1559-1589
the Economy 		1610-1661
the Economy






Foreign Policy under Henri IV.



Henri's coronation in 1594, the EDICT OF NANTES in 1598 and the subsequent TREATY OF VERVIERS (1598, with Spain and Savoy) ended decades of civil war with occasional Spanish interference, beginning a period of internal peace and moderate prosperity.
Henri IV. appointed Maximilien de Bethune (SULLY), a Huguenot, superintendent of the finances; he reduced government expenses, introduced indirect taxes, took 40,000 names from the rolls of the taille, lists of nobles exempt from taxation, and introduced the PAULETTE in 1604, a tax on the sale of government offices (a prevalent tradition at that time). Overall, he not only doubled the state revenues but created a budget surplus.
Sully promoted agriculture, had roads restored/built and canals constructed. He resigned from office in 1611, after the assassination of Henri IV. in 1610.



EXTERNAL
FILES 		Biography of Henri IV., from Apercu Historique de l¡¯epoque de Saint Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) , also from Catholic Encyclopedia
Huguenot and Protestant Reformed Chronology, from Pierre Chastain Family Association
Personal and Political Aspects in the Correspondence of Henri IV, by B.C. Weber and G.D. de Rocher
Biography of Maximilen de Bethune, Duc de Sully, from Apercu Historique de l¡¯epoque de Saint Vincent de Paul (1581-1660), from encyclopedia.com
DOCUMENTS Les monnaies de France 1515-1789 : Henri IV, from Association Francaise de Genealogie
Coins minted under Charles X. (1589-90) and Henri IV., from Numismatique - Monnaie
REFERENCE



This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted in 2001, last revised on November 9th 2004

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