Glossary4-99

G l o s s a r y

1. Absolutism - The sovereign power or ultimate authority in the state, rested in the
hands of a king who claimed to rule by divine right.

2. sovereign power - (theory of Jean Bodin)-consisted of authority to make laws, tax,
administer justice, control the state's administrative system, and determine foreign
policy.

3. Bishop Jacques Bosset - (1627-1704), expressed ideas in a book entitled, Politics
      Drawn from the Very Words of Holy Scripture; he stated government was divinely
      ordained so that humans could live in an organized society. A monarchy was the best
      form of government and kings were responsible to no one, except God.

4. tax farming - tax collectors paid the government a percentage of the taxes they
collected in their districts.

5. gabelle - tax on salt, much hated by the French

6. Cardinal Richelieu - leader of the royal council and king's chief minister, who initiated
policies that strengthened the monarchy. He eliminated private armies, crushed
aristocratic conspiracies, and fortified cities of the Huguenots.

7. taille - an annual direct tax, levied on land and property

8. The Fronde - a revolt during Mazarin's rule. It was led by the nobles of the robe to
overthrow Mazarin. They wanted to secure their positions and increase own power.

9. Versailles - Louis XIV's grand and majestic palace. It served as the personal
      household of the king, location of the central governmental monarch, and place where
      powerful subjects came to find favors and offices for themselves and clients. It was
      the symbol of French absolutism and of the power of the "Sun King".

10. intendants - direct royal agents in the providences, "the eyes and ears of the
      ministers" in the provinces.

11. Edict of Fontainbleau - (Oct. 1685), revoked the Edict of Nantes and provided for
the destruction of Huguenot churches and the closing of their schools.

12. Jean Baptiste Colbert - (1619-1683), Louis XIV's controller of general finances.
      He sought to increase the wealth and power of France. He created the concept of
      mercantilism. He expanded the quantity and improved the quality of French
      manufactured goods. He built roads and canals to improve communication.

13. Puritans - Protestants within the Anglican church inspired by John Calvin's theology.
They became alienated by James I because he refused to recognize their desire for
religious recognition and more parliamentary power.

14. Petition of Rights of 1628 - It prohibited taxes without Parliament consent, arbitrary
imprisonment, quartering of soldiers in private homes, and declaration of martial law
in peacetime.

15. Ship Money - a levy on seacoast towns to pay for coastal defense, it was collected
annually throughout Britain.

16. Triennial Act -(1640), Parliament must meet at least once every three years with or
without the king's consent.

17. Oliver Cromwell - leader of the New Model Army (puritans) in the first phase of the
English Civil War. He captured Charles I in 1646. Oliver Cromwell became Lord
Protector after the Civil War.

18. Test Act - (1673), passed by Charles II; Anglicans could hold military and civil offices.

19. Glorious Revolution - (1688)- William and Mary came to the throne. They initiated
the English Bill of Rights (1689). This ended the struggle between Parliament and
the king.

20. Toleration Act - (1689), Puritan dissenters were given freedom of public worship,
but they did not have complete and political equality.