Louis the XIV Essay Example
Louis the XIV Essay Example

Louis the XIV Essay Example

Available Only on StudyHippo
Topics:
  • Pages: 7 (1663 words)
  • Published: December 26, 2017
  • Type: Essay
View Entire Sample
Text preview

Louis XIV, born in 1638 to Louis XIII and Anne of Austria, possessed the qualities of a great king. At just four years and eight months old, he became the third king of the Bourbon dynasty. As an absolute monarch, Louis XIV effectively rebuilt France's political, social, economic, and cultural standing.

His kingdom consisted of France and Navarre with a population of 19 million people. During his youth, his mother served as his regent.

Despite lacking formal education, Louis remained deeply devoted and grateful to his mother. She had prioritized his role as a ruler over academic learning, believing that kings should create history rather than study it. At the age of thirteen, the French deemed Louis old enough to rule without a regent, although Cardinal Jules Mazarin, who was both Louis's Godfather and France's First Minister, still held signif

...

icant power. Despite his dislike for the Cardinal, Louis recognized the importance of his support and expertise. Prior to his death, Mazarin imparted valuable words of wisdom to Louis.

He instructed Louis to prioritize the church, but also to closely monitor its members, treat the nobility with trust and kindness, persuade the monarchs that there was only one ruler of France, prevent divisions within the council, and penalize those who acted independently on political matters. France was taken aback when Louis declared that he would govern without a First Minister. Louis believed that those who had partaken in multiple revolts would not have the audacity to openly defy the king. He asserted that he would rule France with Piety and Justice.

Louis had a strong desire for power, glory, and stability for France. He aimed to govern as an absolute

View entire sample
Join StudyHippo to see entire essay

monarch by divine right and prioritize the kingdom's best interests. He believed that he was only accountable to God, considering himself superior to everyone else. Louis saw himself as synonymous with the State and famously declared "L'etat, c'est moi" (meaning "I am the State"). He carefully selected loyal individuals to be involved in the affairs of the State.

Louis made a clever decision when selecting his new ministers. Instead of choosing individuals who specialized in specific areas, he appointed ministers who were involved in everything. He was aware of the ambition and thirst for power among certain family members, noblemen, and dukes, and thus decided not to give them any authority. This wise move by Louis allowed him to recognize that some people are corrupt and will go to great lengths to gain power or wealth. As a result, he reduced the number of ministers on the High Council from 24 to only 3: Le Tellier, Colbert, and Lionne.

Louis expressed his desire to delegate his orders to multiple individuals in order to exert his authority more effectively. He specifically selected people with different talents and professions to match the various materials that typically fall under the administration of the state. He divided his time and trust among them based on his misunderstanding of their strengths and the importance of the tasks entrusted to them. Additionally, Louis convened daily council meetings and remained well-informed about ongoing issues and affairs.

With an average of 6-8 hours, he dedicated his time to the State affairs, fully aware of France's financial and administrative problems. Thanks to Colbert, a key figure in

his economic success, Louis implemented the theory of mercantilism. This theory emphasized the importance of obtaining gold and silver, as well as importing and exporting goods, for a country's economic stability. As a result, Louis fostered a robust trade and manufacturing sector, leading to a significant transformation in France's economic standing within a 20-year period. This transformation resulted in stability and prosperity.

Louis displayed wisdom in managing France's finances and consistently prioritized the country's well-being, striving for nothing less than its greatness. While his predecessors were more tolerant, Louis took a strict and intolerant approach to religious matters. He strongly believed that a united religion was crucial for achieving success as a nation. Working alongside Cardinal Richelieu, he implemented a singular religious system in France even before it became one of his primary focuses. Louis remained steadfast in his belief of "one king, one law, one faith".

In spite of his unlimited power, Louis believed that his authority ultimately answered to God. He viewed himself as a representative of God and constantly owed Him gratitude. However, the presence of the Huguenots in France posed a challenge to Louis' desire for a country dominated by Catholicism. As a result, the Huguenots either faced persecution or were forced to leave France. Unfortunately, Louis made a significant error by abolishing the Edict of Nantes in 1683, which had previously granted religious tolerance. Consequently, this decision led to the loss of approximately 200,000 subjects, many of whom were highly educated.

