Absolutism and the structure of the Ancien Régime Flashcards
Define Absolutism
a form of governance where the monarch holds a monopoly of power and authority through a system involving a combination of coercion, consent and administration. Theoretically, there is no institution that can limit his power.
How does acquiesence uphold the Ancien Régime?
In practical terms, absolutism relied on loyalty and consent to the first two estates and the passiveness/acquiescence of the third estate since its understaffed intendants could only rely on an inadequate number of police in times of civil unrest, much of them under the control of provincial governors.
Examples from Lyon/Paris to show the weakness of the policing of the Régime and how it thus relied on acquiescence.
police force in the countryside, 4000 men ill-paid and ill-equipped, adequate only for crimes. Urban responsibility with the watch (Guet) who were heavily outnumbered, eg. in Lyon, 84 Guet in a city of 150,000, Parisians 3,114 officers in a city of over 600,000.
Popular culture of….
criticism in decades before 1789 (which authorities were unable to suppress)
Whats a Letter de cachet?
a letter the king signed in which he could simply imprison any real or perceived threats in the implementation of his laws.
Outline the Role of the church in upholding Absolutism
Louis XVI’s position was upheld by the concept of divine right, that a monarch had a right to rule as they had been ordained to do so by God. He was responsible to God alone and could make and enforce laws, carrying out Divine Will, backed by the Catholic church.
Name the royal councils and their functions
Conseil d’Etat (‘Council of State’): State interests/Foreign policy
Conseil des Dépêches : despatches from churches/church affairs
Conseil Royal des Finances : Finances/Economic policy
Outline the role of the ministers
Appointed by Louis, sat with him on the King’s council.
Advised the King but reluctant to suggest bold reforms.
The controller-general was the finance minister.
Outline the role of intendants
King appointed intendants as royal agents responsible for maintaining his rule in provinces, feeding back information to CG about economic situation/local problems.
Responsible for finance, policing and justice with specified duties such as ensuring taxes are paid, King’s edicts carried out, raising troops etc.
Strengths of Ministers/Royal councils
Despite absolute status, King expected to consult ministers on policy as per custom to not be deemed a despot.
Weaknesses of Ministers/Royal councils
Ministers not appointed based on potential - weakened quality and efficiency.
Because Louis’ choice in ministers was directed by pressure from interests of Court factions and Marie Antoinette, though well intentioned, ministers could not hold their positions for long. Ministers attention thus focused on protecting reputations and maintaining support at Court as much as on their duty due to intra-ministerial rivalry.
Strengths of Intendants
High quality personnel
Partly created to curb independence of provincial governors - some areas entrenched in certain families as a ‘provincial dynasty’
Weaknesses of intendants
Understaffed and overworked (eg. normally one intendant every generalite). Had to obtain order from the King’s council to act/make decisions but also could not rely on them to back their decisions. Their role also often overlapped with other officials or were challenged by long-established institutions and sabotaged by intra-ministerial rivalry.
Who were intendants limited by? List x4
39 Provincial governors responsible for France’s historic provinces in 1779
Pays d’etats -six areas in France with representatives from powerful assemblies
Aristocracy with venal offices in privileged cities in municipal (town/governing) administration and other local bodies
Land owning nobles (seigneurs) in rural areas
How were intendants limited by Provincial governors?
39 Provincial governors responsible for France’s historic provinces in 1779 on which the intendants 33 generalities had imposed. Responsible for maintaining order in their regions and sometimes had the right to call provincial parlements. Some areas entrenched in certain families as a ‘provincial dynasty’ - intendants formed partly to constrain this independence.
How were intendants limited by pays d’Etats
Pays d’etats were six areas in France with representatives from powerful assemblies, privilege of negotiating directly with the crown on taxation then paying a lump sum to him. intendants had to share power with them.
How were intendants limited by the venal aristocracy?
Aristocracy with venal offices in privileged cities in municipal (town/governing) administration and other local bodies that intendants had to supervise, they were fiercely defensive of their rights.
How were intendants limited by Land owning nobles?
Land owning nobles (seigneurs) in rural areas had considerable influence eg. even ran their own courts. Those with high ranks regarded themselves as superior to the intendants.
Define venality and how many there were by the 18th century
Venality: custom of selling administrative offices, practiced as a way of augmenting royal income. By the 18thc, 70,000 venal offices including the entire judiciary, most legal professions, officers in army and a wide range of other professions.
How was the judiciary structured?
There was a judicial hierarchy with 13 parlements which were the highest, final court of appeal and one in each of the 13 judicial districts alongside 21 sovereign courts. Paris parlement often led nationally since it covered ⅓ of France and Paris was the centre. These were institutions of the nobility.
How did the parlements indicate weakness in the monarchy?
Power of parlements restored in 1774 following previous exile from Louix XV with little done to change the organisation of the institutions in government - reform suggested by Turgot and Necker lost to factionalism - illustrated that the crown itself was too weak to successfully reform government.
Strengths of the parlements/magistrates
Constitutional right of parliaments to criticise royal policies through remonstrances (complaints sent privately to the king) which strengthened magistrates independence.
French monarchical law only takes effect if registered by every parlement and sovereign court but they could point out defects/disadvantages before registration.
They could also make regulations and by-laws for their area - fixed prices, censored books, controlled guilds, local finances, law and order
Weaknesses of the parlements/magistrates
Magistrates of courts came from noblesse de robe and their offices granted them nobility so they could not be removed from their positions as they had been purchased through venality. Dismissal required refunding the cost of the office which govts. couldn’t afford. Thus, no matter what they said or did they could be confident that they wouldn’t not be dismissed by the King.
The king could order the registration with modifications suggested by the parlements (lit de registration) or order a forced registration called lit de justice.
First estate was unpopular due to
- Plurality and absenteeism
- Tithes
- Exemptions from taxes
- Power over the people
