Download Lesson: Unit-6 ,Chapter 4 Absolutist State in France Author: Amrit

Absolutist State in France
Lesson: Unit-6 ,Chapter 4 Absolutist State in France
Author: Amrit Kaur Basra
College: D.C.A.C. University of Delhi
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi
Absolutist State in France
4.Introduction
4.1Background
4.2Rule of Charles VII
4.3 Rulers and administration
4.4 Richelieu &Mazzini
4.5 Royal Absolutism
4.6 Summary
4.7 Glossary
4.8 Quizzes
4.9 Exercise
4.10 References
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4.Introduction
The feudal crisis in France also resulted in the establishment of the absolutist state. It
was marked by the unhindered growth of royal absolutism .Where as in England as underlined
by Kenyon, days of absolutism were numbered and there was establishment of the constitutional
monarchy in late seventeenth century, in France ,there was no such change. Rather absolutism
gave way to enlightened despotism in the eighteenth century.
(Map of France in the 15th century)
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4.1 Background
The process of political reorganization began with the rule of Charles VII in 1422. It was
shaped by pre existing polity. From middle ages, France was ruled by capetianmonarchy . The
country was at war with England for hundred years. During this period England with Bergundy
had attempted to annex France. It had caused the end of Capetian dynasty. By the beginning of
fifteenth century , France was on the road of recovery.
(PHOTO OF Charles VII)
4.2 Rule of Charles VII
It was in 1422 that Charles VII laid the foundation of Valois dynasty .At that time except in
celtic island and Navarre ,there was no powerful feudal order to challenge the monarchy.
However there was no extended administrative structure to establish the authority of monarchy
over a vast territory. It meant that the ruler could face local opposition in any part of the
country. Though the Hundred years war had exposed the weakness of feudal lords but they had
army under their control. It was essential for the monarchy to setup centralized army. Charles
VII focused on it. For its maintenance ,Taille Royale was imposed in the country in 1422. It was
the first national tax imposed for the purpose of maintaining the army. Everyone had to pay this
tax. However over the period of time it was seen that aristocratic and feudal families purchased
commission in the army. Sometimes these were purchased for minor sons When latter came of
age, they were found wanting in performing their military duties. Thus while the army was
under the control of monarchy but chivalry and personal glory remained the hall mark of feudal
elements. It affected the efficiency of the army when commanding authorities turned out to be
competent.
(Photos of Parlement )
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Charles VII also strenghtened the administrative structure .Before him , for taking
administrative decisions, moarch would take the help of powerful feudal lords. When the feudal
lords met in this capacity, they were known as Curi a Regis. When the feudal lords met at a
place foe deciding legal and judicial matters , then the assembly was called Parlement. When
this assembly met at the national level , then it was designated as the ‘Estate General ‘. This
administrative set up which deliberated upon administrative , judicial and legal matters was
found wanting in a number of ways .It was ineffective in subordinating powerful feudal lords
.At regional level , Parlement remained ineffective. The aristocratic classes refused to pay any
taxes. They entered into the e and thereby exempted themselves from the payment of any tax .
(Photo of Estate General)
The Estate General could not take the role of a national body Whenever its sessions were
convened ,ruling classes from different regions refused to sanction tax.Its sessions were not
convened regularly.
4.3 Rulers & Administration
(Photo of Louis XI )
The reign of Charles VII was followed by Louis XI who ruled from 1461 to 1483. He
suppressed local revolt in 1477. His successor , Charles VIII(1484-98) was supported by
aristocracy to strengthen his power.
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(Photo of Louis XII)
A distinct phase in the history of royal absolutism began with the rule of Louis XII. While
feudal lords increased their hold in administration , France entered European diplomacy.
Burgundy was defeated and Brittany was captured . The French king married ditches of Brittany
and extended French hold over it. The opposition of England to the issue of Brittany also ended
when the treaty of etaples was signed in 1492.
The Sixteenth century was the period of reformation. The pre existing absuses and superstitions
beliefs were challenged by many Humanists in France. Calvin also developed his ideas in
France .However very soon , it became clear that France remained a catholic country. The state
persecuted protestants . Along with internal revolts , France also faced challenges in foreign
policies but he monarchy defended and uphold catholic religion.
Francis I strengthened the position of monarchy . He personally appointed all officials. The
agreement of Bolagna signed by Francis I with Pope gave him the right to appoint Bishops in
the country. The land taxation system led to the exploitation of peasantry . There was
fragmentation of land.
It was during the rule of Henry VII (1547-1559) that the family of Guise became very powerful.
