Abstract The following paper discusses the life of LouisXIV, the Sun King. He was a great monarch who helped in the revival of arts and theatre in the country, some of his major military excursions were also very successful and they came in the first twenty years of his rule.
From the paper:
?LouisXIV was born in a royal palace in 1638 and was made king at the very young age of five as his father Louis XIII had died. But since the new king was very young to look after the Empire, numerous uprisings were see in the country, the nobles and elites of France tried to create problems and so did the general public. This was period of intense rebellion against the monarchs, and is known in the French history as Fronde beginning in 1648 and ending in 1653.The king who was at a very impressionable age, was disturbed by the insurgencies and this was one thing he never forgot and the threat that the people of Paris had posed was also taken very seriously.?
Tags:king, rule, achievements, financial, administrative, centers, royal, Empire, France
This paper uses the writings of Louis de Rouvroy, duc de Saint-Simon, Jean-Baptiste Colbert and Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu to describe the court of KingLouisXIV, absolute monarch of France.
Abstract This paper explains that KingLouisXIV, who reigned over France from 1643 to 1715, was one of the most infamous absolute monarchs of Europe. The author reports that, in his reign, the powers previously given to the Estates General were made obsolete thus making all of the Kings subjects, regardless of rank, pawns of the ruling dictator. The paper points out that LouisXIV had many critics who disapproved of his absolute power and censured the frivolous manner in which he ruled his court. The author relates that, through Colbert's implicit and careful diplomacy, the secret diary writings of the duc de Saint-Simon and the contrived, fictional letters penned by Montesquieu, the modern reader is presented with an accurate picture of the tensions of the times, the trivialities of the monarchs, and the discontent that was secretly raging behind the absolute monarchy.
From the Paper "In the early years of his reign, Louis XIV had as his General of Finances Jean-Baptiste Colbert, who, it can be deduced from his writings, knew just as well as his advisors and mistresses did how to best manipulate the King, as well as provide his negative opinions on the state of the monarchy to the general public without incurring the anger or Louis XIV. Colbert, who in 1664 wished to convince Louis XIV to participate in overseas trade, while also hoping to sway the general public to be of this opinion as well, wrote of the tumultuous state of the monarchy."
Abstract This paper is an examines and compares the reigns of Chinese emperor k'angxi and French KingLouisXIV, two Absolute Monarchs. The paper includes biographic details of the Emperor and of the King. The paper also discusses their goals.
From the Paper "Louis XIV was born in September and died in September. He reigned as King of France from May until his death. However Louis did not effectively become ruler until after the death of Cardinal Mazarin. His reign generally epitomises the absolute power of a monarch. Louis was four years old when his father died but he played little or no role as King until he was thirteen years of age. Even at age thirteen Louis proved to be autocratic."
Tags: compare, analyize chinese emperor k'angxi, France, China, KingLouisXIV. Versailles, monarchy, power, succession, regent, dowager, yellow river, grand canal, war, territorial expansion Requirements: to get a analytical comparision between
Abstract This paper looks at how KingLouisXIV of France used the remodeling of his magnificent palace at Versailles, and the visual art in the palace, as a propaganda tool. The author discusses Louis' constant campaign for absolute power as a divine ruler. The paper pays close attention to the architecture at Versailles.
From the Paper:
"KingLouisXIV used visual arts within the palace of Versailles to establish the primacy of the French monarch. LouisXIV wanted to legitimatize his form of strict absolutism through art. The pinnacle of this propaganda campaign was the remodeling of the ch?teau of Versailles into a palace. He and his artists made specific choices to flaunt his wealth and give the king credibility. The gardens, grand staircase, hall of mirrors and salons parade with grandeur and thick allegorical comparisons between the Gods and Louis. The propaganda was effective in targeting its three intended audiences to the degree that later monarchs and artists mimicked it. "
Tags: allegory, art, france, history, king, monarchy, palace, louis, mirror, hall, ceiling, france
Abstract This paper provides an overview of the reign of LouisXIV in France, focusing mainly on his foreign policy and his decision to go to war. The writer looks at how successful KingLouis was at expanding his own kingdom and increasing the borders of France, but at the same time, causing economic and political turmoil in his own country.
