French Revolution Revision

The Early Modern period in French history spans the following reigns, from 1461 to the Revolution, breaking in 1789:

The House of Valois was a cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty (from 1328 to 1589) 

·        Henry IV the Great, 1589–1610

·        the Regency of Marie de Medici, 1610–17

·        Louis XIII the Just and his minister Cardinal Richelieu, 1610–43

·        the Regency of Anne of Austria and her minister Cardinal Mazarin, 1643–51

·        Louis XIV the Sun King and his minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert, 1643–1715

·        the Régence, a period of regency under Philip II of Orléans, 1715–23

·        Louis XV the Beloved and his minister Cardinal André-Hercule de Fleury, 1715–74

·        Louis XVI, 1774–92

Long years of war had drained the financial resources of France and along with it was the cost of maintaining an extravagant court at immense palace of Versailles.

To meet its regular expenses, such as the cost of maintaining an army, the court, running government offices or universities, the state was forced to increase the taxes.

It is an extreme situation where the basic means of livelihood were endangered.