It was opposed by the family of Bourbon. While former progressed faith in catholic religion,
latter was protestant . It further added to fending politics. There was further suppression of
protestants known as Huguenots during the rule of Catherine –de- Medicl. At the directives of
the ruler, Huguenots who had collected in thousands at Saint Bortholemeau for religious
meeting were murdered.
In 1572, second son of Catherine , Henry IV became the ruler. He was the last successor of
velorsdynasty . He was followed by Henry of Navarre who laid the foundation of Bourbon
dynasty . The royal power was strengthened and ther was further institutionalization of
administration. An important role was played by Michel-de-la-Hopital between 1547-1574. He
was appointed Chancellor in 1550. He expressed his views in the meetings of Estate-General.
He regretted the fact that Estate-General was not convened regularly . However he never saw
Estate-General as rival to the monarchy . He supported the role of offices when his views were
not accepted , he resigned in 1568.
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(Photos of Richlieu&Mazzini)
4.4 Richielieu & Mazzini
After him, Richelien and Mazzini espoused the cause of monarchy. Richeliens imposed most
taxes on third Estate which did not have political representation and social status. Richelein won
support from the nobility . The royal hold was further strengthened when the ruler appointed
intendents. They were responsible for administration and judiciary .Richelienconquidated the
Hugenot fortresses in the South west, with the capture ofLa- Rochelle. The intendant system
was created. These were permanent commissioners of the central government throughout
France. They were responsible for judicial , financial and policing . However they co existed
with other officers. It resulted in dualism and often conflicting situation. Perry Anderson has
pointed out that there was a simultaneous and contradicting development of both officer and
commissaire groups within the overall structure of the state during this period. It affected the
functioning of the government.
During this period, power, glory and prestige of monarchy reached a new stage. It became more
ornate. There was focus on constructing magnificent structures . As in administration ,
aristocracy entered its folds and exempted itself from the payment of taxes, in economy it meant
that the Absolutist state argumented its sources. The selling of offices became a source of
income but the acquired wealth was not invested into manufacturing sector. The state sponsored
royal manufactures and public trading companies. Several historions like Marcel Trudel have
pointed out that growing initative of state through foreign policy in this direction. But its
benefits came to small bourgeois and aristocratic groups. The exploitation of rural and urban
masses continued. In 1610 state collected 17 million livers from the taille, it rose to 44 million
livers by 1644. It was connected with the diplomatic and military success of Richelien during
the thirty years war. The treaty of Westphalia extended the frontiers of the French monarchy
from the meuse to the Rhine . However growing military expenses were through imposition of
taxes on the poor. It resulted in town riots in Dijon, Aix and Poitiers in 1630; Jacqueries in the
country side of Angoumois, Saintonge, Poitan in 1637-37 and major peasant rebellion in
Normandy in 1639. The growing tension surfaced during the tenure of Mazarin . He attempts at
annexing Naples and catalonia induced him to prolong the anti-Spanish war. The bad harvest in
1647, 1649 and 1651further generated social tension There was resentment against the
Intendentsystem.Therentires were upset as their income was not increasing.The tension began
with the protest of officers . They were led by the Parlement of Paris aginst the intendent
system. Very soon regional dislocation surfaced. Many towns set up rebel municipal
dictatorships . Rivals princes fought for the control of the court. The situation was brought
under control by Mazarin’s armies by 1653. The suppression of ?Fronde was indicative of the
success of monarchy in establishing administrative centralization and in ensuring control of
dominant segments of society. While Mazarin failed to gain in the mediterrancan, the treaty of
Westphalia gave Roussillon and Artois to France.
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4.5 Royal Absolutism
(Photo of Louis XIV)
The growth of absolutism entered a phase of profound change with the coming of Louis XIV.
He became responsible for the growth of enlightened despotism. There was expansion of trade
and diplomacy under him. The policy of mercantilism was implemented. The aristocracy further
entrenched its position.
Case Study- D RUSSIA
Roert Brenner in his assessment of class conflict inherent in feudal made of production in
Europe has pointed out that as feudal crisis intensified by mid 14th century in Europe, its
outcome was not identical every where. In England, there was decline of serfdom but in Eastern
Europe, second serfdom re-emerged. Perry Anderson in his assessment of Russia has also
pointed that political outcome of feudal crisis was the establishment of most durable Absolutist
state. Here Tsarismoutloved all its precursors and contemporaries, to become the only absolutist
state in the continent to survive intact into the 20th century.
