Final answer:
Henry IV and Cardinal Richelieu laid the groundwork for Louis XIV to become an absolute monarch in France by consolidating power in the hands of the king and reducing the influence of the nobility. Louis XIV further strengthened the monarchy by centralizing power around himself, promoting the monarchy through art and architecture, and implementing mercantilist policies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Henry IV and Cardinal Richelieu laid the groundwork for Louis XIV to become an absolute monarch in France. Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu consolidated power in the hands of the king, centralizing the government and reducing the influence of the nobility. Louis XIV, known as the 'Sun King,' further strengthened the monarchy by centralizing power around himself, using art and architecture to promote the monarchy, and implementing mercantilist policies.
Henry IV and Cardinal Richelieu fortified the French monarchy's absolute power by diminishing the Estates General's role and centralizing governance, paving the way for Louis XIV to reign as an absolute monarch.
Henry IV and Cardinal Richelieu's Contributions to Absolutism
Henry IV and Cardinal Richelieu laid the foundation for Louis XIV to solidify the French monarchy's absolute power. Through their efforts, the traditional checks on royal authority, such as the Estates General, were minimized, and power was increasingly concentrated in the hands of the King. This centralization was crucial for the development of the absolutist state that Louis XIV would epitomize.
King Henry IV's reign saw the beginning of this shift towards absolutism. By not convening the Estates General, which comprised clergy, aristocracy, and commoners, he reduced the influence this advisory body had on governance. Cardinal Richelieu furthered this centralization during Louis XIII's rule by strengthening royal authority and sidelining the nobility who had historically posed a challenge to royal dominion.
When Louis XIV ascended to the throne, he took advantage of the groundwork laid by his predecessors. He established a centralized government, controlled the dissemination of art to benefit the monarchy, and developed economic policies, such as mercantilism under Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to enrich the state. His long reign was a testament to the effectiveness of these absolute monarchical reforms.