- during the reign of the young Louis XIII (1601-1643), the central power of France was dominated by a powerful statesman, Cardinal Richelieu
             - through his friendship with Marie de Medici (young Louis' advisor), he became involved in government decisions
             - his goals were: centralize and strengthen government. and abolish opposition to the crown
             - he weakened the nobles, strengthened mercantilism and destroying the power of the French Protestants
             - 1628: Edict of Nantes is partially revoked, taking away military and territorial rights of the Huguenots
             - Henri IV was originally Protestant but turned to Catholicism after he realized that France was largely catholic and would not accept his protestant beliefs.
             - He then issued the Edict of Nantes which granted religious freedom to French Protestants (Huguenots)
             -Protestants were able to run for public office and they expected equal treatment
             - "I am the state": total centralization of power
             - 1685: Completely revokes Edict of Nantes, making Protestant life in France impossible
             - The departure of these Huguenots delivers a huge blow to the French economy
             - 1701: Fights over the throne of Spain result in the War of Spanish Succession; France lost land to many countries
             - Austria received the Spanish Netherlands, Milan, Naples and Sicily
             - Great Britain remained in Gibraltar and annexed the island of Minorca and in Canada, Acadia and Newfoundland were given to Great Britain
             - Divine Right of Kings: the belief that the King is appointed by God to do his bidding on earth. The King cannot be questioned only endured. (proposed by Bishop Bossuet)
             - He was a weak King; this and the enlightenment era lead to the decline of French monarchy
             - The economic stability was affected by numerous wars such as the Seven Y
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