In seventeenth century France, King Louis XIV was the absolute ruler, meaning he had complete control over all of his subjects. He justified this, because he believed it was his ‘God given right’ to be king. Because Louis XIV wanted complete control over France, he quickly became one of the most powerful rulers in his time. Louis XIV became known for his intense desire to learn all that he could about everyone and everything. One of the ways he achieved this was by selecting some of his most ignorant ministers, and inviting them to his palace, known as Versailles. Louis XIV’s reign was one of the most powerful of his time. When Louis XIV’s father died in 1643, he became king at the age of four years old. Louis XIV was always afraid of noble, and knowledgeable men who could possibly pose a threat to his reign. He began to hate them, because he wanted complete control over his country, and chose his ministers for their ignorance, instead of their knowledge. He liked to be involved in even the tiniest things, like household officials, the way his mansions were built and maintained, and how his cooks prepared his food. Louis XIV’s constant desire to be loved by his subjects turned into a fatal weakness, so the only way to ensure his security, was to establish absolute monarchy. …show more content…
In order to maintain his power, Louis XIV exclusively appointed ministers that showed ignorance.
Like i mentioned before, the kings intense desire to be loved turned into his one weakness. His ministers, generals, courtiers, and even his mistresses, understood that the only way to get close to the king would be to flatter him. Archbishop Fenelon wrote in his ‘Letter to Louis’ “You live as one whose eyes are fatally blinded.” This basically means that the king was to focused on being surrounded by people who praised him, instead of focusing on the benefit of his
people. Not only did Louis XIV monitor the appointment of his royal subjects, but he invited them all to live in his palace, known as Versailles. He did this so that he could make sure that they remained loyal to him, and so he could ensure the security of his throne. Because his subjects were under constant supervision, there was no way for any of them to betray them. Louis XIV took drastic measures to protect his rule, instead of focusing on important matter Absolute rule was extremely effective for Louis XIV. He maintained control, and his subjects remained loyal to him. Louis XIV was so involved with everything that was going on, no plots to overthrow him ever went unnoticed. He also was always kept up to date on everything, and never lost touch with any of his subjects. Because of his intense need for adoration from his subjects, Louis XIV went on to rule the longest reign in european history.
Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, was an absolutist monarch of France who sought to heavily suppress the power of novels while simultaneously promoting the ideals of a “divine right monarchy”. A man notorious for his incredible spending on various personal ventures, such as the extremely costly construction of a new palace at Versailles, Louis XIV was often the subject of criticism and mockery, especially from the nobles who hoped to discredit him and his absolutist regime. Overall, Louis XIV did predominantly act in a manner with his own personal agenda in mind, as seen through his Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, occurring as a result of his desire to have his country fall in line with his own beliefs, his unrelenting expenditures
King Louis XIV was a showy and self-absorbed king. His palace was representative of his personality and ideals. The Versailles palace architecture displayed Louis XIV ideals of secular issues. He cared more about spending money to show off his power. Unlike the Escorial, Versailles was centered on “The Sun King” instead of religion. At one point Louis XIV stated that “he was the state”. This statement was saying that Louis XIV represented the center and best of France. An example of this was that King Louis XIV lived in the middle of Versailles. Versailles was also very ornate and had the atmosphere of freeness. However, the Escorial was very basic like Philip II.
Louis XIV of France used his grand and gaudy Palace of Versailles as a “pleasure prison” for the nobles while Peter the Great sent all of his nobles to St. Petersburg – both of these actions made it difficult for nobles to rebel. In France, Louis XIV ridiculed the nobility by sending them to the Palace of Versailles and busying them with silly little jobs and knit-picky rituals. He gave them these useless jobs to prevent them from ban...
nation. In order to become a true absolute ruler Louis xiv needed to make sure
Of all the absolute rulers in Europe, by far the best example of one, and the most powerful, was Louis XIV of France. Although Louis had some failures, he also had many successes. He controlled France’s money and had many different ways to get, as well as keep his power, and he knew how to delegate jobs to smart, but loyal people.
... move, defunding any revolts they might plan, and preoccupying their time with petty social matters instead of matters of the state. If Louis’ reign was not supported by the enabling qualities of the Palace of Versailles, his reign would certainly not be as absolute as it was.
At the beginning of the 17th century, France was a place of internal strife and bickering bureaucrats. The king, Louis XIII, had come to the throne in 1610 at the age of nine, leaving the running of the kingdom to his mother, Marie de Medici. One of her court favorites, Armand de Plessis de Richelieu, rose through the ranks, eventually gaining the title of Cardinal and becoming one of Louis’ key advisors and minister. His political manifesto, Political Testament, was a treatise for King Louis XIII that offered him advice mainly concerned with the management and subtle subjugation of the nobles and the behavior of a prince. Beneath all of the obeisant rhetoric, Richelieu was essentially writing a handbook for Louis XIII on how to survive as a king in a political landscape increasingly dominated by the aristocracy. Richelieu’s ideology shows a pragmatic attitude reminiscent of The Prince, a political work by 15th century Florentine politician Niccoló Machiavelli.
