The Rise of the Absolute Monarchy in France

The French religious wars of the 16th century culminated in the establishment of a unified monarchy under King Henri IV of the Bourbon family. Henri became a popular king, whose popularity enabled him to consolidate royal power in the aftermath of the devisive civil wars.

He continued the policies begun by the Valois kings early in the 16th century, notably Franois I, of centralizing power in the king's hands, at the expense of nobles and regional estates. For instance, Henri ceased to summon the representative assembly of clergy, nobles, and commoners known as the Estates General although he allowed provincial assemblies to continue to oversee tax collection in their provinces.

Henri's power was greatest in regions of the kingdom where by tradition no such provincial assembly existed; in these regions, Henri introduced direct taxation on peasants' land and also increased the tax on salt, known as the gabelle, and other food and drink sold in cities