Question 1
Evaluate the interpretations in both of the two passages and explain which you think is more
convincing as an explanation of the nature and extent of the achievements of Henry IV.
Passage A
Henry IV brought peace to France in 1598 after nearly forty years of civil conflict and nine years of war with Spain. He ended the civil wars, restored strong monarchy and established a new and great dynasty on the throne. No doubt Henry wanted every peasant to have a chicken in his pot, even if he never made the famous statement, but he did little that was positive to achieve it except to give peace. His economic policy was partly good and partly bad and largely ineffectual. No fundamental reforms were carried out in either government or finance. But Henry eliminated conflicts.
His method of government suited the times, but it had defects. Henry lived by expedients and was completely conservative at a time when administrative reforms might at least have begun. Henry inherited, and bequeathed to his son, a muddled administration by venal officials, made worse by civil war.
Henry took advantage of a flowing tide in favour of monarchy in France after the anarchy and misery of the civil wars. But in dealing with the Church, as in dealing with the Parlements and the financiers, the King’s scope was limited.
Expedients – short-term measures Venal – corrupt or corruptible
Adapted from: W. E. Brown, The First Bourbon Century in France, published in 1971.
Passage B
The reign of Henry IV foreshadowed the royal absolutism of his grandson, Louis XIV. Under Henry’s direction, the prestige of the crown was restored, its financial basis was secured, and new steps were taken to reduce the power of rival constitutional bodies within the state. In analysing this development, it may be tempting to identify the administrative work and techniques of the Duke of Sully of being of paramount importance. Nevertheless, the crown owed much to the personality and character of the ruler. The vigour of Henry’s words and his convincing combination of threat and plea obliged the parlement rapidly to give in to his demands. Throughout his reign Henry replied to similar obstruction with the same tireless insistence on obedience: ‘I have made an edict and I wish it to be kept’, ‘I wish to be obeyed’. In the making of French absolutism, the constant repetition of such commands proved as persuasive an instrument as any bureaucratic instruction issued by the Duke of Sully.
Adapted from: M. Rady, France: Renaissance, Religion and Recovery 1494–1610 (Access to History), published in 1989.
[30]
Answer
