3.3 ABSOLUTISM

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• Leerjaar 2

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6. The Time of Regents and Monarchs

3.3 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 

3.3 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).
   

some people today would really love to be an absolute king.....

MERCANTILISM

• Comes from the word merchant / merchandise.
• Who? European countries
• What? rules about TRADE 
• 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: (copy schematic)

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Disaster Year 1672

struggle in the Republic:

orangists          vs           Anti-Orangists

Stadtholder                   Grand Pensionary

Prince of Orange            Johan de Witt

Because prince William III was still very young, most power was for the Grand Pensionary.  Johan de Witt even tried to abolish the post of Stadtholder.

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...