Early Modern History Winter 2024

Introduction:

Early Modern Europe was marked by major shifts in the political systems of European nation-states. The two major theories which were implemented into the monarchical governmental systems of European states were constitutionalism and absolutism. Constitutionalism, best seen in England, is governmental apparatus that combines legal checks on power with, in England specifically, a monarch. Typically there is also a representative body as well such as a parliament to enforce these legal checks and represent the people's will. The representative body exemplifies separation of powers, other vital components of this theory of governing is the presence of a written constitution, checks and balances and an independent judiciary. On the more extreme side of the scale, absolute monarchies refer to a system of governance whereby all power is vested in a singular person (typically a King) and this power is bestowed upon them by God. This god-given authority is known as ‘Divine Right’. Absolutism can be put into practice with a standing army, a strong centralized government and an unification of the state’s laws. The best example of absolute monarchy in the Early Modern period was under Louis XIV, also known as the “Sun King”. He centralized power directly under the Crown by curtailing the influence of clergy and nobility in France. During his reign, he reorganized the French government and society through various actions such as the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, creation of the Intendants and suppression of nobility.

Ordonnance Civile:

The Ordonnance Civile (also known as the Code Louis) worked to regulate, and make uniform, civil procedure in all of France, demonstrating just a piece of the absolutist power wielded by monarchs, notably Louis XIV, during the 17th century. The level of power and control exerted by Louis XIV was a sharp break from the type of governing seen in the 16th century where multiple levels of government shared authority with the monarch to govern for the common good (Wiesner-Hanks 339). The goal with the Code Louis was to dismantle the pre existing political systems in the French government that placed checks on Louis’ power. By implementing a standard code, Louis could create uniformity, order and continue to centralize power in the King. Absolutism concentrated the state’s power in the hands of one person through the use of uniform law codes, increasing centralization and overall strengthening of the state. The Code Louis exemplifies the implementation of Absolutism through law/policy.

Versailles:

Versailles was another vehicle for the consolidation of power in Absolutist France. Not only was the grandeur of the palace strategically chosen to project power but the palace itself was a way to contain and control the nobility. By forcing the nobility to remain at Versailles for a portion of the year, he was able to limit their own authority while keeping an eye on them (so they would be unable to plot his overthrow). Versailles was one of many ways Louis limited the influence of alternative sources of authority. Beyond the palace, he outright stripped titles from nobles and implemented taxes that nobility and clergy would be forced to pay (Wiesner-Hanks 339). This effectively brought all of the subjects of the Crown actually under the Crown as they were no longer exempt from Royal Edicts. Louis’ limiting of the nobles at Versailles demonstrates the absolutist need to remove other possible sources of power to establish the King/monarch as the only true source of authority.

*Credit to Becca Moran

The Intendant System:

Beyond strengthening himself through the weakening of the clergy and nobility’s own power, Louis continued the consolidation of France through the creation of Intendants. The Intendants served to carry out Louis’ will throughout France and directly enforce his edicts on the local populations.  They oversaw tax collection, law enforcement and regularly reported on the happenings in their Provinces to the King himself. In the intendants system, France was divided into provinces which each were overseen by a royally appointed intendant. This allowed France to have a clear system of administration which was directly under the King. This system of Intendants overseeing the Provinces was set up by Cardinal Richlieu (under Louis XIII) to be able to exert more control regionally. The process for being chosen as an intendant also continued to support the King’s authority. For one, an intendant could not run the province from which they hailed from and for another, the King personally appointed each intendant which meant they owed the King for both their position and for the power that came along with it. Louis set up and carried out a bureaucratic system where his intendants would be highly motivated to execute his edicts and highly unlikely to betray or plot against him.

Other Related Pages

Becca Madsen