How successful was Louis XIV at achieving: Defence/ Gloire/ Trade/ Dynasty?

These cards concentrate on how far/how successful Louis XIV was in his late foreign policy in achieving defence/security, gloire/reputation, trade/economic success and dynastic success.

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POSITIVE: Defence/ Security

  • Despite large coalition against France, France herself was saved from full invasion
  • Did keep some important towns on her East + NE border, esp. Alsace + Strassburg + kept 3 fortress towns
  • Vauban's fortresses kept Duke of Marlborough's forces from entering France
  • Philip V of Spain meant that Habsburg encirclement was broken i.e. Bourbon to the south of France
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NEGATIVE: Defence/ Security

  • Weaker in 1715 than in 1685
  • Treaty of Ryswick (1697) had seen the loss of many reunion lands
  • William of Orange became William III of England- creating a much more powerful enemy
  • England & Austria emerged as great powers by 1715, not just France
  • Philip can't inherit throne of France, therefore France goes to 5yr ol great-grandson
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POSITIVE: Gloire/Reputation

  • May 1692- Tourville dominated Channel & won battle of Lagos - captured 130 grain ships
  • Despite opposition, Fr. didn't lose Flanders
  • War of Spanish Succession- battle of Malpaquet- 200,000 allied losses prevented full invasion of France
  • Villars was a great french general
  • France is fighting literally on her own- got spain, but not real use + fighting on 4 fronts
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NEGATIVE: Gloire/Reputation

  • Badly affected by Louis' treatment of the Huguenots
  • 
  • Very negative literature by fleeing Huhuenots in England & Holland
  • Devastation of Palatinate was condemned by his contemporararies
  • Terrible defeats:
    • Blenheim- loss of Bavaria
    • Ramilles- poor generals
  • Looks more vulnerable- looks like he is going to lose France eg. Oudenaarde 1708
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POSITIVE: Trade/Economy

  • Naval victories- some gains in Canada- increased markets
  • France had shown her ability to trade despite war through the Council of Commerce in 1701, allowing merchants to trade with allied enemies
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NEGATIVE: Trade/Economy

  • Weaker than in 1701-loss of Asciento to English affecting France's South American trade
  • Loss of Mediterranean possessions eg. Gilbratar + Minorca, which affected trade
  • Extreme financial hardship for France
    • Rise in taxation- Capitation, Tenth+ indirect taxes, which led to  a massive debt in 1715- 2,200million livres
    • 
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POSITIVE: Dynasty

  • Gained throne of Spain for Philip V - a Bourbon on the Sp. throne. Partially kept Fr. legal claims to the Spanish Empire, outlined by Carlos II' will.
  • He managed to break the Habsburg encirclement that he feared so much
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NEGATIVE: Dynasty

  • Weaker in 1715 than in 1701- Spanish Empire had been partitioned by Treaty of Utrecht
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  • Austria had gained Spanish Netherlands, therefore a Habsburg owned land on his vulnerable E + NE border
  • His heirs would face a vulnerble inheritance
  • Weak economically- minor on the throne
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Comments

diane

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thanks a lot they really helped :)

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