Louis and Marie 1.3

• Background:monarchy + political admin of France pre 1774 pt1

  -Gov consisted of king,his advisers and minsters,based in versallies.In the provinces,the kings authority was represented by the intendants.

  -Ministers didn’t make decisions collectively,they met with the king individually to discuss the overall direction of government policy.
• Background:monarchy + political admin of France pre 1774 pt2


  -This created a problem of court factions working against each other rather than co operating.Wide variation + laws and different customs across France.France had no single representative body that could pass laws for the country.

  -All legislation were ratified by one of the 13 parelemts,no single solution for problems.
• France under Louis XIV (reigned 1643-1715)


  -known as the sun king,was the most powerful of the 17th century kings.Before he took over there had been noble revolts.He built up a vision of the monarchy as all powerful.

  -He kept conspiring nobles under control,established the palace of Versailles as a symbol of monarchical power.

  -Fought a lot of wars to extend French power and territory which costed millions of livre.financial weaknesses made monarchy more vulnerable to make demands of parelement.
• France under Louis XV(reigned 1715-74)


  -Was too young to rule in 1715,so for 20 year’s France was run by Cardinal Fleury.Louis XV’S reign saw defeats as clashes between the

  -Louis XV’S reign saw defeats as clashes between the king and parelements.

  -Respect for the monarchy declined due to this,and Louis is extra marital affairs .Big rise in debt during his time on the throne.
• Louis XVI-positive characteristics

  -Kind ruler with good intentions and cared for the well being of his subjects.

  -He was good with academics like math,Aries and geography which enabled him to have good naval skills.-had read about ideas of enlightenment and wanted to impose on reforms.-reforms on finance and improve efficiency and fairness of government.-played a crucial role in America revolution by sending troops + finance.
• Louis XVI- negative characteristics 


  -critised for his weak and indecisive leadership.

  -had difficulty making tough decisions +easily influenced by nobility.

  -put France in more financial crisis and had the inability to address this.

  -unable to address social injustice.

  -insb to see through change and insistehce of preserving the absolute monarchy and hindered efforts for political and social reform.

  -had the inability to navigate through turbulent times.
• Public attitudes towards Queen Marie Antoinette


  -Gained a bad reputation for the diamond necklace scandal of 1785.It made the queen look ridiculous ;there were rumours that the Queen arranged it to ruin de Rohan.Seen as a major reason for the lack of trust in the crown after 1789.