Louis Xiv Research Paper

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Louis XIV Louis XIV occupied the throne from 1643 at the age of four years and eight months to his death in 1715, three days before his seventy-seventh birthday (Philippe; Hibbert 78). Even though he only made the political decisions for fifty-four years, his rule was the longest of any other European ruler ever at seventy-two years (Hibbert 78; Philippe). As a patron of the arts, Louis wanted France’s history, literature, art, and science to flourish during his reign (Time Life Books 20). He wanted to make his palace, Versailles, the most extravagant place in Europe (18). He earned his titles, Louis the Great and the Sun King, from the wars that he fought. During his rule, he made France the dominant power in Europe (Lynn). Louis XIV was…show more content…
He enjoyed making Versailles, his palace, one of the most beautiful places in Europe. It was famed for its many rooms, lace, tapestries, glass, and marble (Time Life Books 18). In fact, it was worth approximately as much money as a present-day airport (Philippe). For 20 years, Louis showed interest in ballet and became a decent dancer (Time Life Books 14). His favorite pastime was hunting stag, wolf, and boar on the grounds of Versailles (18). At his palace, Louis used a sunburst as his symbol because he liked to think of himself as the center of the universe (14). During his reign, Louis XIV thought all crimes against him were sinful because he considered himself Earth’s representative of God (Philippe). As a result, he tried to set up an absolute monarchy (Time Life Books 14). His slogan was, “L’état c’est moi,” which means, “The state, it is I” (22). Louis engaged in many wars, such as the War of Devolution, the Dutch War, the War of the Grand Alliance, and the War of Spanish Succession, respectively. He fought the War of Devolution and the Dutch War to gain prestige. The War of the Grand Alliance was caused by the siege of a fortress called Philippsbourg by Louis XIV and him trying to get Germany to accept the loss of the land he had already obtained (Lynn). His lifestyle and actions during his reign contributed to his…show more content…
He did not believe in Protestantism. He thought French Protestants to be possible rebellion starters. He tried to force them to convert to Catholicism, but when they did not comply, Louis revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685. It had granted the Protestants religious freedom (Philippe). This action had a negative effect instead of the positive one Louis had hoped for. The Protestants that fled from France began to unite France’s neighbors against Catholicism. One result was that Louis XIV’s cousin, English Catholic king, James II, fled to Versailles to escape the Catholic persecution in England (Hibbert 69). Louis’s careless spending of money on Versailles, wars, and himself caused great suffering to the people of France (Time Life Books 18, 22; Philippe). As a result of not wanting the people to find out about his spending, Louis XIV eradicated his financial records (Time Life Books 18). Towards the end of his life, Louis contracted gangrene. Through all the pain that was brought on by the ailment, he never complained (Hibbert 79). As he was on his deathbed, he told his great-grandson: “Try to remain at peace with your neighbors. I have loved war too much. Do not copy me in that, or in my overspending” (Time Life Books 22). Just three days before his seventy-seventh birthday, Louis XIV died on September 1, 1715 (Hibbert 78). France was in immense poverty
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