Abstract
This paper explains that King Louis XIV, 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 Louis XIV 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."

Tags:narcissistic, fear, criticism, power-hungry, finances

Abstract
The following paper discusses the life of Louis XIV, the Sun King. He was a great monarch who helped in the revival of arts and theater 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:

"Louis XIV 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

Abstract
This paper is an historical biography that draws comparisons between the Dutch artist Rembrandt and the King of France, Louis XIV. The emphasis is on the social and political contexts of a particular era (1660) during which these two figures lived.

Abstract
This paper offers a historical exploration of the life of the French king Louis XIV. The paper further describes how Louis XIV became the youngest King ever to exist in France. Because of his age the cardinal ministers of France took control of the government. The disregard for Louis' significance to the country as a youth was evident when Louis and his mother were held as prisoners by the revolutionaries that fought in France. Yet, by the time that the controlling minister died in 1661, Louis XIV was prepared to take on the responsibilities of the throne.

From the Paper
"Louis XIV was born September 5, 1638. His father, Louis XIII, died when Louis XIV was only four and Louis was cared for by his mother and servants. The care offered, however, was often lacking, as Louis XIV once nearly drowned when he was left unattended for an extended period of time by the adults around him ("Biography"). However, at the age of 4 Louis XIV became the youngest King ever to exist in France. Because of Louis's age the cardinal ministers of France took control of the government. During this time several extended battles occurred, such as the Thirty Years War and war with Spain ("Biography"). Therefore, France became engulfed in ..."

Tags:essays, history, bio

Abstract
This paper provides an overview of the reign of Louis XIV in France, focusing mainly on his foreign policy and his decision to go to war. The writer looks at how successful King Louis 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
The paper asserts that Rule's "Louis XIV" is a superb bit of scholarship that covers Louis XIV from almost every perspective: the text contains Louis' personal papers on governance as well as his advice to Philip V; further, it outlines the king's advice to his servants and highlights his last will and testament - along with Saint-Simon's account of the formulation of Louis' will (Rule, 12-63). The paper explains that because of this, the reader develops a keen appreciation of how Louis saw his position as king of France and how he wished his affairs to be tended once he was no more.

From the Paper
""Louis XIV" is a superb bit of scholarship that covers Louis XIV from almost every perspective: the text contains Louis' personal papers on governance as well as his advice to Philip V; further, it outlines the king's advice to his servants and highlights his last will and testament - along with Saint-Simon's account of the formulation of Louis' will (Rule, 12-63). Because of this, the reader develops a keen appreciation of how Louis saw his position as king of France and how he wished his affairs to be tended once he was no more."

Tags:john, rule, lives

From the Paper
"Louis XIV and Twenty Million Frenchmen

Pierre Goubert, author of Louis XIV and Twenty Million Frenchmen, is the President of the Societe de Demographie Historique and professor at the University of Nanterre. He previously wrote Beauvais et le Beauvaisis de 1600 a 1730, which is an important work in modern French history. His writing places the life, personality, and reign of Louis XIV in the context of the economic, social, and demographic characteristics of France between 1661 and 1715. Goubert's approach is that of an exploration of the relationship between a king and his people.

The book is written in an organized manner, following the chronology of Louis XIV's life. The main body of the book is preceded by a chapter describing conditions in France at the time that Louis XIV takes the throne and concludes with a summary ..."

Abstract
This paper is an examines and compares the reigns of Chinese emperor k'angxi and French King Louis XIV, 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, King Louis XIV. Versailles, monarchy, power, succession, regent, dowager, yellow river, grand canal, war, territorial expansion
Requirements: to get a analytical comparision between

Abstract
This paper explains that, in 1624, King Louis XIII built the Chateau de Versailles as a fairly humble brick, stone and slate hunting lodge; however, Louis XIV, 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."

Tags:axis, tuileries, lodge, masterpiece, petit-trianon

Abstract
The paper describes and analyzes the Escorial, built by Philip II of Spain, and Versailles, built by Louis XIV of France. The paper shows how the Escorial reflects Catholic influence and Spain's system of a federation of separate realms, while Versailles reflects absolutist ideals and beliefs in the divine right of kings. The paper then discusses how while both Louis XIV and Philip II claimed to be absolutist monarchs, Louis XIV was more successful at putting absolutism into practice, while Philip II was still competing for power with the separate assemblies in Spain.

From the Paper
"The Escorial, as shown in the picture, is surrounded by high walls and is in the design of a gridiron, in order to commemorate St. Laurence, who was roasted on a gridiron. El Escorial is noted for being more similar to a fortress than a monastery or palace, because of its austerity and lack of ornamentation. Philip II is quoted to have ordered the architects to produce "simplicity in the construction, severity in the whole, nobility without arrogance, majesty without ostentation." Philip II , unlike Louis XIV, was a very secretive, religious monarch, and envisioned El Escorial as a center for studies in aid of the Counter- Reformation cause. Passageways connected his bedchamber and throne room to an altar at which he prayed daily, and a window enabled the king to observe Mass from his bed when he was incapacitated by the gout."

Tags:absolutism, right, of, kings, Catholics, Spain, France