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Introduction
Perhaps one of the most famous of European monarchs,
King Louis XIV ruled France for some 72 years,
the longest by any French head of State. It is
believed that reign of King Louis XIV was reputably
famous as one of 'Absolute government', primarily
because the King had his own particular and dominating
style of governing the nation. Attaining the powers
of a King at a young age of only 5 years, King
Louis XIV would rule through his mother's guidance
and Cardinal Mazarin acting as the head of state
deciding most of the official and civilian matters
concerning the governance of France. With no proper
or formal education to his credit, King Louis
XIV nevertheless gained immense insight on practically
all matters of governance and grew up to be an
extremely intelligent head of state.
From the onset of his adulthood, King Louis XIV
had perceived numerous plans for his country,
and if one were to grade the King according to
today's standards, one would certainly place him
in the category of 'Type-A personality'. This
was because the King had learnt, and that too
from childhood' that the best way to rule would
be to control the subject with absolute authority.
In doing so, the King chose his advisors and consultants
from the category of 'non-nobles, with the objective
of inviting least opposition, and for reasons
of imposing his decisions and motives without
being questioned. The nobles too were useful,
and had to be retained around the King's circle,
primarily to win over their confidence, in return
for the positions and wealth offered to them on
behalf of the state. Also famous as a hard working
and pleasant natured, the King sought to bring
'glory' for France, and strived for a united France,
simply because it was easier to rule. The King's
ideas about making France a glorious state were
also exhibited in his desires for other European
nations to fear, respect as well as imitate France
in all matters of governance, aspects which only
remained merely a set of ideas.
Born in 1710 at Versailles, King Louis XIV gained
the title of "Louis the Well Beloved",
yet this title only remained so until the King
remained a monarch of France, and practically
diminished upon his death. Unlike heirs of monarchs,
King Louis XIV was neither formally educated in
worldly discipline, nor was he nurtured to become
a head of state. It was perhaps these primary
factors together with the ineffective upbringing
during his childhood, which kept the King weak
through out his life, in turn implying the King
was the head of a weak government. Add to this
his attaining the powers of a King at the young
age of only 5 years, as also reiterated in the
opening lines and his marriage at the young age
of 15 years. Thus, it was not until the King had
reached the age of 34 years, when he finally decided
that he did not the assistance of any intermediaries,
a practice which had continued since he was the
King of France at age 5. Yet, his lack of education,
self-confidence and failure to have a grasp on
matters of governance continually hampered his
role as a successful monarch. The result of this
somewhat disastrous set of policies, and the King's
pre-occupation with the ladies of the court in
contrast to the more needed matters of national
policy and governance led the nation into the
7-years War. As a result, France lost most of
its territories across the world, including those
of North America. Though King Louis XIV did try
to improve the judicial system at home, and enhance
his political and moral authority. Nevertheless,
the King had generally lost support from majority
of the French populations, in particular the French
working class. This culminated in the Great French
Revolution of 1789, only to be replaced by King's
grandson Louis XVI. (King Louis XIV, 2004)
The Influence of Childhood and Youth on the Personality
and Reign of King Louis XIV
An overview on the childhood and youth of King
Louis XIV reveals that when the King was only
a child, he suffered the trauma of loosing both
his parents, with a brother as his only surviving
immediate family. Though there are some sources,
which grade the King as the only heir to the throne,
the majority of works on the life of King XIV
cite that he had a brother. Thus, one may observe
that the King was crowned at the young age of
5, he was duly assisted in the affairs of governance
by his mother and through a regent Philippe II,
Duke of Orleans. In addition, the King was represented
in the governance of the State through Cardinal
Fleury. This also implied that no particular attention
was paid towards the education, upbringing, or
character building, which would prepare the young
heir for the post of a King of France. The inability
to acquire any formal education, training or character
building all led to the upbringing of an individual
who would have to rely on his own intuition, insight,
and personal experiences to rule an entire nation.
Belonging to a royal bloodline, King Louis XIV
was no doubt handsome and presented a figure of
imposing personality. Yet these characteristics
were more than spoiled and exploited through the
nurturing of such thoughts as the King being the
sole heir and owner of all the property as well
as the subjects (individuals) left behind by his
parents. The resultant implications for such line
of teachings only proved to be disastrous, as
the young King barely had any concerns for the
welfare of the larger French populations. In addition,
the circle of French nobles and well wishes of
the King continuously encircled the young King
and did not allow him to move outside the vivid
and lively affairs of the court. Thus, emphasis
was on the importance of the King's personal being
as owner and head of state, while at the same
time, the same courtiers made every effort to
dissuade the King from contacting, or inquiring
about the general welfare of the French populations,
or for the matters of the nation state for that
matter.
An example of his early years as the King of
France shows that it was not until he reached
the age of 30 years, that finally chose to take
all the official matters of the state into his
own hands. The King thus removed all the ministers
and advisors including the chief minister through
whom the nation was governed, while the King was
still young. Yet, even after having taken over
the reins of the state into his own hands, Louis
XIV was 'indolent and lacking in self-confidence'
truly making him incapable of taking any firm
decision, or coordinate the various activities
concerning the national policy of France.
Though the King's preoccupation with the line
of court's mistresses disallowed him to take any
serious interest in the governance of the nation,
yet there are instances where the King tried to
use his passive ruling skills. For example, he
could not remain oblivious to the fact that most
of the mistresses of the court, with whom the
King enjoyed lively moments of his life, enjoyed
considerable political clout and influence in
matters of state's governance. Thus, the King
was not only aware of these subtle relationships;
he was also manipulative in ways only known to
his close circle of nobles at the royal court.
