16th Century (Wikipedia) The 16th century begins with the Julian year 1501 and ends with either the Julian or the Gregorian year 1600 (depending on the reckoning used; the Gregorian calendar introduced a lapse of 10 days in October 1582).[1] It is regarded by historians as the century in which the rise of the West occurred.
During the 16th century, Spain and Portugal explored the world's seas and opened world-wide oceanic trade routes. Large parts of the New World became Spanish and Portuguese colonies, and while the Portuguese became the masters of Asia's and Africa's Indian Ocean trade, the Spanish opened trade across the Pacific Ocean, linking the Americas with Asia.
In Europe, the Protestant Reformation gave a major blow to the authority of the papacy and the Roman Catholic Church. European politics became dominated by religious conflicts, with the groundwork for the epochal Thirty Years' War being laid towards the end of the century. China evacuated the coastal areas, because of Japanese piracy. Events[edit] Ancien Regime in France (Wikipedia) Much of the medieval political centralization of France had been lost in the Hundred Years' War, and the Valois Dynasty's attempts at re-establishing control over the scattered political centres of the country were hindered by the Wars of Religion.
Much of the reigns of Henry IV, Louis XIII and the early years of Louis XIV were focused on administrative centralisation. Despite, however, the notion of "absolute monarchy" (typified by the king's right to issue lettres de cachet) and the efforts by the kings to create a centralized state, Ancien Régime France remained a country of systemic irregularities: administrative (including taxation), legal, judicial, and ecclesiastic divisions and prerogatives frequently overlapped, while the French nobility struggled to maintain their own rights in the matters of local government and justice, and powerful internal conflicts (like the Fronde) protested against this centralization. Terminology[edit] Provinces and administrative divisions[edit]
House of Valois (Wikipedia) The House of Valois[1] (French pronunciation: [valwa]) was a cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty, succeeding the House of Capet (or "Direct Capetians") as kings of France from 1328 to 1589.
A cadet branch of the family reigned as dukes of Burgundy from 1363 to 1482. The Valois descended from Charles, Count of Valois (1270-1325), the fourth son of King Philip III of France (reigned 1270-1285). They based their claim on the Salic law, which excluded females (Joan II of Navarre) as well as male descendants through the distaff line (Edward III of England), from the succession to the French throne. Unexpected inheritance[edit] The Capetian dynasty seemed secure both during and after the reign of Philip IV from 1285 to 1313. In 1328 three candidates had plausible claims to the throne: Philip, Count of Valois, son of Charles of Valois, who was the closest heir in male line and a grandson of Philip III. The claimants to the French throne in 1328 List of Valois kings of France[edit] See also[edit] Elisabeth of Valois (Wikipedia) Elisabeth of France (also known as Elisabeth of Valois; French: Élisabeth de France or Élisabeth de Valois, Spanish: Isabel de Valois; 2 April 1545 – 3 October 1568) was the eldest daughter of Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici.
Early life[edit] She was born in the Château de Fontainebleau. Her childhood was spent in the French royal nursery, where her father insisted she share her bedroom with her future sister-in-law, Mary, Queen of Scots, who was about the same age. Even though Elisabeth had to give precedence to Mary (since Mary was already a crowned queen), the two would remain close friends for the rest of their lives.
While it is acknowledged that her sister Margaret and her future sister-in-law Mary were prettier than she, she was one of Catherine's attractive daughters. Marriage[edit] Philip was completely enchanted by his 14-year-old bride, and within a short period of time had given up his mistress. In fiction[edit]