• Below are the stories Submitted thus far:
    Sarah L:
    Cardinal Mazarin: helped Louis XIV's mother rule in place of him as a child
    The Fronde: an attempted revolution, led by the aristocrats, against Mazarin
     
    In about 1648, the nobles and the parlement started a revolution in hopes of replacing Mazarin with a king with far less power, They believed if they succeeded they would be be able to control France themselves. This revolution was called the Fronde and the revolutionaries the frondeurs. Ultimately, the revolution was put down, after the nobles lost all support for their cause.
     
    The following "primary source" is an exert from the diary of a young woman alive during the Fronde:
     
    It had been terrifying. Shortly following the nobles' declaration of their intent for revolution chaos filled the streets. My family tried to hole ourselves in our house as much as possible to avoid getting caught up in the vicious street fighting taking place just outside our door. Things had gotten even worse when my father heard of how the nobles, on top of their band of mercenaries, had actually brought in the Spaniards to assist in their revolution. The Spaniards. They had surely lost it. Everyday we worried they would appear in our town and proceed to slaughter us all like cattle. Our neighboring had been pillaged, the smoke from its burning buildings visible from our kitchen window. We all had waited with baited breath for something to happen, manic terror coloring our breathe. It was only later we heard how the nobles finally lost all support after their stint with the Spanish. However, at the time we just sat, locked in our house and armed with whatever we had, and  waited until we finally heard from our neighbor that the Fronde had been put down. Yet even after hearing this delightful news, I can not help but worry that the aristocrats will once again become restless and this will happen again.
     
     
    Although the Fronde was fruitless, it did have a big impact on how Louis XIV ruled France. He was extremely distrustful of the nobility and tried to take as much power from them as possible. This led to the establishment of his absolute monarchy.
     
    Sana

    THE EDICT OF NANTES

    Factual intro:

    In response to a clamoring from the Huguenots for personal security and protection of religious liberty, Henry IV issued the Edict of Nantes in 1598, which allowed nobles who were also manorial lords to hold protestant services in their own households, and Protestantism in towns were it was the prevailing religion. However, it barred it from towns that were mainly Catholic, and from an area centering Paris.

    Primary source:

    As remembered and recorded by French merchant Pierre Louis in the year of 1600

    The year Henry of Navarre issued the Edict of Nantes, 1598, was a good one for us Protestants. Granted, it took a while for those stubborn, mulish Catholics to accept, but gradually they realized that since the king of France himself had declared it, and that really, it wasnt particularly interrupting their own Catholic faith, there was no point in trying to prevent the inevitable.

    I was visiting my cousin in his (unfortunately) Catholic town at the time the news of the Edict came around. On this day, all the townspeople were called to gather in the main square. They stood huddled together, whispering rapidly, occasionally giving the royal messenger standing on a podium in the middle of it all an inquiring glance. My cousin and I stood rather apart from the crowd, not particularly curious. This was simply a mandatory gathering. However, as the messenger began to read out the news, our interest became caught, for this concerned our own dear faith! Around us the expressions on peoples faces turned more and more towards the incredulousProtestantism, actually allowed in entire towns?! How absolutely ridiculous!

    Needless to say, my cousin had kept his true faith unknown in the hope to escape from harassment from the more intolerant Catholics; but one hearing this news, that Protestantism may really be accepted in France, he turned to me with radiant eyesfor now he could move to a town that would accept him and his faith, and not only this, but actually worship the faith along with him.

    I believe that this Edict of Nantes is for the best, truly. Two years have passed since the day it was issued, and I still believe this. There has been enough killing and harassment over differences in faith as it is, and this could finally force Protestants and Catholics to accept each other, and coexist.

    Outcome: the Edict appeased religious controversyhowever, didnt last for long, for Cardinal Richilue soon revoked the Edict.

    Alekz O 

    People:

    Richelieu cardinal and French monarch

    French Huguenots

    French nobles

     Background:

                     The new French monarch Richelieu was taking the place of Louis the 14th because he was not of age, during this time he had tried to introduce mercantilism and ended the privet warfare between nobles as well as dueling. And for a fee he could give a title of nobility, and for the first time he had felt that he was at risk of civil war. Because of the edict of Nantes there was a state with in a state thing that was happening with the Huguenots so under the control of duke of rohan had decided to attack him. So in 1629 with the peace of alais they lost their citys their armies and there military territories.