The gensis of the absolutist state can be traced back during the phase of late feudal crisis, under
the shadow of Tartar tutelage wars, civil conflicts, plague, depopulation and abandoned
settlement characterized the 14th and first half of the 15th centuries situation changed from 1450
onwards when a new era of economic revival and expansion set in. In the course of the next
hundred years, the population multiplied, agriculture prospered and internal trade and the use of
money picked up rapidly. Urban manufactures and exchange were assisted by the territorial
unification of Muscovy and standardization of currency. Hired labour was used in expansion of
foreign trade. It was in this phase of upswing that Ivan III laid the foundation of Russian
Absolutism.
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Photo of Ivan III
Reign of Ivan III (1462-1505)
Ivan III, also known as Ivan the Great ruled Muscovy from 1462-1505. He avoided frontal
combats in political and military matters. He preferred to achieve his goals through calculated &
devious diplomacy. As the creator of a centralized states Ivan III has been compared with his
contemporary, Louis XI of France.
He encountered numerous problems in implementing his policy of territorial integration &
expansion. Apart from the absorption of lesser star principalities’ such as yaroslavi, Tver,
Rustov&Rayazan, it was nolonger possible for Muscovy to advance further without meeting
opposition from great empires. For territorial expansion, Ivan III had to (1) subjugate the star
lands including Novgorod (2) to win back Lithuania and the southern-western land and (3) to
completely subjugate the Mongols.
In his initial years of rule, Iva III focused on his first objective of controlling Novgorod.
Muscovy was landlocked. Novgorod held the key to the Baltic & the open sea. The struggle for
Novgorod reached its culmination in his reign. The Novgorod policy of manipulating between
her two powerful neighbours – Lithuania and Muscovy could only succeed as long as they were
in relative equilibrium. While Muscovy showed political ambitious under Ivan III, Novgorod
was caught up with internal problems. There was an intense class struggle. The boyars and
oligarchs were inclined towards Lithuania, an aristocratic state. The artisans and lower classes
extended support to Muscovy, which was perceived as a national state.
In 1471, the pro-Lithuania party inside the city came to an agreement with Lasimir IV of Poland
who promised to support Novgorod against Moscow. In May Ivan III & his council of war
decided to take up the challenge. The military campaign resulted in annexation of Novgorod
and by August 1471, all resistance was over. The peace-terms imposed on Novgorod were mild.
It had to pay an indemnity of 15000 rubles. Novgorod had to recognize the sovereignty of Ivan
III & also cede some of its colonies. By 1489 control over Novgorod was firmly established.
Many thousands of boyars, merchants and landowners were departed. Their confiscated estates
were bestowed on lesser boyars & others from Muscovy who in lieu of land agreed to sender
military service.
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Map of Russia in 15th century
The subjugation of Novgorod left Ivan III free to deal with his own two main opponents –
Lithuania & the Mongols. His task became easy as the centralized Mongol empire was
disintegrating. There were three regional power-centers of the Mongol empire. They were
Mongolkhanates at Kazan another in Crimea. The third center of power was located between the
Don & the Dnieper, the hitherto the main Golden horde. The tragic end to the last attempt of the
Mongols to restore their power was undermined in 1502 when the Golden Horde itself ceased to
exist as a cohesive force. Thereafter Mongols were reduced to being a local power and were no
longer a threat to Ivan III. Latter also extended control over Lithuania. However, Muscovy still
failed to get an access to the Baltic.
Within the country, there were many changes in the character of the Muscovy state. Many have
seen it as the transition from society of independent principalities to an absolute autocracy.
Latter not only controlled land but also rendered military service to the state. The departing
Mongols also shaped Muscovite life and society. The change was evident in Muscovy’s method
of collecting taxes, its criminal law and diplomatic protocol. Mongols also shaped and
influenced the growth of Muscovite autocracy.
The Mongol empire was not only enacted on the principle of unquestioned and unqualified
service to the state but the khans also demanded the complete obedience of the individual to the
state. The khan alone embodied the state. Ivan III borrowed these principles. It was this specific
Mongol colouring that distinguished Muscovite absolutism from that of England and Spain.
Ivan III, for example, was the first ruler of Muscovy to claim ownership of all the Russian
lands. He vastly extended the internal authority of the prince and asserted his position as the
military ruler. The relationship with the church was equally significant. The church, because of
its large land holding had played an active part in backing slave ownership. From 14 th century
onwards, the association of the church and the state had become so close that by the early 16 th
century the Tsar had come to be considered in semi-sacrosanct personality, with unlimited
power, the earthly representative of God. It was thus becoming clear that it had its bearing on
the position of ruler. The autocracy theoretically became the divinely ordained fountainhead of
undifferentiated authority. Politically, Tsar claimed absolute power economically he claimed
ownership of the entire land. Military, he led the country in war. Religiously he ruled by divine
right and was committed to maintain and defend his authority.