Despite causing some damage to the French economy, Louis was able to recover. Although he didn't achieve his ultimate goal, he did manage to convey his main objective. Known as the Sun

King, Louis had a strong passion for the arts and believed that Apollo, the god of the arts and peace, represented his reign. He actively promoted the arts to demonstrate his magnificent rule. One of his major accomplishments was constructing the palace Versailles, which took 35,000 men ten years to complete. Louis saw Versailles as a symbol of royal grandeur and used it both as a political instrument and a cultural masterpiece.

At Versailles, Louis accommodated more than 1,000 nobles and their servants, enabling him to monitor his nobility closely and prevent any potential conspiracies. Rather than allowing them to vie for power, Louis encouraged his nobles to engage in petty disputes, such as determining who had the privilege of opening the king's bed curtain. This strategy served to enhance Louis's authority as an absolute monarch. Additionally, Versailles served as a cultural hub for Louis, where he organized elaborate ceremonies and showcased theatrical performances, including plays and operas. A fervent opera enthusiast, Louis enlisted the talents of renowned musician Jean Baptiste Lully to compose numerous compositions.

Louis' passion for opera and plays, particularly those written by Jean Baptiste Poquelin, extended across Europe. He also had a deep appreciation for paintings and sculptures, adorning the gardens at Versailles with numerous Renaissance sculptures and even displaying Mona Lisa on his bedroom wall. Even after the death of the Sun King, Louis XIV, his legacy of high artistic standards and elegance endures. In order to enhance his reputation and authority, Louis believed he needed to demonstrate his strength and confidence as a soldier.

As a measure to prevent corruption in the army, Louis employed a strategy where a Colonel from

a prominent noble family was assigned to each Lieutenant Colonel from a less prestigious noble family. This ensured that no particular class had excessive power over another. The soldiers were paid in the name of the king rather than their respective captains, instilling a sense of duty towards their monarch, which was what Louis desired. Additionally, Louis treated his troops respectfully, offering them uniforms and barracks. With the assistance of Marquis de Louvois, son of Michel Tellier, Louis successfully restructured the military.

The army was powerful and eager to fight for any cause that Louis believed needed attention. Louis attempted to exploit the present circumstances of France's rivals. England was still recovering from its civil war, Spain had lost some of its former power, and Germany was still torn apart by the Thirty Years' War. Louis saw this as the perfect opportunity to enlarge France's kingdom. Despite not achieving the level of success he desired in his military campaign, he continued to be adored and respected by his military and subjects. In this era, absolute monarchs exerted control over Europe.

During his reign from 1643-1715, Louis XIV emerged as the most dominant and triumphant leader. Under his rule, France experienced the pinnacle of absolute monarchy as he dissolved the Parlement and possessed supreme authority. This era is referred to as the "Grand Century," the "Age of Magnificence," or even "the Age of Louis XIV." His decrees and choices were unquestioned and faithfully executed despite his lack of formal education, thanks to his training in cautious language and actions.

Louis was aware from a young age that his life differed from that of an ordinary boy, and

it became clear that he had the qualities needed to be a great king. He comprehended the duties placed upon him and consistently prioritized France's future over his own desires. In front of his subjects, he remained composed and in control, demonstrating an exceptional level of maturity. By continuously displaying these characteristics throughout his lifetime, he instilled a strong sense of trust in his subjects. Louis never faltered in maintaining the loyalty, respect, and confidence bestowed upon him by his subjects.

Louis was known for his careful decision-making and thoughtful approach. He believed in fulfilling three distinct roles: as a statesman, a judge, and a soldier. In his role as a statesman, he dealt with conflicts within the nobility, town business, and religious institutions. As a judge, Louis had ultimate authority over all court decisions to ensure unquestioned power. Lastly, he saw himself as a soldier because he believed that respect and power required him to fulfill this role. Throughout his reign, Louis completely transformed France into a wealthier, more cultured,and healthier nation.

During the reign of Louis XIV, the French population witnessed an increase in average life expectancy and a rise in culinary consumption to unprecedented levels. The construction of monuments became a significant part of the cultural landscape of Paris and peace prevailed throughout the country. Throughout his entire rule, Louis XIV remained unwavering in his pursuit of achieving greatness for France, successfully realizing his vision. Even today, monarchs aspire to attain the level of respect, supremacy, and grandeur that Louis undeniably earned. The powerful legacy of being revered as the Sun King continues to endure over time, seamlessly preserving its majestic essence.

Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New