Why Did the French Lack Money During the 1700s and Who Was to Blame?

AP European History – Per 3 Jacob Ortiz

DBQ “Robe Nobles” 10/29/13

The French, due to the expensive costs of war and inflation, needed more money during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. France took action and created new taxes and fees, as well as giving people the ability to buy their way into the nobility. Before that, people were born into nobility or chosen by the king to enter nobility. However, some of the “robe nobles” who bought their way into nobility were criticized. The main criticism came from the sword nobles, who served the king or were born into nobility. Some nobles believed nobility depended on virtue or morality. The two types on nobility fought to see who truly was loyal to the king and who the true nobles were. The king, along with many other people, decided they needed to determine what the true definition of a noble was. Arguments on the definition of a noble were brought up by the sword nobles, who believed they were the most loyal, the robe nobles, other peasants and merchants, and Kings Louis XIII and XIV.

The sword nobles showed great disgust towards the robe nobles. The sword nobles were born or chosen by the king into nobility. Nobleman Baron Loubert believes money has corrupted the ideas of the French and have changed the sacrifices of many elders. (Doc 11) Gilles Roque believes having robe noblemen disrupts the ancient line of people who fought for the nobility. (Doc 9) The Prince of Condeis angered because virtue plays no part in the decision of nobility, just money. (Doc 4) Jean de la Taille is focused on the fact that the meaning of a noble is being lost in the amount of robe nobles that are rising. (Doc 1) Pierre Primaudaye argues what the person is made of on the inside decided the ability to become part of the nobility. (Doc 2)

Other people, rope nobles and non nobles, had different opinions on the nobility situations and the true identity of a noble. The Villagers of Mondeville testified against a...