Absolutism in the French Monarchy: Louis XIV, Sully, & Richelieu 

Paris is worth a mass. 

Henry IV converted to Catholicism but we already knew that.

1.) WHO WAS A LARGER THREAT TO POPE'S POWER --> HUGUENOTS OR KING LOUIS XIV? (2 main threats to absolutism - nobility and church)

• Well, they each possessed different types of power
• King --> power of the state
• Huguenots --> power of the nobles/masses/could cause reformation 
• King and Pope had a balance of power because:
• if Pope agreed to the Divine Right/Absolute Power of the King then he would not question the King's authority--> NOT THAT BIG OF A THREAT
• not one was overpowering the other - rather they were kind of working together 
• While Huguenots could try to over throw the Cath Religion through reformations/violence
• SO IN CONCLUSION: Erin as my witness --> Huguenots are a larger threat

(Low-key us trynna agree on who was a bigger threat)

2.) What was the foundation of French absolutism built upon?

1. Built upon sand. 
1. Things are unstable economically 
2. it is the finances that make French absolutism built upon shifting sands! 
1. Through lowering taxes = peasants are happy 
2. keeping Nobles in check by keeping them preoccupied with essentially trivial jobs
3. keeping ministers happy by giving them power in the state
2. By King gaining love of his people --> he had the ability to develop the characteristics of an absolute ruler 

(King Louis XIV for being "AWESOME") 

3.) Economics/Finances with Sully & Richelieu

• Henry IV lowered taxes on the overburdened peasants --> in compensation for lost revenue - he introduced paulette - an annual fee paid by royal offices to guarantee heredity in their offices
• Sully --> combined indirect taxes on salt, sales, and transit and leased their collection to FINANCERS
• revenue increased because of this revival in trade
• he subsidized the Company for Trade w/ the Indies
• started country-wide highway system
• SULLY = ECONOMIC PROSPERITY

• WHILE RICHI OVER HERE IS TRYNNA SUBORDINATE EVERYONE LIKE EW STOP 

• Richelieu set in place the cornerstone of French absolutism
• Richelieu's policy was the total subordination of all groups and institutions TO THE FRENCH MONARCHY
•  how did Richelieu and Sully's intentions differ?? 
•  Richelieu = subordination under french monarchy for political POWER 
• Sully = intentions centralize around France's economic prosperity as a country
• French foreign policy under Richelieu was aimed at the destruction of the fence of Habsburg territories that surrounded France
• he signed a treaty in 1631 w/ Gustavus Adolphus promising French support against the CATHOLIC HABSBURGS in 30Years' War. :)  
• BUT DID RICHELIEU MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO FIX ECONOMIC ISSUES OF THE TIME???

 (@ Richelieu on solving economic issues)
I mean he did do some stuff like: 

• temporarily solved financial problems by securing the cooperation of local elites
• the central government shared the proceeds of tax revenue with the local powers - however this backfired because it limited French Absolutism LOL