King Louis XIV's 72 year reign was incredibly influential in shaping French history. King Louis XIV’s childhood was traumatic because of “La Fronde” which was a noble rebellion against the monarchy. This experience taught King Louis XIV to distrust the nobles. It was for this reason that he eventually excluded nobility from the council and surrounded himself with loyal ministers whom he could control. He also separated the aristocracy from the people of France by moving the court to the Palace of Versailles. One of the most notable of King Louis XIV’s decisions was that he refused to appoint another Prime Minister after the death of Prime Minister Mazarin. Every decision, from the declaration of war to the approval of a passport, went through him personally. During his reign as king, France participated in several wars including the War of Devolution, in Anglo-Dutch War, and the War of the Spanish Succession. Another major action he took was the proclamation of the Edict of Fontainebleau, which revoked the Edict of Nantes, imposing religious uniformity through Catholi...
Louis XIV (the fourteenth) was an absolute monarch. He was often called "the Sun King," and ruled over France. He devoted himself to helping France achieve economic, political, and cultural prominence. Many historians believe the phrase "absolute power corrupts absolutely" mirrors Louis' reign. Louis XIV revoked the Edict on Nantes, changing the economy of France in one motion. By creating the city of Versailles and being a major patron of the arts, Louis was very influential on French culture. He made France go almost bankrupt from his costly wars and failures. Louis was very corrupt in his power, and it shown in all he did to change France; he got what he wanted, when he wanted it.
When Louis the XIV began his rule in 1643, his actions immediately began to suggest and absolute dictatorship. Because of the misery he had previously suffered, one of the first things he did was to decrease the power of the nobility. He withdrew himself from the rich upper class, doing everything secretly. The wealth had no connection to Louis, and therefore all power they previously had was gone. He had complete control over the nobles, spying, going through mail, and a secret police force made sure that Louis had absolute power. Louis appointed all of his officials, middle class men who served him without wanting any power. Louis wanted it clear that none of his power would be shared. He wanted "people to know by the rank of the men who served him that he had no intention of sharing power with them." If Louis XIV appointed advisors from the upper classes, they would expect to gain power, and Louis was not willing to give it to them. The way Louis XIV ruled, the sole powerful leader, made him an absolute ruler. He had divine rule, and did not want to give any power to anyone other than himself. These beliefs made him an absolute ruler.
Frightfully stimulated as a child from a home intrusion by Parisians during an aristocratic revolt in 1651, Louis XIV realized his rule would be decisive, militant, and absolute (458). His lengthy reign as Frances’ king and how he ruled would be the example that many countries throughout Europe would model their own regimes under. With this great authority also came greater challenges of finance and colonization. In the 17th century, the era of absolute monarchs was the means to restore European life (458). Louis XIV exemplified absolutism, and his ruling set the example for other monarchs throughout Europe.
During the medieval times, in order to be an effective and well-liked ruler, a monarch was to be just, a strong soldier, and a pious leader. According to Jean de Joinville’s Life of Saint Louis, King Louis IX was the model of an ideal medieval monarch because he exhibited the virtues previously mentioned. Louis IX was far more than just a legitimate and educated French king. He displayed sincere piety throughout his life, which prompted him to rule his kingdom with fairness and peace, as well as gave him the bravery needed in battle knowing God that would protect him.
Born on September 5, 1638, to Louis XIII, King of France and his Hapsburg Queen, Anne of Austria, Louis XIV was the miraculous son to twenty-three years of childless marriage (History.com Staff, 2009 1). After his father’s untimely death on May 14, 1643, the four-year-old Louis XIV ascended to the throne. However, due to the emperor’s immature age, Louis XIV’s mother and Queen regent, Anne of Austria temporarily ruled over France alongside Cardinal Jules Mazarin, France’s chief minister and Louis’ godfather. Despite coming of age
An Analysis of the Absolute Monarchy of France in the 17th Century This historical study will define the absolute monarchy as it was defied through the French government in the 17th century. The term ‘absolute” is defined I the monarchy through the absolute control over the people through the king and the royal family. All matters of civic, financial, and political governance was controlled through the king’s sole power as the monarchical ruler of the French people. In France, Louis XIII is an important example of the absolute monarchy, which controlled all facts of military and economic power through a single ruler. Udder Louis XIII’s reign, the consolidation of power away from the Edicts of Nantes to dominant local politics and sovereignty
The Palace of Versailles was the official home of the Kings of France from 1682 until 1790. Originally, a hunting lodge built in 1624 by Louis XIII, but then was expanded by Louis XIV in the beginning of 1669. With beautiful architecture and amazing landscape, it is one of the most well- known and beautiful palaces in France. Its garden is so unique and one of Europe's largest. It played a huge responsibility in French government and was used for some of the biggest meetings of Kings and Queens. It is a very reflective place for the French and showed a basis of culture for the people. The small structure became the base on which was constructed into one of the most extravagant buildings in the world. The Palace of Versailles is a famous French landmark due to its elaborate construction, its role as a center of government, and its influence on French culture.