Absolutism: The Rise And Fall Of King Louis XIV

After the chaos of the sixteenth century, absolutism, or an absolute monarchy, looked more like a viable option to straighten out social and political order. Nowhere was the philosophy more aptly applied than in France, and by no one other than King Louis XIV. However, leaving all power in the hands of one person left France’s government vulnerable to the flaws of that one person. Louis’s theatrical rule was undoubtedly influenced by the turmoil of his early childhood, but those theatrics cost him true financial glory in favor of the superficial. Even before Louis officially took his title, he was already being prepared from his title from the time he was five years old. Particularly of note is how his mother, Queen Anne, and Cardinal Mazarin, who essentially served as Louis’s father figure after Louis XIII died, raised Louis XIV. Queen Anne not only instilled the general attitude of divine right that founded Louis XIV’s absolutism, but also shielded him from seeing
those who were oppressed under France’s system rebel. Mazarin complemented Anne’s guidance by showing Louis the political realm. Early on, Louis would accompany Mazarin to state meetings where Louis would be able to see how to head a political conversation. The final turning point was when Louis’s cousin and potentially future wife betrayed him during the Fronde by turning his army against him. After that he learned to exile anyone who could overpower him. Soon after Louis was crowned at thirteen, he became well-known for his grand presence, with help from his palace of Versailles. The opulence now may be seen has frivolous, but it displayed to both outsiders and the aristocrats who lived there that Louis (and thereby France) had a surplus amount of money to spend. With the appearance of money comes the appearance of power. With the appearance of power comes the ability for Louis to manipulate the nobility living with him. This manipulation consisted of making them participate in an overly-complex etiquette in order to keep in good graces. In turn, Louis prevented the aristocracy from ruling as they previously had because they were too busy making sure they were not shunned out of Versailles completely. Unfortunately, Louis carried his excesses over into conflict, and in the end, this is what prevents him from being a truly great leader.
First, he fought with the Dutch since they were the one economic power that was competition to France. While France was technically the winner of the war, the six years Louis spent to keep his army fighting that war (often as entertainment for his court life) ironically depleted France’s economy. The same happened with the War of Spanish Succession: because Louis wanted his grandson to inherit Spain rather than the Hapsburgs, France was forced to resort to melting its silver while up against England, the Netherlands, the Holy Roman Empire, and German states. In between these two wars, Louis revoked the Edict of Nantes because he wanted the power that would come with winning favor of the Catholic Church, but overlooked the Hugenots economic influence. In short, Louis thought in the short-term without considering the consequences of the area he was trying to
succeed. Louis XIV’s legacy as an extravagant omnipotent ruler was both his best strength and worst weakness. His flamboyance was successful in the court but that attitude failed his military on the battlefield. He only seemed to realize on his deathbed that excessive war would not lead to the ability to maintain the excesses of Versailles.