Why did France not experience the same path towards absolute monarchy as Russia?

The reason France did not experience the same path towards absolute monarchy as Russia is rooted in the dynamics of the French nobility during the period of monarchical consolidation. While the French monarchy did exert significant control, the nobility retained a level of power and influence that differed from the situation in Russia. In Russia, the monarchy was able to assert absolute power and minimize the nobility's role more directly, culminating in strong centralized control.

In France, the nobility was not completely removed from power; instead, they often played crucial roles in governance and held significant land and privileges. Even as absolute monarchs like Louis XIV attempted to curtail noble power by centralizing authority and promoting loyal courtiers, the nobility was not entirely eradicated but rather managed and co-opted into the royal system. This delicate balance allowed for a different evolution of monarchy in France compared to Russia, where the tsars were more successful in diminishing the power of the aristocracy.

In summary, the continued presence and influence of the French nobility significantly shaped the political landscape in France, leading to a more complex relationship with monarchy than that experienced in Russia, where the aristocracy's power was more thoroughly suppressed.