There was change in the position of the Russian landowning class, which consisted of
autonomous and separatist princes ad Boyar nobles. Mainly of Tartar or oriental origin, they
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possessed large allodial domain and controlled numerous slaves. They extended their loyalty to
Muscovite court but retained their own military levies and retainers. Their rights as landowners
were somewhat limited by Ivan III. By losing their right to depart from service, they dwindled
into the category of ‘serving princes’ they were forced to serve only Muscovy. The status of the
boyars was further jeopardized by Ivan’s policy of creating a new class of dependent servitors.
The centralized government of the reign combined with the growth of an army to defend and
expand the new states frontiers created the demand for bureaucrats and soldiers. Thus led to the
introduction of new system of land grant known as Pomeste. The Pomeshchiki as these
landowners were known, owed their position and their land to their dependent position vis-à-vis
the Tsar. They held their land only so long as they served. The Pomeshchiki were cavalaymen,
equipped for archery and sword to fight mainly the Tartar horsemen. Most of the land allotted to
them was in the center and south of the country, near to the permanent frontier of war with the
Tartars. The gentry’s pomeste land was usually a small estate with an average of some 5 to 6
peasant households working on it. The limited size of the land and rigorous government control
meant that Pomeshchiki source of income was moderate. The productivity of land was limited.
In 1497 Ivan III passed a decree restricting peasant nobility through Muscovy to two weeks in
every year, before and after St. George’s Day in November. It was a first step taken towards the
legal enserfment of the Russian peasantry.
(Photo of Sophia)
It was Mongols who influenced the state structure of the Muscovy. It was Byzantine that
provided cultural super structure to the new state. Thiswas all the more evident in the marriage
of Ivan’s to zoe (Sophia in Russia) in 1472. She was the daughter of Byzantine emperor. In
1458 when the Turks conquered Constantinople, Sophia and her father took refuge in Rome. In
papal circles, the plan than evolved of marriage between Ivan and Sophia in hope of bringing
Ivan into communion with Rome, seeking to reunite western and eastern churches. Ivan quickly
grasped the potentiality for enhanced prestige in the proposed alliance. It would raise him to
equal status with the ruling houses of Western Europe.
The hopes of all the Christian empires were now centered on Muscovy due to the implication of
Byzantine princes on the throne. However in realty, the hopes of Ivan and his successors lay
more in the west than in any Byzantine political legacy. But for all that, the ecclesiastical
doctrine, gave an ideological hallowing to the new empire.
Though Ivan III during his reign had laid the foundation of the autocracy but he could not
establish lasting peace in Russia. His grandson Ivan the terrible faced boyars unrest.
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His successor Vassily III continued the process of controlling boyars and extended pomeste
system. However the next glorious phase of Russian Absolutism began under Ivan IV or Ivan
the terrible.
(Photo of Ivan IV)
Reign of Ivan IV (1547-1560)
When Ivan IV inherited the throne, Muscovy still lacked strong social base and was confronted
with challenges from boyars, Mongols and Lithuanians. Yet, his reign marked an important
stage in the growth of autocracy. There was foundation of the dominant class of landed serving
gentry, the pomeschiki.
(Photo of Anastasia Zakharin)
The struggle of autocracy against the boyars was rooted in economic compulsions. It was
essential for the ruler to curb the power ofindependent landowners. In 1547, the year of his
coronation, Ivan, the terrible also married Anastasia Zakharin. She belonged to a minor
Muscovite nobles family having connection with the Romonovs. It added to his prestige.
Ivan IV reduced the power of Mongol Khanates. It resulted in control of Muscovy over the
entire course of Volga from its source in the with to the mouth on the Caspian sea. New trade
routes to east, to Prussia and India were opened up to the Muscovite traders. This led to the
development of western capitalism.
In early 1530s Ivan was able to curb the power of nobility through various legal measures. He
extended military service to boyars who were equated with pomeschiki. In 1562 and 1572
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decrees were passed which made it difficult for a boyar to dispose off the landorenen bequeath
his estate at will.
It had always been a Muscovite policy that he who serves must have land. To this was added
the further principle that he who has land must also serve. It made Muscovy a compulsory
service state in which each state was bound by ties of service to the autocracy.
The dispute between the service nobility and the boyars corresponded to deep-seated changes,
which had been gathering force from the last century. They all tended to undermine the
economic power of the magnate. The agriculture and rural pursuits still dominates the economy.
However, forces were at work, which were to transform agricultural sector. There was growth
of mercantile capital. The consolidation of Muscovy as a National State led to abolition of
numerous internal custom barriers. This facilitated the growth of commodity production.
