Seventeenth-Century France and the Hispanic Empire

France in the Seventeenth Century

France serves as the premier example of absolute monarchy, largely due to the influence of Cardinal Richelieu over King Louis XIII.

Richelieu's Objectives

• Ensure royal authority
• Dominate the nobility
• Struggle against the Habsburgs of Spain and Germany
• Collect taxes
• Strengthen the navy

Louis XIV, the Sun King

Ascending the throne in 1661, Louis XIV became known as the Sun King, representing the splendor of the French court. Under his rule, France became the primary European power:

• Controlled the army and reformed the economy
• Forced Protestants to convert to Catholicism
• Completed the construction of the Palace of Versailles

The Crisis of the Hispanic Empire

During the 17th century, Spain was ruled by the later Habsburg monarchs: Philip III, Philip IV, and Charles II.

Philip III (1598–1621)

• Internal Policy: The expulsion of the Moors in 1609 negatively affected agriculture.
• External Policy: His favorite, the Duke of Lerma, established peace with France, England, and the Netherlands (Twelve Years' Truce).

Philip IV (1621–1665)

During his reign, the Count-Duke of Olivares ruled, and the conflict in the Netherlands resumed (Thirty Years' War). Olivares proposed tax reforms requiring all kingdoms to contribute to the crown's income, which provoked opposition in Catalonia and Portugal. In 1648, he signed the Peace of Westphalia.

Consequences of the Thirty Years' War

• Religious tolerance was recognized.
• Spain accepted the independence of the Netherlands.
• The Peace of the Pyrenees was signed with France in 1659.

Charles II (1665–1700)

Charles II left the government in the hands of his ministers, such as the Duke of Medinaceli, who initiated economic reforms. Portugal's independence was recognized, and continued foreign defeats led to the loss of territories to France. Upon his death in 1700, he named Philip of Bourbon as his successor. The new Bourbon dynasty was established in Spain following the War of Succession (1700–1714), which concluded with the Peace of Utrecht.