Francis I

Reigning for more than three decades, Francis I consolidated an extensive territory of some 15 million inhabitants, including its independent-minded nobility. Considering France as a European power, he wanted a modern model of government different from the feudal system described by Seyssel. Guillaume Bude’s (1467-1540) Institution du prince (Office of the prince, 1518), influenced by Niccolo Machiavelli’s (1469-1527) famous book on the Renaissance prince, interpreted the king as the embodiment of God on Earth, to be obeyed in all matters. While recognizing the necessity for a council of advisers as well as for respect for the law and the church, Francis I often attempted to rule as if he had absolute power. Early in his rule, one purpose of this behavior was to expose corrupt officials, especially those with access to the treasury who had been robbing the Crown of revenue from taxes. Most importantly, Francis I firmly believed that only the king could make political decisions affecting the entire state, such as making treaties. After a confrontation with the Parlement of Paris during which the president informed him that the people gave Parlement its power, Francis issued an edict limiting Parlement to its judicial role, forbidding its mem-

Handbook to Life in Renaissance Europe

Bers to become involved with national politics. Unlike the monarchs of England (see pages 17-18), the French king was not required to have royal edicts approved by a legislative body.

Renaissance France did not have, or pretend to have, representative government. The Estates General—a national assembly of the three classes of French citizenry, the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners—was blatantly ignored. Even though the King’s Council numbered into the hundreds, these appointed advisers were scattered throughout the country and never met as a single group. Administrative affairs were carried on by several smaller councils, none of which convened with any other, and often with overlapping jurisdiction. The wheels of government turned very slowly in France. Partly because the system was so cumbersome and communication so slow, Francis I had a small core of a dozen advisers at court, namely, his close relatives and favorites. The structure of this group foreshadowed the secretaries of state of late 16th-century France. For regional administration, the king himself selected governors. In 1515 France had 11 provinces, each with a governor entitled royal councillor representing the king in all matters. The governors were also expected to support the interests of wealthy and important individuals within their respective provinces, selling governmental posts and other lucrative positions. France’s political system during the Renaissance provided income for the nobility and wealthy bourgeoisie, while taxing the middle and lower classes on necessities such as salt.