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Jan 1, 1559
King Henry II Dies
He left the kingdom of France to his three sons. Each ruled after eachother however all were incompitent in ruling a kindom. During this time the real power laid with their mother, Catherine de Medicis. She tried to preserve royal power by provoking a conflict between the catholics and the huguernots-french protestants. -
Period: Nov 9, 1562 to
Religious Wars
The catholics and french protestants or Huegunots fought in 8 religious wars over this time period spreading charos throughout france. -
Nov 9, 1572
St. Bartholomew's Day Massecre
This one day sparked a massive 6 day slaughter of Huegunots throught France. The massacre occurd in paris when many Huegunot nobels where there for the marriage of a Huegunot Prince, Henry of Navarre to Catherines daughter. Most of the nobels in attendance died however Henry survived. -
Prince Henry becomes Henry IV
Prince Henry was a decendent of King Louis IX. When both Catherine and her last son died, he was the heir to the throne of France. He was the first king of the Bourbon dynasty in France. As a king, he showed to be decisive, fearless in battle, and a cleaver politician. -
The Edict of Nantes
He allowed all Huegunots to live freely and peacefully in France. The decree allowed them to set up their own houses of worships in some cities. This decree was called the Edict of Nantes. -
Henry IV's Death
On this day a fanatic leaped into the royal carrage of henry and stabbed him to death. -
Louis XIII
King Louis XIII was the son of Henry IV however he was a weak ruler. Nevertheless, in 1624 he appointed a strong minister, Cardinal Richelieu,who made up for all his weaknesses. -
Cardinal Richelieu
The minister became the true ruler of France, he was a strong ruler of the catholic church who ruled by morals and ambitions. When minister he focused on his ambitions politically and took steps to increase power of the Bourbon Monarchy. He moved against the protestant church because he felt that it was an excuse to plot against the catholic king. He did not forbid them to worship but he forbade the bulding of city walls. Furthermore, he tried to lower the power of the nobels. -
Cardinal Rechelieu Continued
He increased the power of government agents from the middle class. Finally, he felt that France's greatest obsticle to becomimg the strongest empire in Europe was the Hapsburgs. So, to limit the Hapsburgs power he involved France in the 30 years war. -
King Louis XIV
When he came to power he was only 4 years of age. So, the true ruler of france was Richelieu's successor, Cardinal Mazarin. -
Cardinal Mazarin
The Cardinal's greatest achievement came with the ending of the 30 years war. -
Period: to
Anti-Mazarin Riots
Due to Mazarin strengthening the central government and increasing taxes. The nobels were not happy with this and thus rebelled. The rebellion brought disorder and violence to France. At the time the nobles threatened the young Kings life. After the riots were over king Louis XIV never forgot the fear of the threats by the nobles. Thus imploring him become a strong ruler so they could never threaten him again. -
The French State
At the time France had 20 million people. Thats four times as much as England and 10 times as much as the Dutch. Furthermore, the French army was way ahead of the other states' armies in siz, training and weaponry. -
Cardinal Mazarin's Death
A 22 year old Louis XIV took power. He limited the power of the nobles by excluding them from his counsel and increased the power of the intendants or agents of France. -
King Louis XIV Invades the Spanish Netherlands
This expansion was an effort to expand Frances boundrias. He gained 12 towns in his conquest. -
King Louis XIV Tries to take the Dutch Netherlands
This conquest was prompted by the success Louis had in his conquest of the spanish netherlands. However, the dutch saved their country by opening up channels and flooding the country side. They used this tactic a century earlier in the revolt aginst spain. -
Treaty of Nijmegen
The Treaty of Nijmegen ended the war between France and the Dutch. It gave france several towns and a region called Franche-Comete. -
Period: to
Europeanwide Alilance Formed
By smaller countries banding together they forned a power that could equal frances. This alliance was supposed to achieve a balance in power where no single country could dominate others. -
King Louis XIV Cancels Edict of Nantes
Due to this denial of protection of the Huegunots, many fled the country. This mass migrtion of artisans and businessman robbed the kingdom of France of many skilled workers. -
Prince William of Orange becomes King of England
A Dutch prince named William of Orange became king of England. He joined the allieance or league of Augsburg which consisted of the Hapsburg, the kings of sweden and spain, and the leaders of other smaller countries that equaled frances power. At the time france was suffering from poor harvests which made the empire weaker than it had been in years. This brought great suffering to the people of france because of the constant warefare and heavy taxes imposed on the people to finance these wars. -
King of Spain Charles II Dies
Before his death he promised his throne to king louis XIV grandson, Philip of Anjou. From then on the two greatest enemies for so long were then ruled at the same time by French Bourbons. -
War of the Spanish Succession.
Countries at the time felt threatend by the Bourbons expansions. England, Austria, the Dutch Republics, portugal, and several German and Italian states joined together to prevent the union of the french and spanish thrones. This struggle was known as the War of the Spanish Succession. -
Treaty of Utrecht
At the end of the war a treaty known as the Treaty of Utrecht was signed. This allowed Louis's grandson to remain king of spain if he didnt merge the thrones of spain and france. The big winner in the treaty was England. They gained gibralter, a fortress that controlled the entrance of the med sea. The treaty also allowed spain to grant a british company an asiento, or premission to send enslaved africans to spains american colonies, this greatly increased britans involvement in the slave trade. -
Death of Louis XIV
Before Louis's death, he lied in bed and regretted all the suffering he had brought to his people. He regretted the costly wars that ruind france. In the end, he died in bed and once word spread the people rejoiced in the streets because they had enough of the sun kings rule.