Omar El Gendy
February, 13, 2012
History
MR.Glavanis
Was Louis XIV an absolute monarch?
Absolute monarch is a ruler or a king who rules alone. Louis was the king of France’s sun king and also an absolute monarchy. Louis was an absolute monarch because he started ruling from the age of four years. Louis wanted to be a monarch and control everything in France. Louis didn’t allow anything to happen only under his permission and he knew about everything that was happening in the country. For example Louis didn’t want any passports to be signed without his permission which shows that he had complete control of the country.
Louis took his father throne at a very young age and he managed to control which means he was born to be an absolute monarchy. The amount of time he ruled explains his glory. Louis brought absolute monarchy to its height and he developed many things. One of his great developments was his palace. 40000 workers were working on his project. He wanted to build a palace that the whole world will be talking about. Louis brought trees from far lands for his palaces because they didn’t grow were he wanted his building. All the nobles lived in his palace because he didn’t want anything to happen that he didn’t knew of it, also he didn’t want to be betrayed. This is a huge example that explains that Louis was smart and wise.
Louis also wanted to show off his wealth and glory. He wanted to be center of attention so he took dance lessons. Louis showed his power by drawings and painting which represented his wealth. Louis thought of himself as a god and directed by god. He says that he is greater than nature. He chooses to be the sun god because the sun was known as the symbol of domination. The sun is the center of everything so he contrasts himself as a sun.
Louis the “god given” was a neglected child which means he was carried by servants. Louis wasn’t a real king until Cardinal Mazarin’s death. Louis wanted to be a real king and the sole ruler of France at the age of twenty three. Louis ordered to be dressed by the nobles because it shows that he is very important and no one or nothing is big for him. Louis married a lot of women for politics. At that time they didn’t marry for love but they married for peace and politics. Louis married Madame de Maintenon secretly. She shared grief with him because he lost many battles.
“The reign of Louis was highly successful in both internal and foreign affairs”. Louis cared about commerce and industry which improved France finance. Louis glorified the monarchy through art. Louis developed sculpture, painting, music and architecture. Louis developed the war of devolution against the Spanish Netherlands. After winning the war against Spain he celebrated with a great party showing off his women. In his celebrations he had hundreds of dancers, acts and many other shows. The war brought him some valuable things. There was also Anglo-Dutch war. The purpose for that war was revenge and Louis wanted to break Dutch trade. He conquered many lands at the height of his power.
Everything comes to an end Louis was forced to keep Spain and France separated despite the dynastic connection. Louis died on September, 1, 1715. Over all I think Louis was a great absolute monarchy. He held France to its height. He brought glory, wealth to France. Also he improved art, music, sculpture, and architecture in France. He was a great influence for France. Louis is really the definition of absolute monarchy.
