Discuss The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Absolutism

After completing the reading and watching the video it is clear that absolute monarchies (absolutism) has its advantages and disadvantages. As well as that court life in much different than the lives of everyday individuals. The benefits of living under absolutist France include unity/stability, national glory, and a strong monarchy. As the video noted, France moved to a centralized King providing authority and stability. This was important considering how damaged the country was from the thirty years’ war. Another advantage is when Louis XIV eliminated the threat of the nobles by removing them from the royal council. This was an advantage as the book states, “Louis domination of his ministers and secretaries gave him control of the central policy-making

machinery over government and thus authority over the traditional areas of monarchial power: the formulation of foreign policy, the making of war and peace, the assertion of the secular power of the crown against any religious authority, and the ability to levy taxes to fulfill these functions” (446). All of these had a positive effect on the regrowth of the French economy. This is also proven through the imitation of absolutism in France by Prussia, Russia, and Austria. Absolutism under Louis XIV made people feel confident in their ruler and a feeling of security. However, despite having some advantages there were a majority of disadvantages. One being prolong and costly wars of desired expansion as Louis XIV attempted to establish France as the most incontestable force in Europe. As the books quotes, “The gains were hardly worth the bloodshed and the misery he had caused the French people” (449). Another disadvantage was Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes, which made Protestantism illegal. They had the option to convert or leave. It is estimated 200,000 left France and sought Asylum. Many skilled merchants, craftsmen, tradesmen, etc left which had an impact on the French Economy. Another disadvantage to this is the only tolerable religion now is the Catholic religion. Another disadvantage the middle-class paid most of the taxes due to frequent wars and the cost of the construction of royal courts, the most famous being Versailles. Court life differed much from the lives of everyday people.

The book describes Versailles as, “It was the resident of the king, a reception hall for state affairs, an office building for the members of the king’s government, and the home of thousands of royal officials and aristocratic courtiers.” Life at court was filled with numerous activities where the nobles participated in activities with the King. Court life was centered around the King, Louis XIV. Some of these activities included: rising from bed, dining, praying, attending mass, and preparing to go back to bed. The noble centered their lives around the King’s in hope of being granted offices and titles that only the King could grant. Judging by the looks of The Hall of Mirrors picture in the textbook this certainly was as luxurious as it gets at the time and I’m sure the nobles expressed that through their appreciation towards the King. However, the Middle class and peasant class was forced to pay the most taxes. They were forced to pay taxes on their income, land, property, etc. The nobles did not even have to pay taxes. The middle class and peasant class was taxed so heavily they could barely support themselves. The inadequate tax base continued to fail as the costly wars overburdened the French

economy.