Another example of his passive form of rule as
King of France was setting up a system of secret
diplomacy, with the objective of advancing the
interests of France outside the borders of France.
Yet, this policy too faced a grave failure, as
he did not confide with his present team of officials
posted in foreign countries, in turn creating
confusion instead of actually advancing the interests
of France.
Yet another example of King Louis XIV's failed
and incompetent policies due his lack of foresight,
mis-calculated judgment, and lack of self-confidence
is evident in the eruption of the 7-Years War
which lasted from 1756 to 1763. According to French
historians as well as the general French public,
this war resulted in such disastrous implications
that it not only occupied the French in one of
the longest wars in the history of France. The
same also resulted in the loss of majority of
French colonies in North America and India to
her major adversary, the Great Britain. The 7-Years
War also resulted in creating hatred and a desire
for revenge from amongst the King's countrymen
including Louis XVI, who later also supported
the colonists in their struggle for the American
Revolution. (European Royalty, 2003)
The Influence of Childhood and Youth on The Louis
XIV's Reign
According to some French historians, the age of
Louis XIV was 4 years and eight months, while
other quote as being 5 years when the young Louis
XIV was crowned as the King of France. Yet, at
even this age, the laws of the kingdom claimed
that the young heir was the owner of the bodies
and property of some 19 million French subjects.
In addition, the King's status was that of 'a
visible divinity'. However, these traits, characteristics,
and acclaim for the young King failed to muster
the needed training and nurturing that was essential
for the young heir. On the contrary, the young
King was entrusted in the hands of careless servants
and governess; so much so the young King narrowly
escaped drowning in a pond, as the servants and
others had failed to watch over the activities
of the young King.
Perhaps the single most influencing factor in
the life of young Louis XIV as the King of France
was the series of events, also known as the 'Fronde'.
The 'Fronde' was the result of the ill planned
policies of the Cardinal Mazarin, also the caretaker
of the French state representing Louis XIV. Initially
commenced by the French nobles and the Paris Parliament
(a powerful law court) rose against the policies
of the Cardinal Mazarin, the 'Fronde' was also
the beginning of a long civil war. Such was the
fateful events of this 'Fronde' that Louis too
was caught up in the misery and suffered 'poverty,
misfortune, fears, humiliation, cold, as well
as hunger. These periods of hardships in turn
evolved the true character of the young King,
and molded his behavior as well as his style of
approach towards life, leaving a greater influence
on the manner of governance of France. These hardships
also made the King more than bitter, and committed
never to forgive the nobles and the common French
public alike.
The 'Fronde' was however suppressed by 1653,
and Louis XIV with the help of Cardinal Mazarin
were able to proceed an entirely new administrative
plan for the French State. This was also a period
of King XIV's strengthening of beliefs in the
activities and planning of Mazarin, as well as
the latter's acclaim on the absolute powers of
the state, as aspect which left little to be disputed
by the young King.
Aside from the series of civil wars and uprisings
by the French nobles and judiciary of the state,
as also reiterated in the preceding paragraphs,
the death of Cardinal Mazarin in 1661 was yet
another important event, which resulted in the
testing of the true capabilities of King Louis
XIV. This was also a period for announcing the
take-over of the entire responsibilities of the
governance of the state by the King. Though, this
had become as a surprise for the team of French
nobles with close relations with the expired Cardinal,
the action of taking over the entire set of responsibilities
was nonetheless a rightful claim by Louis XIV.
Furthermore, come it may as a tradition, the very
concept of dictatorship 'by divine right; could
not be disputed by any individual of the state,
regardless of his position or status in the French
society. The acclaim to the throne by the Louis
XIV also clearly implied that he was the God's
representative on earth, and in that respect any
form of disobedience and/or rebellion amounted
to a sin, duly punishable according the laws of
the state.
By virtue of these divine powers, King Louis XIV
also sought to strengthen his own feelings of
infallibility, and at the same time adopt an attitude
of serenity and moderation, as was demanded of
monarchs with absolute authority. This is also
the reason why the people of his era referred
to Louis XIV as head of the "absolute government",
also mentioned in the opening lines of the subject
paper.
One can thus observe that using these absolute
powers, King Louis XIV devoted his later life
for the affairs of the government, and there was
little that escaped his attention. These included
for example, the smallest aspects such as etiquette
of the royal court, to the more mundane task of
the movement of the French military, the construction
of roads and buildings, to the sensitive subjects
such as theological disputes.
In conclusion, one may deduce that at once, King
Louis XIV was an absolute monarch, as also proven
by his virtues and acts of taking France to its
pinnacle of fame and prosperity. Yet, at the same
time, his isolation of the royal court from the
reach of the common man, and the concentration
of the entire government machinery into his own
personal being, made his own accomplishments diminish
against the successes. Indeed the armies under
Louis IV committed atrocities, yet compared with
the horrors of today, where entire nations have
been reduced to slavery, and where mass deportations
and genocide are looked upon and regarded as weapons
of development, Louis XIV's policies are but mere
shadows in a dark tunnel.
It is said that once an Italian chemist offered
Louis XIV the first ever-bacteriological weapon.
In return, the passive natured King promised to
provide pension to the scientist on the condition
that the latter would never divulge the secret
invention.
The words of the famous French philosopher Voltaire
perhaps best depict the person and monarch in
King Louis XIV. According to Voltaire, “His
name can never be pronounced without respect and
without summoning the image of an eternally memorable
age.” (Voltaire, 1751).
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