The Valois and Bourbon dynasties shaped France's transition to a powerful, centralized monarchy. From Louis XI to Louis XIV, French kings expanded royal authority, weakened the nobility, and pursued territorial expansion through wars and alliances.

Religious conflicts, like the French Wars of Religion, challenged royal power. But monarchs like Henry IV found solutions, such as the Edict of Nantes, to restore peace and strengthen their rule. This set the stage for absolute monarchy under Louis XIV.

French Monarchs

Strengthening Royal Authority

• Louis XI (r. 1461-1483) consolidated royal power by weakening the influence of the nobility, expanding the royal domain, and centralizing the administration of the kingdom
• Francis I (r. 1515-1547) was a Renaissance monarch who patronized the arts and learning, waged wars against the Habsburg Empire, and formed alliances with the Ottoman Empire
• Henry IV (r. 1589-1610), the first Bourbon king, ended the Wars of Religion by issuing the Edict of Nantes (1598), which granted religious toleration to the Huguenots
• Louis XIV (r. 1643-1715), known as the "Sun King," epitomized absolute monarchy, asserting his divine right to rule and centralizing power in the monarchy

Territorial Expansion and Conflict

• Francis I engaged in a series of wars with the Habsburg Empire, led by Charles V, over control of territories in Italy (Italian Wars)
• Henry IV annexed the territories of Béarn and Navarre, strengthening the French monarchy's control over the southwest of France
• Louis XIV pursued an aggressive foreign policy, engaging in wars such as the War of Devolution (1667-1668), the Dutch War (1672-1678), and the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714) to expand French territory and influence in Europe

Religious Conflict and Resolution

French Wars of Religion (1562-1598)

• Series of civil wars between Catholics and Protestants (Huguenots) in France during the 16th century
• Conflicts were political as well as religious, with noble families vying for power and influence
• Major events included the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre (1572), where thousands of Huguenots were killed in Paris and other cities
• The wars ended with the ascension of Henry IV, a former Huguenot who converted to Catholicism, to the French throne

Edict of Nantes (1598)

• Issued by Henry IV to end the French Wars of Religion and grant religious toleration to the Huguenots
• Allowed Huguenots to practice their religion freely in certain areas of France and gave them equal civil rights with Catholics
• Established a period of relative religious peace in France until its revocation by Louis XIV in 1685 (Edict of Fontainebleau)

Centralization of Power

Key Figures in Centralization

• Cardinal Richelieu, chief minister to Louis XIII (r. 1610-1643), worked to centralize power in the monarchy by weakening the nobility, suppressing Huguenot political power, and involving France in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648)
• Louis XIV further centralized power by ruling as an absolute monarch, asserting his divine right to rule, and reducing the influence of the nobility and the Parlement of Paris

Administrative Reforms

• The intendant system, developed under Richelieu and expanded under Louis XIV, placed royal officials (intendants) in the provinces to oversee local administration, collect taxes, and enforce royal edicts
• Intendants were drawn from the non-noble classes and were directly accountable to the monarch, helping to centralize power and weaken the influence of the nobility

Versailles Palace

• Louis XIV transformed the hunting lodge at Versailles into a grand palace, which became the center of political power and court life in France
• The palace served as a symbol of the monarchy's wealth and power, and its elaborate court ceremonies and etiquette helped to control and subordinate the nobility
• Requiring nobles to spend time at Versailles, away from their estates, reduced their ability to challenge royal authority in the provinces