The King of France, Not Paris

Baroque: is often thought of as a period of artistic style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, architecture, literature, dance, theatre, and music



King Louis can also be added to this definition. He embodied the state, therefore he would do anything to make himself --> thus his state, better. 

He was not the king of Paris, but the king of France. 



Ran France in absolute monarchy. 
           He used the nobles. Louis made them feel important so that they could not rebel against him. Given duties like lighting the candle in his royal chamber were only for the "elite", even though the job itself was pretty degrading. 

The nobles if they knew what about Louis using them

Why would the nobles rebel if they were allowed to live in Versailles and given all of these amazing "advantages"? 

ALSO KNOWN AS: fake friending:) Louis was basically Regina George. 







Many people may ask why Louis didn't just rule with fear, like the Russian tzars. 
             In my personal opinion (honestly could be wrong), Louis just wasn't confident enough. 
           

A huge part of the King Louis' life was the Fronde, where a rebellion was held against Louis's father in Paris. People came into the young prince's bedroom and "scared him" -led to a constant paranoia and eventual breakdown. 


Another big topic that was spoken of was How Things Were Changed or If They Stayed The Same

Colbert: 
He wanted to change the way things were run. 
The government controlled the economy for a while, and spoke of using gold to back up the currency. 
He invested heavily in Mercantilism. 
Mercantilism: where a country exports more than it imports. 
            The country thus gets more money, but it cannot rely on other countries

France

            This made France extremely self-sufficient. 
                 They produced everything in their own country and made money by exporting. 
Yet the state is also always looking for a balanced trade
             But balance does not mean equal:) 
Trade is a zero sum game. 
      While France is making money, another country is losing money. Anti-trade supporters usually believe in this. 


The Edict of Nantes: Revoked

The Huguenots were extremely upset, yet by the revocation of the Edict, they were once again reminded that it was only a temporary submission. 

To sum it up: One King, One Law, One Faith. Louis would not tolerate the Huguenots because he was a Catholic, and because of absolutism, all of France therefore was Catholic. 
       The different religions were disuniting France, and that could not happen. 

Because the Huguenots were in fortified towns and cities, they were a power within themselves.
        This could be a threat to the King of France.



Class Wrap-Up: