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To make a long story short, Louis XIV tried to have power over everything and everyone possible, including the clergy. Absolutism became a well-known term during this period and basically was a political theory that sought to ? encourage rulers to claim complete sovereignty within their territories.? As an absolute monarch you could ?make laws,…
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For Louis XIV, achieving religious unity in France was of major concern as it was a challenge to his absolutism. Being a devote Catholic, Louis wanted to unite France under Catholicism as the presence of other unorthodox religions meant that Louis was not supported in every way, like an absolute King should be. Many, including Louis, saw the King of France to be ‘The Most Christian King’, and so, in order to comply with this, achieving religious unity would be essential. Throughout his reign Louis XIV attempted to persecute other religious groups within France such as the Huguenots, Jansenists and the Quietists, his success and the consequences in doing so effectively decided his overall success in achieving unity.…
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Louis XIV was one of France’s most effective and powerful monarchs. He strengthened his rule with a policy of absolutism. Where the king gained authority directly from God or the divine right to rule. There were no legal limits to the powers that the king could exercise, however, during his rule a monarch had certain influential groups of people who the king needed to negotiate and consult in order to establish an effective functioning government. Among these groups where the land owning nobility, royal officer nobles, the royal commissioners, the Catholic Church, the bourgeoisie and the peasants. More notably seen the King Louis XIV is regarded as the “sun king” because of the great grandeur he exemplified during his reign. The book, Louis XIV and Absolutism by William Beik, presents a balanced outlook into the first half of Louis’ rule in France and how he was able to use absolutism to solidify his reign.…
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Louis XIV strove vigorously for supremacy in foreign affairs. He was to use his foreign policy to establish a universal monarchy for himself or alternatively to use it to secure natural frontiers for France thus improving its defenses. He worked successfully to create an absolutist and centralized state. During his reign Louis was involved in four major wars, some of which Louis may be accountable as the provocateur; however, I believe that mainly his motives were purely defensive. The war of Devolution served as a pretext which nettled him part of Flanders, although the Dutch then moved against him with the Triple Alliance. Louis was determined to crush Holland and this began the third of the Dutch wars, which depleted his treasury. Louis proved an incredibly extravagant spender, dispensing huge sums of money to finance the royal court. The following ten years the king limited his policies to diplomacy. Louis continued the nobility's exemption from taxes but forced its member into financial dependence to the crown and the provincial nobles also lost political power. Louis does have a genuine concern for his country and despite his dubious methods he does manage to secure the territories that he wishes to secure. He curtailed local authorities and created specialized ministries. Louis's grandson retained the Spanish throne but the war of Spanish Succession left France in great debt and a weakened military. Louis used the bourgeoisie to build his centralized bureaucracy. He illustrated new administrative methods to make him more in control. Louis's general Colbert worked to improve the French economy. Colbert worked to create a favorable balance of trade and increase France's colonial holdings. He achieved a reputation for his work of improving the state of French manufacturing and bringing the economy back from the brink of bankruptcy. He reduced the national debt through more efficient taxation. His principal taxation devices included the aides, the douanes, the…
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King Louis XIV was a man of strength and courage with many ambitions that he was fully determined to achieve. He dedicated most of his rule taking steps to accomplish the goal of “one king, one law, one faith” for the country of France. By one king he aimed for the ruler to have supreme power over armies, government bureaucracy, and culture. This would eventually lead to the overall influence of the French upon other countries and their kings. By way of one law he aspired for the nobles to no longer rule over separate states but for one government with supreme power. King Louis had a desire for an absolute monarchy. As a result he would not be legally bound by any institutions or other persons in the country. This inclination was not easily met or as successful as he had hoped. Louis XIV sought religious unity between the French people, one faith. To do this he revoked the Edict of Nantes. King Louis XIV did not achieve his entire goal to the extent which he had anticipated but overall he was victorious, leaving a huge impact and influence on the French society and Europe as a whole.…
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After he took power, Louis XIV made the nobility tax exempt, so the heavy burden of the taxes lied on the peasants, which made their already hard lives even tougher. In document 3, it explains how Louis XIV keeps his courtier in line so that they stay diligent in pleasing him. The documents also depicts his oppressiveness, stating that Louis XIV had many spies that tattled on anyone of any class which ruined the person’s life since the king was a prejudice who did not bother to ask for explanations. Other cruel changes he made during his rule was revoking the Edict of Nantes, which tolerated the Huguenots in France and gave them religious rights. In place of the Edict of Fontainebleau, which allowed the destruction of all Protestant churches and schools throughout France. During the War of the Spanish Succession, Louis XIV prioritized his personal interests above his country’s because he wanted to insure his grandson's, Philip V, right to inherit the Spanish Empire. The war weakened France and situated the country in a huge financial debt, which was blamed on Louis XIV. This shows his views on how to be a proper role of an absolute monarch; apparently, you can do whatever you want since you hold the power and as long as you keep those who have the ability to rebel under control. It also implies that his views are that…