     

    Primary source
    Modern History Textbook of Boring History                                                                                           
    a journal entry from the French noble.

    To my dearest journal the events of this past months has been odd our leader Richelieu has taken away the ability to have a privet war with a nether noble I do not understand this but on the good side he had wanted for us to trade more openly end even with people that arent nobility and not be ashamed of it and there has been so thing going around about the Huguenots and I and worried about what might happen.

    A journal entry from a Huguenot rebel.

    Dear diary today we had heard a speech from a man who presented himself as the duke of rohan what he had said had wiped the crowed into a frenzy agents the French monarch Richelieu and now with the backing of the English this may be possible but all this I know is that I will be joining him in his journey to overthrow the monarch.

    Outcome
    With the failure of the Huguenot rebellion, monarch Richelieu had made the peace of alais which had caused for they lost their citys their armies and there military territories. After the French monarchs had reestablished it after the civil war that they had returned to the foreign policy of Francis 1st.

    Evan Derrickson

     

     

    Characters

    Louis XIV

    Cardinal Mazarin                             

    Claus (fictional)

     

    Claus Journal

    7 March (fictional day) 1661

     

    Today was an amazing day. The castle has been very gloomy recently due to the death of Cardinal Mazarin. Not that all or even most of us servants agreed with his policies, but out of respect for the Kings love of him and the fact that we dont have say in anything. See, the cardinal was like a father to King Louis, so when he died, well lets just say our King has his weak moments. But today, our beloved Louis announced that he will be ruling the country as the absolute monarch! No chief minister merde to get in his way, him, alone, ruling our proud country. Its a great day for all of France. Upon the announcement four messengers were sent out to spread the news, traveling all in different directions to tell the rest of France this great news. I hope they tell everyone, I would have the entire world know it if I could. I have high hopes for Louis. Oh, and I havent even mentioned the best part of this great day. Today, earlier, the king spoke to me for a considerable amount of time. Ill explain the day in some detail. So, this morning I was sent to the Kings chambers to help him dress and to feed him breakfast. When I got there, he was praying, so I stood quietly and watched the Sun King pray. When he was finished he looked up at me, I bowed and he told me to enter, then he went and did his morning business and came back. Then I served him his meal, a light chicken broth, a small loaf of bread, and a chalice filled with red wine, a meal fit for a king haha. The whole thing was done in complete and very eerie silence. Then after he finished eating I dressed him in his robe and such. Finally he said, Thank you, you did a good job I think he noticed how nervous I was. I said your welcome your majesty. And that was it. Amazing right? The king NEVER talks to servants; nobles have to pay to have a hearing with him unless he calls for them. But enough of my story, I should explain what happened later, with his speech. So after another prayer, he went and spoke with his ministers, then we went to mass. Next he had his supper, it was very quiet in the court, and everyone was waiting for his speech after the meal. Finally he left the table and had everyone go out of the court into the streets, he walked out onto the balcony of his study, where everyone in the street could see and hear him for his speech. He talked of how saddened he was by the Cardinal, then he spoke of his father Louis XIII, and about his death when Louis XIV was only four, or was it five? Im not sure actually. And about how great his mother had been in government. And finally about his intensions. I have come to the solution that I will run this country alone, absolute monarchy is the only way. The new king said. And he announced that the coronation would be tomorrow. Then we all cheered and made merry. Then I went back to the kitchens and then to my quarters to write this, and now sleep. Its been a historical day
     

    Evan Pallor

    AP European History

    Block 4B

    November 3, 2010

     

    People:

    Louis XIV- King of France

    William of Orange- King of England and the Netherlands

    Charles II- King of Spain

    Leopold I- Holy Roman Emperor

    Marshall Boufflers- Diplomat of France

    Earl William of Portland- English diplomat

     

    Introduction:

                During the reign of Louis XIV, France was the most powerful country by far in Europe. The rulers of Spain, the Netherlands, the Holy Roman Emperor feared Frances growing might, and joined together into an alliance known as the Grand Alliance. This alliance warred with Louis for nine years, with France generally coming out on top. At the end however, both sides were facing economic crises, so they decided to parley.

