History of the Ancient and Medieval World

Walsingham AcademyMrs. McArthur

Room 111

Staging AbsolutismLouis XIV and Versailles

The Renaissance

The VoyagesOf Discovery

The Reformation

The Scientific Revolution

The New Monarchies

Emerging Nation States Foundation of Modern Europe

The New Monarchies• Machiavelli’s view of the successful ruler

– The prince: agent of change in state formation

– The need for unity, security and prosperity

• “How to” model: Absolutism emerges on continent

The monarch must break feudal ties to past

• What to look for in the successful state

The New Monarchies (cont.)

• Church and nobility subordinated to monarch

• Bureaucracy to supervise royal policies

• Royal system of justice

• Royal monopoly on military power

• Dependable and adequate source of income

Winners and losers in the modern Europe

Winners and LosersExplain

Winners LosersAustria Poland

Prussia Holy Roman Empire

Russia Ottoman Empire

Sweden

Impact of Reformation A tale of 3 countries (review)

• England– Act of Supremacy (1534)– Elizabethan Settlement

• Holy Roman Empire– Thirty Years’ War– Peace of Westphalia (1648)– Rise of Prussia & Austria

• France– Civil War– Edict of Nantes (1598)

St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre: 1572

France in the 16th Century• Francis I (Renaissance arrives, along with Leonardo)

• Henry II (Diane de Poitiers vs. Catherine de Medici)• Killed in a tournament, power vacuum • 3 weak sons wrestle for control with “help” from mom

• Civil War• St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre• 3 Henrys• Henry IV converts (“Paris is worth a mass!” - Paris vaut bien une

messe.)

• Edict of Nantes (1598)• Document of Religious Toleration (Band-Aid)• State trumps Religion (Politique)

St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre by Francois Dubois

How does the knowledge that this painting was created by an eyewitness add to its credibility

as a historical document?

France: Model Absolutist State The Great Monarchs

• Henry IV with Sully (1589-1610)

• Louis XIII with Richelieu (1610-1643)

• Louis XIV with Mazarin and then sole rule (1643-1715)

Cardinal Richelieu

The ChallengesRebuilding France after disastrous religious civil war of 16th century: (Henry IV and Sully))

“a chicken in every pot”

“Cultivation and pasturage are the mother’s milk of France.”

Centralizing and expanding government functions: civil service (including tax collection,) justice, military.

Breaking feudal ties to extend royal power

Forging a French cultural identity; replacing regional loyalties with national ones: language, religion.

Revocation of Edict of Nantes, 1685

“One King, One Law, One Faith”

Creating an ideological basis for royal absolute rule: “Princes are gods.” (Bossuet articulates “Divine Right” view of Kingship)

“I am the State.” (Louis XIV)

How does this transparency illustrate the central role that Louis XIV played?

How did Versailles help Louis achieve this goal?

L’état, c’est moi.

Life at VersaillesWhy did Louis structure life at Versailles around

rituals and extravagant events?

Versailles: “Theater of Power”

All nobles required to spend time there. The palace housed royal family and their 5,000 servants, 1,000 nobles

and their 4,000 servants. (9,000 soldiers as well as thousands more artisans and civil servants lived in the town.)

Selected nobles allowed to participate in the carefully-orchestrated rituals intended to manipulate and control.

Demonstration of the power and benevolence of the monarch Display legitimizes the monarch’s power while underlining the oneness

with God and the State.

Civil Servants run an increasingly bureaucratic state.

Virtual Tour http://www.chateauversailles.fr/homepage

Go to Versailles’ official site: 1. Choose The Palace tab and answer the questions in the

Notes View.2. View the Slide Show. Answer the questions3. Choose The History tab at top on site and go to the tab

entitled The Courtiers. Answer the questions.4. Still in the History tab, Choose The Court Characters at

the top of screen. Choose the era of Louis XIV. List the key individuals of his age. Write what you think are key facts that identify each. Be sure to explain why each is considered to be important.

French AbsolutismSuccesses Failures

Images

of Absolutism

Louis’ signature

Louisas Roman Emperor

Assignment 1: due Tues., 5/21

•Read text, pp 510-512

•Identify new terms

•Answer 2 Checkpoint Questions

•Answer caption questions

"Louis XIV, 1673," by Pierre Mignard. representing Louis in terms of martial

and classical glory.

Assignment 2: due Wed., 5/22

•Read text, pp 512-514

•Identify new terms

•Answer 2 Checkpoint Questions

•Answer Infographic questions

"Louis XIV, 1673," by Pierre Mignard. representing Louis in terms of martial

and classical glory.

Assignment 3: due Thurs., 5/23

Review

3 PPs on SPA1.English Constitutionalism

2.Absolutism in Central Europe

3.Versailles

Louis as the sun(See NotesPage)

Assignment 4: due Fri. 5/24

• SCA performances (Fri.)

Expansion of FranceFrom Renaissance to Revolution

No Homework This Weekend: Enjoy Your Memorial Day Holiday!