Contents
Thesis
Introduction
Analysis
Influence on Modern History
Conclusion
From the Paper "Louis? previous successes proved to be his undoing - it made him over-confident and roused the whole of Europe against him. The Nine Years War was largely his fault. The War of Spanish Succession added disastrously to the debts already incurred, although France did not suffer territorially. The result was great suffering for the people of France. Whereas in 1680 Paris had awarded Louis the title "Great", news of his death in 1715 was greeted with relief - eloquent testimony to the failures of policy in the second half of his reign. The establishment of the modern frontiers of France was one of Louis great achievements, but the cost was arguably too high for his reign as a whole to merit the title "Great"."
Tags: revolution, spain, england, king, royal, paris
Abstract This paper is an historical biography that draws comparisons between the Dutch artist Rembrandt and the King of France, LouisXIV. The emphasis is on the social and political contexts of a particular era (1660) during which these two figures lived.
Abstract This paper explores the polemic of LouisXIV that led to the modernization of France and the Age of Enlightenment. It begins with a discussion on the state of France before LouisXIV's ascension to the throne and extends to the results of his rule after his death.
From the Paper "Louis XIII rejected the Queen Mother and her claims for family in favor of the Cardinal and his claims for the state saying" "I am more obligated to the state". It is argued that this day more than any other single day may be called the birthday of the modern state ..."
Abstract This paper examines the research work by Jordan in which he presents a thorough character sketch of KingLouis XVI. Jordan shows how through the role of the king, Louis accurately shows the duality that humans constantly face. Louis is at once a tyrant, and a family man; he is both treasonous and patriotic. Jordan presents both sides of Louis' character, and inevitably proves how important public perception of each side is, in evaluating the whole man.
From the Paper "Jordan divides the character of Louis XVI into two distinct parts- Louis the Tyrant, and Louis the Man. Louis the Tyrant is the part of the king that deals with the public's political perception of him after his acceptance of the constitution. It is this role that was the key focus within the Convention, for it was here that his "crimes" against the state were examined. The crimes were such that Louis was referred to as a ?determined and devious man bent on destroying the Revolution.? Among his many atrocities he was accused of having ?deliberately obstructed the constitution, instructed his ministers to lie to the Legislative Assembly, sought to bribe deputies, encouraged the emigration of his friends and... tried to reestablish his authority.? This form of public thought came about mostly as a result of the enlightenment, a period of time after which it was acceptable behavior to doubt Medieval ideology. Kings were no longer beings with divine rights, and the laws that they made were no longer seen to be the orders of God. These enlightened ideas were what made criticism of the king possible in the first place. Once illuminated thought made its way into society, people began to realize some of the cruelties that the monarchy had been inflicting upon them. They began to see King Louis as a threat to the nation, not their sovereign leader. This view of him came directly from how he appeared when reigning from his throne. As Jordan makes clear, this is not the only side of his personality."
Abstract This paper explains that, in 1624, KingLouis XIII built the Chateau de Versailles as a fairly humble brick, stone and slate hunting lodge; however, LouisXIV, starting in about 1661, enlarged the lodge into the fantasy palace and gardens, which today are still considered architectural and cultural masterpieces visited by eight million people every year. The author points out that the King's architects were Louis Le Vau and Jules Hardouin Mansart; Andre le Notre designed the gardens to match the lavish design of the place. The paper relates that the use of a strong central axis at the Tuileries gardens, as projected by Le Notre, was a major influence upon later architecture as evidenced in the grand axis of Paris to the Arc de Triomphe and La Defense.
From the Paper "France became the dominant power in Europe during the reign of Louis XIV. And thus, the country's architecture also became widely influential. Since the monarchy was absolute, architecture was primarily influenced by what was built to the order of the King. French architecture of this period reached a turning point when King Louis XIV rejected curvilinear designs by Giovanni Benini for the east facade of the Louvre. The King preferred the more classicizing design with its colonnade by Louis le Vau and Claude Perrault. Le Vau was also commissioned together with Jules Hardouin-Mansart, Charles Le Brun and Andre le Notre to transform a hunting lodge outside Paris into a vast palace."
Abstract This paper is an historical study of The French Revolution. It discusses the situation in France before the outbreak of the revolution. It details the execution of KingLouis XVI and his mistakes that led to it. It studies the failed political system at the time as one of the causes of the revolution. Finally, it also gives a detailed examination of Mary Antoinette's role at the time and why she was executed.
