How Did Mazarin Influence Louis Xiv

Louis XIV, rule of France began in 1543, when he was only four years old. His mother was the Hapsburg Spanish Queen, Anne of Austria, and served as his regent, although Chief Minister Cardinal Jules Mazarin, truly commanded the power of the monarchy. In 1648, when Louis was nine, the Parlement of Paris rebelled against Mazarin, in a series of civil wars known as the Fronde. During this time Louis XIV often lived in poverty, without proper care or attention and often in fear and humiliation, although this lifestyle only lasten until 1653, when Mazarin won, it greatly impacted Louis’ attitude towards the people of Paris, and the nobles.

In 1661, long after Louis had come of age to rule, Mazarin died, allowing the French king to begin his authentic

First he declared that he would rule without a chief minister, an announcement that shocked the aristocrats, as this had not been done since Henry IV in 1582. Next he improved upon the country’s taxation system, while leaving the nobles and clergy relieved of paying their taxes, which left them financially reliant on the treasury of the King. In the same fashion, he forced the provincial nobles out of their political influence, in order to have a government set up with an increasing amount of the common people, who could be easily replaced or moved. Unlike in the past, Louis did not award his close family members, leading princes, or old nobility a position as his council members, but instead chose from the new nobility. In addition, the members of Parlement were no longer able to obstruct legislation and many old procedures were changed and improved upon, and som new ones were created to keep a tighter grasp on the commerce, industry, and overseas colonies of