry IV to end the French Wars of Religion and grant religious toleration to the Huguenots
Allowed Huguenots to practice their religion freely in certain areas of France and gave them equal civil rights with Catholics
Established a period of relative religious peace in France until its revocation by Louis XIV in 1685 (Edict of Fontainebleau)
Centralization of Power
Key Figures in Centralization
, chief minister to (r. 1610-1643), worked to centralize power in the monarchy by weakening the nobility, suppressing Huguenot political power, and involving France in the (1618-1648)
Louis XIV further centralized power by ruling as an absolute monarch, asserting his divine right to rule, and reducing the influence of the nobility and the Parlement of Paris
Administrative Reforms
The , developed under Richelieu and expanded under Louis XIV, placed royal officials (intendants) in the provinces to oversee local administration, collect taxes, and enforce royal edicts
Intendants were drawn from the non-noble classes and were directly accountable to the monarch, helping to centralize power and weaken the influence of the nobility
Versailles Palace
Louis XIV transformed the hunting lodge at Versailles into a grand palace, which became the center of political power and court life in France
The palace served as a symbol of the monarchy's wealth and power, and its elaborate court ceremonies and etiquette helped to control and subordinate the nobility
Requiring nobles to spend time at Versailles, away from their estates, reduced their ability to challenge royal authority in the provinces