French Absolutism, a political system granting the king total authority, emerged from the chaos of the 16th-century religious wars. It reached its zenith under Louis XIV, the 'Sun King', and was influenced by thinkers like Jean Bodin. Cardinal Richelieu and Jean-Baptiste Colbert played crucial roles in consolidating royal power and economic strategies. However, the system's decline set the stage for the French Revolution.
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Absolutism in France was a political system in which the king held total authority over the government and its subjects
Definition of Divine Right of Kings
The Divine Right of Kings was the belief that monarchs were appointed by God and deserved complete obedience
Influence of Divine Right of Kings on Absolutism
The belief in the Divine Right of Kings was used to justify the centralized power of the French monarchy
French absolutism evolved over several centuries, with its formal establishment in the 17th century and decline in the 18th century
Thinkers like Jean Bodin shaped the theoretical framework of French absolutism, arguing for the necessity of sovereign authority
Bodin's conception of sovereignty included a monarch who acted as a paternal guardian over his subjects, balancing absolute power with the responsibility to protect their welfare
Bodin also warned against the potential abuses of monarchical power, emphasizing the importance of respecting property rights
Cardinal Richelieu played a pivotal role in strengthening the French monarchy's domestic and international authority
Louis XIV, known as the 'Sun King,' is often regarded as the epitome of absolutist rule in France
Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Louis XIV's finance minister, implemented economic policies crucial for the state's financial health
The financial burdens of expensive wars and aiding the American Revolution contributed to the decline of French absolutism
Disputes between the Parlement and the crown over taxation and governance eroded the monarchy's control
The French Revolution ultimately dismantled the absolutist regime in France
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Nature of French Absolutism
King's total authority over government and subjects, no checks on power.
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Divine Right of Kings
Doctrine that monarchs are appointed by God, justifying absolute obedience.
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Henry IV's Contribution to Absolutism
Centralized authority, improved governance and economy post-religious wars.
