Louis+XIV

Vivek Jani


 * Prompt**: Louis XIV declared his goal was "one king, one law, one faith." Analyze the methods the king used used to achieve this objective and discuss the extent to which he was successful.


 * Thesis**: By laws, such as the Edict of Fontainbleu, as well as using the Palace of Versailles to keep the noblitiy at ease, Louis XIV was able to establish an absolute monarhcy in France making it politically more organized but economically broke.

I. One King -used the palace of Versailles,a grand palace outside of Paris, to keep the nobles busy with meaningless tasks -established pointless rituals at Versialles to do so -Ex: putting the king's robe on -was able to keep the nobles content and exclude them from daily political affairs -established himslef as the Sun King, the source of light for all of his people -modernized administrative machinery -used new nobles instead of the traditions Nobles of the Sword as the older nobles were accustomed to having much political say in the government -included: Tellier as Secretary of War Fouquet- Secretary of foreign affiars Colbert-secretary of finances -resulted in the complete power of Louis XIV as well as a very successful economy under Colbert -Colbert used mercantilistic policies to keep the French economy well -increase exports, high tariffs on imports, built rodes to better improve transportation and communication -got rid of all intendants, nobles of the sword, other ministers, and etc. to keep full control of power -used power of Sun King and menial tasks at Versailles to keep control over the aristrocracy -used war to acertain power over his people -gained some land from these wars -wars include: Dutch War, War of the League of Augsburg, and the War of Spanish Succession -established authority from a very young age (Utlee)

II. One Religion -Louis wanted Franch to become strictly Catholic -revoked the Edict of Nantes, ie. the rights of French Calvinists, Huguenots, to worship freely -instated the Edict of Fontainbleu: stating that Huguenots were to leave France -destroyed Huguenot schools and churches -most of the Huguenots left for the Netherlands -despite the fact that Catholicism was reinstated, France lost many skilled workers, resulting in a bad economy due to less exports -also waged war against the Jansenits and any other religion sharing similiar ideas to Catholicism (Murphy) -waged war against England due to the removal of James II and the Glorious Revolution making England Protestant (Murphy)

III. One Law -Louis XIV attempted to carry out his laws through the use of intendants, ministers, and the clergy -infiltrated all areas of France to make sure that his policies were being followed -resulted in some success -policies not liked by these intendants were not always carried out -used Tellier to build up large army and used fear to control his people and his enemies (Murphy) -due to discontent with Mazarin, minister of France before Louis was old enough to rule, he established himself as chief ruler so laws could be followed (Utlee)

Sources Used: Murphy, John. "Louis XIV." Encylopedia on World History. New York : Facts on File, 2008.//Modern World History Online//. Web. 24 Apr, 2011, <@http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.aspItemID=WE53&iPin=WHIII168&SingleRecord=True>

Utlee Martin. "Louis XIV." //World Book Advanced//.World Book, 2011. Web. 24 Apr. 2011. []