acturing, and commerce were encouraged. Taxes on the peasants were reduced, and taxes on the other groups were raised. He wiped out nobles that were advising him and made a small cabinet, ensuring an absolute ruler. Sully replaced royal officers, for those managed by local representative bodies. Henry's religious principle and political advantage gave him a special place in French history. Under his rule the king became more powerful. He assured that the position of the king would be absolute. He cut off the ties with nobles and others that were a threat to the king. He restored order and prosperity to the kingdom. The economy improved as well. He supported overseas trade and built a highway system in France to promote commerce. By evenly distributing the tax burden of the peasants he successfully lessened the class conflict. According to him if the lower classes aren't happy then the upper classes will be more unhappy. The religious conflict of Catholics and Protestants was stopped with the issueing of the Edict of Nantes. Henry IV was a great ruler and did many honorable things for France.Louis XIII, the son of Henry IV, ruled France from 1610 to 1643. During this period France became a strong power in Europe. He became ruler of France at the age of four, and his mother served as regent during his minority years, however, she was weak and selfish. The first years of his rule were filled with anarchy and disorder. Louis XIII could not trust anyone. He was constantly on the look out for courtiers and nobles. Throughout the kingdom it was rumored that he was an imbosol, although he was a smart guy, yet he helped these rumors spread. When Cardinal Richileiu came into power, from 1624-1642, he made France the strongest power in Europe. He promised the king,"...to employ all my efforts and all the authority which it might please you to give me, to ruin the Huguenot party, to lay low the pride of the nobility, an...