There was spread of money economy. In this setup, the closed self-sufficient manorial system of
the Boyar magnates was an anachronism. In Western Europe, the manor and long since ceased
to be an economic unit and had given way to capitalism. In Russia Ivan IV undermined the
economic position of boyars. The need for more skillful and better-organized armies formed the
background to the wholesale redistributionof land in the sixteenth century. Ivan IV enacted a
decree that fortified monasterial acquisition of boyaras’ lands and this slowed down the growth
in monasterial estates.
Various steps were also taken to strengthen the position of pomeschiki. They were given the
right to determine the level of rents extracted from the peasantry on their lands and to collect
this personally. In this way, Pomeschiki were made masters over the labour force on their
estates. At the same time, the administrative and tax system was modernized by the abolition of
the Kormlenic provisioning system (salaries in kind) for provincial officials and the creation of
a centralized treasury for fiscal receipts. A local network of guba self-administration, manned
essentially by the service gentry, further integrated this class into the emergent governmental
apparatus of the Russia monarchy. These military economic and administrative measures
strengthened the political power of the centralized Tsarist state.
The period of oprichniki or the creation of a terrorist guard corps marked not only the
suppression of boyars but also the unleashing of terror in the Muscovy state.
It was Prince Andrew Kurlesky who was responsible for Ivan’s final onslaught on the boyars.
Kurlesky, after losing a battle of the poles, flied to Luthania and took up arms against his former
ruler. Ivan IV was successful in providing new shape to the pomeste system. The oprichnina
confiscations resulted in emergence of conditional tenures in the land holding. Votchina estates
were made liable for service themselves. The growth of monastic land was checked. The role of
the Royal Duma was reduced as Ivan IV summoned the first Assembly of the land. In it,
smaller gentry were given representation. Ivan IV also granted the pomeschichik class the right
to determine the level of rents extracted from the peasantry on their lands & to collect these
them. Thus they became the masters over the land force on their estates. In 1581 Ivan IV
effectively banned all peasants movements.
Thus it was becoming clear that Tsarism was strengthening the power of the state through
administrative organization and suppression of internal revolts. However within society, while
position of land owning aristocracy was redefined, peasantry was further subjected to
exploitation. Thus, the servitude of peasantry continued.
4.6 Summary
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1. It can be pointed out that the absolutism state in France strengthened the hold of monarchy
over the administration. 2.There was an attempt to bring centralization .
3.While serfdom had declined but state provided no respite to poor people and peasants.
4.There was growth of bourgeoisie under the state.
5.However state protected the interest of feudal and aristocratic classes by incorporating them in
administration. With the result there was profound social divide in France. The adherence to
catholic religion also meant that protestants were suppressed. Even when Huguenots gradually
came to play an important role in trade, inside France they were provided with limited rights.
6. There was continuous growth of royal power in France during 17th and 18th.
7. The control of aristocratic groups in administration and army eventually created a divide
between rich and poor and it in turn shaped events that culminated in outbreak of French
Revolution in 1789.
4.6Glossary
-Grand Conseil :Adminitrative unit
-Parlement: Alegal body in major towns which was used by state as a consultative body.
-Noblesse de robe: New nobility
-Tailles: direct land tax
-Gabelle: salt tax
-Michel de L’Hopital: Minister of Charles IX(1560-74)
-Commissaires:Royal agents having administrative responsibilities
- Intendants: royal agents who helped in collection of taxes and were loyal toward state.
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
A.
B.
C.
D.
1.
4.8 Quizzes
1-Gabellee was a tex which was imposed on –
Land
B. Salt
Wine
Livestocks
Correct Answer
B-It was collected in two ways.Either percentage of tax was fixed on the basis of total trade or
sale price.
Incorrect options
Taille was the land tax.
C&D aides were duties imposed on various commodities including wine and livestocks.
2- In which year Henry IV had married Marguerite de Valois1553
1572
1576
1610
Correct Answer
B.Marriage took place in 1572 and she was daughter of Catherine de Medici.
In correct options
A.He was born in 1553
C. In that year he had to flee from Paris to save his life.
D. He died in 1610.
4.9 Exercise
Short Questions
1.Trace the process that led to starting of Absoltist State in France.
2.Write two features of administration of France in the sixteenth century.
3. Write about the institution of Parlement.
Long Questions
Assess the rule of Charles VII
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2. Highlight the role of religion in shaping power of monarchs in France during sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries.
4.10 References
Anderson Perry Lineages of the Absolutist State
Jones,J.A.P, Europe 1500-1600,Surrey ,Nelson,1997
Parker David,The making of the French Absolutism,NewYork:StMartin”s Press,1983
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