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Louis XIV was the epitome of an absolute monarch. Through his endless wars, extreme extravagance, and absolute control over taxes and the economy, he set the example for other European powers. His absolute rule brought about both positives and negatives. By building a large army to defend and expand his borders, he alienated other empires and created enemies. Placing political power and faith in the nobility helped him rule a vast kingdom but displaced him from the common man. His obsession with being a great conqueror expanded France to its largest in history, but nearly bankrupted the country and resulted in losing more territory than he gained. Although Louis XIV brought many improvements to France, as well as western society, his insatiable lust for war and extravagance caused more harm than good to the French Empire.…
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First, Louis XIV of France was an absolute ruler also known as the Sun King…
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The reign of Louis XIV is often associated with the image of an absolute monarch and a centralized regime. However, his desire of absolutism and indulgence of war “disturbed and harried mankind during more than fifty years of arrogant pomp” which ultimately aggravate the burden of French and lead to the overthrow of absolute monarch of France. Louis held his simple views regarding religion that catholic church is an essential tool for maintaining the control of people and that it should serve the country as well as his bidding. In 1685 Louis revoked the Edict of Nantes; during the persecutions hundreds of thousands of Protestants left France, migrating to Holland, Germany, and America (Palmer 185). He had a profound belief in the uniformity of religion necessary to the strength and dignity of his ruling.…
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Louis XIV’s age of Absolutism is evidently shown in the film “The Man In The…
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An Absolute Monarchy was a new concept to the people of France during the 1600’s. Other forms of government were failing from lack of control, so the people of France turned to an Absolute Monarch, named Louis XIV. The only problem with Louis was that he was self-centered, and did not care a whole lot about governing his kingdom. He was more concerned with making himself looking good, and even went as far to call himself the “Sun God.” As a result, the French common people lived very rough lives, due to the neglect of their king. It was not an easy life for the French people under King Louis XIV’s rule, and it was not made better by his view on governing. This is shown through his lack of genuine care for his people, over taxation, and wars of the time.…
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Louis the XIV was king of France from 1693 to 1715. He was an example of how to rule for many of the political leaders of the 18th century. An absolute ruler is defined by seven traits. Pacify and subjugate nobles, and centralize power around oneself. Another is to make both money and war. Dominate culture, make religion and finally build something worthy of your glory. Two Enlightened despots that took after Louis were Joseph II of Austria and Peter the Great, Czar of Russia. Both rulers had enlightened and despotic characteristics. Yet Joseph was more Enlightened and Peter more despotic. Both characteristics were important to have a strong nation, but as Peter exemplifies having more despotic characteristics helps a ruler maintain power and strengthen the nation, more so then enlightened ones. Joseph II takes full power in 1780 after his mother Maria Theresa dies, instantly he begins to institute many enlightened ideas. Joseph is radical and makes many changes to long withstanding traditions in Austrian society and government. First, he grants religious freedom and cuts off communication between his state clergy and Rome. Though Austria had always been staunchly Catholic, now a person of any religion could practice it freely. This is a very enlightened idea much before its time. Also, it was one of his only major changes which were kept after his reign ended. This was how Joseph II fits under the trait of making religion work for you; he actually tried to make it work for everyone. Another enlightened reform he implemented was a universal law code in which all Austrians have to follow the same rules and suffer the same punishments. He eliminates noble privileges, in matters like taxation, and crimes. This reform angered the nobility and almost put the nation in crisis. But it was one last reform which set off a spark of rebellion. Joseph II outlawed serfdom, he freed millions of peasants. They were free to go wherever, and choose…
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Louis XIV had complete absolutism because he had the divine right to rule. He thought god single handedly chose him to rule over france.Every finance,graces of any type,ect had to go thru him and had to get his approval and so he knew everything that was going on. He also had no checks and balances…
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When Louis XIV came into power, he was too young to rule the nation on his own for he was only 5 years old. His chief minister, Cardinal Mazarin, who ruled until his death in 1661, had one goal in mind, absolute rule by the royal administration. For 3 years, French noblemen rebelled against this with the claim that they were not rioting against the king, but merely the appointed. At the same time, James VI of Scotland became James I of England and created the Stuart Dynasty. The Stuart Dynasty’s main objective was the same as France, absolute power, leaving the nobles and the elites handicapped. They, however, rebelled victoriously against the new law. In both countries, the monarchy wanted complete absolutism. One prevailed and the other compromised.…
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Certain factors of absolutism with the ideals of the nobility would bring strength to the economy that was based on domestic and foreign trade, land holdings, a centralized government, and an increase in military fortitude. The upper class invested their fortunes into becoming political leaders and to serve by the king. Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the French Minister of Finance, advised King Louis XIV to pursue the conditions of domestic and foreign trade. With a surplus of money came a surplus of labor, his people were able to earn a living and travel across the waters for profit. Money is the foundation of any world order; if the nation has a solid foundation, then the benefit of the nobles are higher, exposing the reason of the nobles true motives to supporting the king. (Document1) In regards to property the lands were all held in the hands of the kings from the secular and the ecclesiastical classes. It’s a trade between the nobles and monarchs to do as they please with their land, like being a mandate for example. (Document 9) The king is to rule “under the divine law” and his subordinates must follow obediently. These servants would not question any authority given by the king for their belief of divinity. (Document 7) The Civil…
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