the sun king and absolutism
Louis devoted himself to helping France attain economic, political, and cultural brilliance. His first step in accomplishing this was appointing a minister of finance, Jean Baptiste Colbert. Colbert helped Louis to establish goals for the country such as mercantilism, which is an economic policy under which nations sought to increase their wealth and power by obtaining large amounts of gold and silver and by selling more goods then they bought. This idea allowed them to have the want to make France self-sufficient in which they would be able to manufacture everything they needed instead of relying on imports. Colbert gave government funds and tax benefits to French companies to help expand manufacturing. For raw materials Louis turned to the colonies, whose role was to supply those materials and also provided an ideal market for the distribution of their goods. This led to the French government encouraging people to migrate to the French colonies in Canada. After Colbert’s death, Louis continued to develop his country and cancelled the Edict of Nantes, which protested the religious freedom of Huguenots. This however decreased the France’s skilled workers and artisans after thousands of Huguenots fled the country. However this did little to affect Louis’ intentions. These steps allowed France to boost its economy and with a strong government and ruler, the political power increased greatly. The colonies allowed the French culture to reveal its true influence in a new setting and blossom into a reliable way of increasing the economy and political power.
Not only did Louis want to help France to develop, we wanted it to expand and grow, in size and in power. Under Louis, France was the most powerful country in Europe and was populated by about 20 million people. This was four times that of England and tens as many as the Dutch republic. In 1667, Louis invaded the Spanish Netherlands and gained 12 towns. Louis continued to push other countries boundaries to expand his own, but in the 1680’s, a European alliance had formed to stop France. This alliance was formed together by smaller, weaker countries to match France’s strength. Together the League of Augsburg equaled France’s strength. Louis however saw another way to attain more power. Charles II died after promising the throne to Louis’ 16 year old grandson, Philip of Anjou. The other countries saw this as a threat and in 1701, England, Austria, the Dutch Republic, Portugal, and several German and Italian states united to prevent the union of the French and Spanish thrones. This caused a war known as the War of the Spanish Succession and continued on until 1714 where the Treaty of Utrecht was signed which allowed Louis’ grandson to remain king of Spain so long as the thrones of France and Spain were not united. Louis’ attempts whether they were successful or not only showed his determination to lead a larger, stronger, country. But it takes a strong ruler to control such a country; did Louis have what it takes?
Louis was a shorter man, about 5’5 and his posture and power made him appear otherwise. Louis had very strong likes and dislikes and surrounded himself with luxury. Every meal was a feast and he had nearly 500 cooks, waiters and other servants to satisfy his tastes. Louis hated cities and loved to travel through France’s countryside and the people who traveled with him were at his mercy, for he allowed no stopping unless it was for his own comfort. Louis controlled the nobility. Louis was awoken at 8:30 and was greeted by 100 of his most privileged nobles at court. Only four would get the opportunity to assist Louis in dressing himself. Louis checked and marked the absentees anytime he wanted, found their reason for absence, and when their names were mentioned, he would reply by saying that he doesn't know them. These acts show the king’s dedication to having a loyal court and increased his authority. It increased his by making the nobility totally dependent on Louis and since they were removed from their home, it gave more power to the intendants. Louis built the Palace of Versailles, where he and his nobles lived. The immense palace may cause an individual to assume that the palace was the embodiment of Louis’ power. Louis’ power however was in fact immense and he liked to be called the Sun King because of his belief that as sun, all power radiated from him.
These qualities not only insure that Louis was an absolutist, Louis in fact is the ideal absolutist monarch and had a powerful effect on not only his country, but the world that he believed revolved around him.
Not only did Louis want to help France to develop, we wanted it to expand and grow, in size and in power. Under Louis, France was the most powerful country in Europe and was populated by about 20 million people. This was four times that of England and tens as many as the Dutch republic. In 1667, Louis invaded the Spanish Netherlands and gained 12 towns. Louis continued to push other countries boundaries to expand his own, but in the 1680’s, a European alliance had formed to stop France. This alliance was formed together by smaller, weaker countries to match France’s strength. Together the League of Augsburg equaled France’s strength. Louis however saw another way to attain more power. Charles II died after promising the throne to Louis’ 16 year old grandson, Philip of Anjou. The other countries saw this as a threat and in 1701, England, Austria, the Dutch Republic, Portugal, and several German and Italian states united to prevent the union of the French and Spanish thrones. This caused a war known as the War of the Spanish Succession and continued on until 1714 where the Treaty of Utrecht was signed which allowed Louis’ grandson to remain king of Spain so long as the thrones of France and Spain were not united. Louis’ attempts whether they were successful or not only showed his determination to lead a larger, stronger, country. But it takes a strong ruler to control such a country; did Louis have what it takes?
Louis was a shorter man, about 5’5 and his posture and power made him appear otherwise. Louis had very strong likes and dislikes and surrounded himself with luxury. Every meal was a feast and he had nearly 500 cooks, waiters and other servants to satisfy his tastes. Louis hated cities and loved to travel through France’s countryside and the people who traveled with him were at his mercy, for he allowed no stopping unless it was for his own comfort. Louis controlled the nobility. Louis was awoken at 8:30 and was greeted by 100 of his most privileged nobles at court. Only four would get the opportunity to assist Louis in dressing himself. Louis checked and marked the absentees anytime he wanted, found their reason for absence, and when their names were mentioned, he would reply by saying that he doesn't know them. These acts show the king’s dedication to having a loyal court and increased his authority. It increased his by making the nobility totally dependent on Louis and since they were removed from their home, it gave more power to the intendants. Louis built the Palace of Versailles, where he and his nobles lived. The immense palace may cause an individual to assume that the palace was the embodiment of Louis’ power. Louis’ power however was in fact immense and he liked to be called the Sun King because of his belief that as sun, all power radiated from him.
These qualities not only insure that Louis was an absolutist, Louis in fact is the ideal absolutist monarch and had a powerful effect on not only his country, but the world that he believed revolved around him.