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European states
- I. European states= disintegrative patterns of previous century
- a. Second half of century= recovery; attempts to reestablish centralized power of monarchical governments= “Renaissance states” or “new monarchies”
- i. Rulers in western Europe: succeeded; rulers in central and eastern weak and unable to impose authority
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I. Growth of the French Monarchy
Hundreds Year War
- a. Hundred Years War= France devastated
- i. Depopulation, desolate farmlands, ruined commerce, independent/ unruly nobles= kings couldn’t assert authority
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I. Growth of the French Monarchy
Positives
- i. Positives: French national feeling toward enemy that kings used for gaining power
- 1. Need to end war= excuse to strengthen king’s authority
- a. Charles VII after crowned king at Reims
- i. Consent of Estates-General: established royal army of cavalry and archers
- ii. Received right to levy taille, an annual direct tax usually on land or property, without need for further approval from Estates- General
- 1. Less power for parliamentary body
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king Louis XI
- a. Process of developing French territorial state advanced by King Louis XI= Spider because of wily and devious ways
- i. By retaining taille as permanent tax imposed by royal authority, he secured sound, regular source of income
- 1. Not successful in repressing nobility, whose independence threatened state building
- 2. Problem: his vassal, Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy
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Charles the Bold
- a. Attempted to create middle kingdom between France and Germany, stretching from Low Countries to Switzerland
- i. Opposed by Louis and when killed in 1477 fighting Swiss, Louis added parts of Charles’s possessions (Burgundy) to his lands
- 1. 3 years later: provinces of Anjou, Maine, Bar, and Provence brought under royal control
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