From the Paper "The prevailing theory of Divine right of Kings was the philosophy behind monarchy. Earlier, Louis XIV had used the absolute power of monarchy to the extreme. King was God's representative on earth, and he alone could possess and exercise earthly power. He was always right because he represented and was the incarnation, so to say, of his people.
By the eve of the French Revolution, however, few intellectuals and political leaders accepted idea of the King's divine right. The situation was compounded by Louis XVI's weakness as an absolute monarch, though many supported monarchy in the interest of maintaining law and order and continuation of the national tradition. Louis XVI saw himself as the best judge of the people's good and he tried to do right by them, at least in his own opinion.(<http://www.angelfire.com/ca6/ French revolution 89/bar11.gif>) But to the majority of the people, the King was supposed to be like a father, kind and benevolent. 97% of the population, who were peasants, were fierce monarchists."
Tags: execution, Louis, XVI, Mary, Antoinette, French, Revolution, France
Abstract This paper discusses the art and architectural history of LouisXIV's opulent palace at Versailles. The author examines the palace itself and its gardens both from an architectural point of view and as a political statement. The paper describes how the decorative styles of the grounds and castle reflected the power and demanding nature of its main inhabitant, the self-proclaimed "Sun King".
From the Paper "While the explicit purpose of Versailles was to glorify king and country, it also glorifies at least implicitly the architect who translated the king's vision. By 1674, when Monsart was commissioned to rebuild the ch"teau of Clagny for Louis XIV's mistress Madame de Montespan, he was already launched on a brilliant career. In 1675 Mansart became official architect to the king and from 1678 on was occupied with redesigning and enlarging the palace of Versailles, for which he directed a legion of collaborators, prot"g?s, and artisans. Mansart began his own work by using the plans of architect Louis Le Vau, and to these plans built the new Hall of Mirrors, the Orangerie, the Grand Trianon, and the north and south wings and at the time of his death he was working on the chape. Each element was designed to magnify the sense of Louis's own power and the wealth and sophistication of France."
Abstract The paper examines the origins of the War of the Spanish Succession. It examines LouisXIV's France and review the elements that led to the costly War of the Spanish Succession between 1701 and 1714. In particular, the paper focuses upon the early years of LouisXIV's reign and the War of Devolution between Holland and France.
From the Paper "The origin(s) of the Spanish succession war (1701 - 1714) It is commonly supposed that powerful nations are forever looking for ways to impose their will upon weaker ones. While this sentiment can be - and often is - over-employed, there is little question that superpowers have harboured imperialist ambitions since the beginning of time."
Abstract This paper discusses the contemporary society from which Moliere's "Tartuffe" arose during the Age of Reason in 17th century France. This paper explains how under the reign of the Sun KingLouisXIV, Parisians promoted Enlightenment values such as rationality, moderation, and order. Social graces, manners and gender roles were also strictly enforced during this period. It examines how Moliere demonstrates all of these Enlightenment values in his play and that the difference between true piety and religious hypocrisy is, of course, the main theme of "Tartuffe".
From the Paper "Tartuffe also shuns morality, which was seen as a natural expression of reason during the Enlightenment. Moreover, Enlightenment thinkers believed that reason was the highest expression of the divine. Moliere's satire does not reject religion, because religion played an important role in Enlightenment France. Instead, reason and religion coexist in the character of Cleante. Cleante not only sees Tartuffe for who he really is and tries to warn his gullible brother of his treachery, but he also advises against the passionate hatred of Tartuffe and the Church once the villain is exposed. Throughout Tartuffe, Cleante remains the levelheaded, reasonable, and wise voice of reason and thus he embodies the enlightened man."
Tags: france, enlightenment, louis, virtue, hypocrisy
Abstract This paper explains the concept of absolutism and gives examples of absolutist monarchs. The paper also provides an explanation of KingLouisXIV's impact on absolutism and describes the results of this kind of reign of power.
From the Paper "Throughout history, political absolutism has been something many countries have faced. According to Wikipedia, a?"absolutism is a political theory which argues that one person should have all powera"?. Rather than dispersing duties to noble representatives of the country, the ruler had complete control over everything. The control included the power to demand laws, make justice, collect taxes, keep a permanent army, submit employees, judge attempts against public goods, and the authority to determine exceptions to whom and when the laws applied (National States). The monarch could enforce and abolish rules just as a small child would when making up their own game."
Abstract This paper explores the ways that Kensington palace reflected the limited monarchy of William and Mary while Versailles reflected the absolutism of LouisXIV.