     

    Story:

                I walked respectfully behind my master, William, the Earl of Portland. We were headed to yet another meeting with Marshall Boufflers, the French diplomat. We had been negotiating for weeks, and we were finally getting close to a working plan. We entered the negotiation room. My master sat down at the table while I scurried off to sit in a corner and got out some paper and a quill. We waited like this for a couple minutes, and then the door burst open and Monsieur Boufflers strode in. He strutted over and sat down opposite my master.

                Good morning Earl William. I trust you are well.

                Very well Marshall Boufflers. And you?

                I am ready. Shall we begin?

                They negotiate for several hours, while I dutifully took notes. From time to time they would consult me as to what they had already agreed on, or what had been said at a previous meeting. Then, all of a sudden, they were done. The two noblemen stood up and shook hands, and took the completed treaty. It was to be delivered to Louis XIV and all the kings of the Grand Alliance (William III of Orange, Leopold I the Holy Roman Emperor, and Charles II of Spain). If they approved it, peace would be here at last.

     

    Outcome: The Treaty was approved by William of Orange and Louis XIV immediately, and the other kings of the Grand Alliance were convinced to accept. Louis lost almost all of the land that he had won, although he kept some land in the Holy Roman Empire. Louis also obtained some land in North America. A tenuous European peace was reached, although it would not last for long.

     
     
    Julia R
    Pre-reading info:

    People:

    Cardinal Mazarin: governed France in Louis XIVs name well he was still to young

    Richelieu: governed France after the death of Louis XIII well his son Louis XIV was still a child

    Louis XIV: King of France from 1643-1715

     

    Intro:

    When King Louis XIII died in 1643 his son was only 5 years old. So Richelieu governed France in his name. Following Richelieu Cardinal Mazarin ruled France well Louis XIV was still to young. Many people were not happy with Mazarin, especially parliament and the nobles. So in 1648 they rebelled. This was called the Fronde.  There was street fighting and the nobles terrorized peasants. After awhile Parliament and the bourgeoisie withdrew and the nobles called in Spanish troops for support. Many people hated the nobles and were furious that they would bring Spanish troops to help them when Spain and France were at war. The Frond ended with little accomplishments and mostly in defeat. Following Mazarins death in 1661  Louis XIV took over France.

     

    Tuesday ,1648

    Dear diary,

    Today we took action. We, being the other nobles and the members of parliament. For what seams like forever parliament has been arguing their right to pronounce certain edicts unconstitutional. Well of course under Cardinal Mazarins rule no one paid attention to us. So today we put barricades up and fighting broke out on our streets of Paris. But today was just the beginning of the fronde.

     

     Wednesday

    Dear diary,

    Today there was more brutal fighting. But we (the nobles) were joined by armed bands of soldiers that have been unemployed since the peace of Westphalia. We broke into peasants homes taking their belongings and terrorizing them. They should be the ones getting higher taxes and being required increased labor services.

     

    A Few Months Later

     

    Friday

    Dear diary,

    Parliament and the bourgeoisie have decided to withdraw their support, but we (the nobles) will continue to fight. They might be scared and weak but we are strong and are not satisfied yet. Mazarin is in no position to be ruling our country, he is ruining everything. One-day the kings power will be contained and   one of us will rule. Until then we will fight.

     

    A few weeks later

    Dear diary,

    The Spanish troops arrived today as our reinforcements. After three days of discussing it we decided that it was necessary, even though we are still at war with Spain. Cardinal Mazarin has to go and we will see that that happens. Parliament, and pretty much all of France, is outraged that we would bring in Spanish support, but when we achieve our goals they will see its necessity.

     

    A few years later 

    Dear diary,

    It has finally happened! Not in the way we would have liked but thats unimportant at the moment. Today in the year of 1661 Cardinal Mazarin has died. The news came to us this morning as every one crammed into the town square where an announcement was to be made by a kings man. I was shocked to hear that our actual king Louis XIV would be taking over the country by himself. He is 23 and previously Richelieu then Mazarin have ruled France. There was a silence among the crowd as people took in this knowledge. Not much is known of our king except he is young and well smart, not the best educated. For now we will wait and see what the future brings and how our young king will go about running our country. But I suppose anything is an improvement from Mazarin.


     
Last Modified on November 12, 2010