Louis XIII: Foreign Policy

THEMES IN HISTORY: THE
ASCENDANCY OF FRANCE
Foreign Policy
Louis XIII 1610 - 1643…read more

INTRODUCTION TO FRENCH
FOREIGN POLICY
"Check the progress of Spain and halt the advance of the House of Austria"
Richelieu
· The basic aim of F.P was to protect France whilst the Spanish and
Austrian Hapsburgs
· Henri IV, had signed the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis 1559 which
recognised Spain as the dominant power
· Marie de Medici formed an alliance with Spain
· The rapprochement lasted from 1610 ­ 23 and resulted in the
marriage between Louis XIII and Anne of Austria
· When R decided to fight against Spain, it "must be done with great
caution, tact and secrecy"…read more

THE REGENCY TAKE ACTION
· In 1621, the Spanish occupied the Valtelline
· Louis decided that this area was of great important to France
· French policy was now firmly anti-Hapsburg
Treaty of Barwalde
· Signed with Sweden in January 1631
· Offered a subsidy of a million livers a year and moral support
· AFTER he intervened in North Germany against the Spanish
Heilbronn League 1633
· Consisted of the German Protestant Princes and Sweden
· Supported by France, to end the Hapsburgs
· However, it was destroyed at the Battle of Nordlingen 1634
· The Protestant princes submitted to the Holy Roman Empire
· The Spanish seized control of all French bases in the Rhineland
· France now had to openly declare war on the Hapsburgs…read more

FRANCE'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE
THIRTY YEAR WARS
Year of Corbie 1636:
· Spanish seized the French town of Corbie
· The prepared to march on the capital, Louis took action
· He calmed the citizens , rallied troops and rode out
· Bernard of Saxe-Weimar moved in on the Spanish Flank
· Unwilling to risk a major battle, as winder approached, the Spanish
left France…read more

FRANCE'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE
THIRTY YEAR WARS
1638: Siege of Fuentarrabia, indicted the first sign of French success
1638: Spain was defeated at the Battle of the Downs, Breisach was
taken; A Spanish foothold in France
1640: France occupied Turin
1642: France recover Perpignan and Roussillon; which had
traditionally been a Spanish stronghold in France since 1496
1643: Battle of Rocrio. Conde destroyed the Legend of Spanish
invincibility…read more