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Age of Absolutism/France Under Louis XIV

Terms in this set (26)

Absolute Monarch
A ruler with complete authority over the government and the lives of the people.
Divine Right
A ruler's belief that his authority to rule came directly from God.
Intendant
Royal officials who collected taxes, recruited soldiers, and carried out Louis XIV's policies in the provinces.
Levee
Morning ritual during which nobles would wait upon King Louis XIV
Balance of Power
Distribution of military and economic power that prevents any one nation from becoming too strong.
Miguel de Cervantes (Don Quixote)
He wrote Don Quixote, which was the first modern novel in Europe. It pokes fun at medieval tales of chivalry.
Diego Velazquez
A court painter to King Philip IV who was influenced by El Greco. Velazquez is best known for his vivid portraits of Spanish royalty.
Suleiman
Ruler of the Ottoman empire. Under Suleiman, Ottoman forces advanced across central Europe to the walls of Vienna, Austria.
Hapsburgs
An Austrian empire that included the Holy Roman Empire and the Netherlands and was ruled by Charles V. The Hapsburg Empire was too scattered and diverse for any one person to rule. Exhausted and disillusioned, Charles V gave up his titles and entered a monastery in 1556. He divided the Hapsburg empire leaving the Hapsburg lands in central Europe to his brothers.
Siglo De Oro
Spain's golden age; it was called this because of the brilliance of its arts and literature. Philip II was a patron of the arts and also founded academies of science and mathematics.
El Greco
His name means "the Greek." Born on the Greek island of Crete, El Greco had studied in Renaissance Italy before settling in Spain. He produced haunting religious pictures, dramatic views of the city of Toledo, and striking portraits of Spanish nobles, done in a dramatically elongated style.
Spanish Armada
Fleet of ships prepared by Philip to carry a Spanish invasion force to England. In 1588 the Armada sailed with more that 130 ships, 20,000 men, and 2,400 pieces of artillery. The Spanish, although confident, lost against the English due to "bad weather."
Philip II of Spain
He ruled the wealthiest, most powerful nation in Europe. Devoted to his family and to the Catholic Church, Philip could also be ruthless toward his enemies.
Francis Drake
A Sea Dog who looted Spanish cities in the Americas
Louis XIV
"The Sun King." He reigned for 72 years. Starting in 1661, after Mazarin died, Louis resolved to take over the government himself. He was a believer in the divine right and looked at the sun as the symbol of his absolute power. He loved luxury and built the Palace of Versailles in part to show off the wealth and power he had.
Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre
The day where Huguenot and Catholic nobles gathered to celebrate a royal wedding and violence erupted that led to the massacre of 3,000 Huguenots. In the days following, thousands more were slaughtered. This day symbolized the complete breakdown of order in France.
Edict of Nantes
Was issued by Henry IV in 1598 to protect the Protestants in France. The edict granted Huguenots religious toleration and let them fortify their own towns and cities.
Fronde
The nobles, merchants, peasants, and the urban poor rebelled—each group for its own reasons. This uprising occurred soon after Louis XIV became king. On one occasion, rioters drove the king from his palace which was an experience Louis XIV never forgot.
Cardinal Armand Richelieu
When Henry IV was assassinated in 1610, his nine year old son Louis XIII inherited the throne. In 1624, Louis appointed Richelieu as his chief minister. Richelieu spent 18 years strengthening the central government. Richelieu picked his successor Cardinal Jules Mazarin.
Cardinal Jules Mazarin
Was picked by Cardinal Armand Richelieu. He served as chief minister when Louis XIV inherited the throne at the age of five in 1643. He worked tirelessly to extend the royal power of France.
"L'etat, c'est moi"
Translates to "I am the state." Louis XIV was often quoted saying this.
Etates General
The medieval council made up of representatives of all French social classes. The Etates General did not meet between 1614 and 1789. They played no role in checking royal power.
Jean Baptiste Colbert
Finance minister to Louis XIV. He followed mercantilist policies to bolster the economy. He had new lands cleared for farming, encouraged mining and other basic industries, and built up luxury trades such as lace making. He also put high tariffs on imported goods.
Palace of Versailles
In the country side of Paris, Louis XIV tuned his royal hunting lodge into the grand palace of Versailles. Versailles became the symbol of the Sun King's wealth and power. It was the king's home and also the seat of the government, which housed about 10,000 people, many of which were nobles, officials, and servants.
Moliere
An actor and playwright who wrote comedies such as The Miser, which poked fun at French society.
Ballet
A new form of dance drama that gained its popularity in the French court.
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