The Absolute Reign of Louis XIV

Louis XIV Bourbon of France, who exercised absolutism more than any other European monarch during the 17th century, became sovereign at the age of five. He rose to power in 1643 after his father passed, but only legally gained the throne upon the death of the prime minister, Cardinal Jules Mazarin. Therefore, the true reign of the “Sun King” began in 1661 and lasted until 1715.

Convinced God selected Louis XIV as His representative on Earth, the king’s people referred to him as “Louis the God-given.” The Roman Catholic monarchs believed that they had divine right to rule their people and to see to the betterment of the country they governed.

Louis XIV thought of himself as the “father of his people,” as he became a symbol of unity and strength with the introduction of his divine authority. A reformer, Louis significantly influenced the lives of all his people, hence the name “Sun King,” which portrays the extent of his radiance among the French citizens. Lastly, with the establishment of Louis XIV as the one and only monarch of France, he declared “L’état, c’est moi,” or “I am the state,” the representative of the French people.

Frequently instigating war to establish French glory throughout Europe, Louis XIV attacked neighboring territories, such as the Dutch Netherlands and the Holy Roman Empire. The War of Devolution against the Netherlands, the battle over the Free-Country of Burgundy against Switzerland, and the battles between the League of Augsburg, resulted in success for France due to its fortified military power, allowing Louis XIV to declare his dominance over the European territories at this time. The conflict between France and the League of Augsburg, consisting of the Holy Roman Empire, Spanish Habsburg, Sweden, the Netherlands, a few German states, and England, in particular, proved the great capabilities of Louis’ military, as these battles lasted for nine years. 

Unfortunately, with the introduction of the French king’s final external issue, the Grand Alliance, Louis XIV began to see the downfall of his empire. This alliance of England, the Holy Roman Empire, some German states, and the Netherlands formed in response to the offering of the Spanish crown to Louis’ grandson, Philip of Anjou, as stipulated in Charles the II’s will. The Grand Alliance sought to destroy the dominance established by the Sun King. Successful in their endeavors, Louis XIV reluctantly surrendered territories such as Newfoundland, Acadia (now known as Nova Scotia), and Hudson’s Bay, as well as the joining of Spanish and French forces, all to secure his grandson’s place as the new Spanish king. The Treaty of Utrecht ended the war, and as a consequence, France sunk into the crisis of bankruptcy.

Within the borders of France, Louis XIV experienced problems regarding religion and the threatening supremacy of the nobility. As a passionate Catholic, Louis XIV wished to remove all sources of Protestantism within France’s borders. Therefore, he revoked the Edict of Nantes, the decree that gave religious minorities, such as the Huguenots, or French Protestants, the right to live. With this protection lost, persecuted Huguenots fled Louis XIV’s wrath, which accomplished the king’s goal of religious conformity to Catholicism.

Moreover, divided socially during the 17th century, France once sported a government with the majority of political positions held by noblemen who wished to rule their land independently from the king. With the previous knowledge of the civil wars that took place during his childhood, known as the Wars of the Fronde, Louis XIV wished to prevent rebellion by administering titles to these nobles with connotations of importance, but meaningless roles in reality. He also distracted the nobility with the Palace of Versailles and becoming a patron of the arts, providing them with all the grandeur for which they could ever ask.

Louis XIV strove to establish Catholicism as the official religion throughout France and oppressed any minorities who practiced religion differently, namely Protestants. In fact, the king favored Gallicanism, a French Roman form of Catholicism that disregarded the authority of the pope. Upon receiving controversy for this belief from papal officials, Louis refuted Gallicanism.

Although the Sun King endeavored for superiority over all other European territories, he established peace between France and Spain by marrying Princess Maria-Theresa. As the Peace of Westphalia failed to end conflict between Spanish Habsburg and France, Louis XIV’s proposal resulted in the Peace of Pyrénées between the two Catholic states and a lavish wedding a year later. From this connection stemmed the proposal for Philip of Anjou to succeed the late Spanish king Charles II, Louis XIV’s brother-in-law.

Regrettably, Louis XIV held responsibility for the downfall of France towards the end of his reign. Driving out the Huguenots greatly impacted French industries, as many provided significant income as successful businessmen, merchants, and artisans. Additionally, depleting France’s treasury to fund the military power for defense against the Grand Alliance, the kingdom became impoverished. The gung-ho king not only surrendered his territory, but also his dignity and the trust of the people.

Ultimately, however, Louis XIV greatly benefitted his people during France’s “Age of Glory,” which lasted until the king’s death in 1715. Establishing bureaucracy, the king controlled the industries of France with the assistance of his most trusted ministers, reducing the political power available to the nobility regarded unqualified to rule the territory.   

These ministers possessed qualities of excellence, not royal ties, ensuring truly positive contributions to the state for the people, such as improving the economy and France’s military defences. With the introduction of mercantilism, France became self-sustaining by associating particular merchant ships to subsidized industries within other states, encouraging trade between various territories. Louis XIV valued the increased exporting of goods without heavy reliance on foreign markets for these items. Therefore, the economy experienced revitalization from its weakened state following the Thirty Year’s War and Wars of the Fronde. Louis XIV constructed a government in which progressive members succeeded in developing the many industries operating within the state.

Illustrating the absolutist character of Louis XIV, the king left his former ministers astounded with his intention to rule over the entire kingdom himself. Straying from tradition, the young king crafted his decision and assumed this role without guidance. As demonstrated by Louis’ thoughts featured in his Mémoires, “In my heart I prefer fame above all else, even life itself . . . Love of glory has the same subtleties as the most tender passions . . . In exercising a totally divine function here on earth, we must appear incapable of turmoils which could debase it,” the king enjoyed his position of superiority over his subjects due to the glory and authority he received, truly portraying his preference for an absolute government. 

Inspired by divine right from God to rule, Louis XIV Bourbon of France made significant contributions to the social, political, and economic aspects of France, both positive and negative, through exercising responsibility for France as a whole.

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