Louis XIV of France Successes and Failures

From Personal Rule to Versailles and the Edict of Nantes

Jan 15, 2009

Louis XIV was determined to rule on his own following the death of Cardinal Mazarin in 1661 and proceeded to create a legacy that keeps historians debating.

In 1661, Louis XIV of France, the “Sun King,” upon the death of Cardinal Mazarin, declared that he would rule Europe’s most populous nation by himself. Ministerial rule had long been a part of French absolutism, the greatest advisor having been Cardinal Richelieu under Louis XIII. Louis XIV was to allegedly declare, “I am the State” (l’etat c’est moi), and whether he actually said this or not, Louis acted as if he was the State. Despite ruinous wars, blunders over religious matters, and the failure to bring France into an early industrial phase, his legacy was immense.

Versailles was built in 1682 and remains a lasting tribute to the lavish court established by Louis. Perhaps haunted by the years of the Fronde rebellion, Versailles was designed to keep the nobility busy with parties, gambling, concerts, and sumptuous banquets. Here Louis could keep an eye on the nobility and establish a highly complex and intricate system of court etiquette that resulted in aristocrats vying for his favor.

French culture and social norms became standard in all European capitals and the French language emerged as the dominant diplomatic language, spoken in every European court. Few 18th Century monarchs could not speak French well, often better than the tongue of their peoples as in the case of Catherine II of Russia.

Every aspect of Louis’ daily routine was public, with nobles lucky enough to be at his rising in the morning or going to bed at night, hoping to whisper a few words into his ears to gain his support or advice. Versailles gardeners replaced the thousands of flowers on his whim, reflecting whatever color Louis declared should adorn the palace garden on any particular day.

The Hall of Mirrors was perhaps the grandest walkway of the palace, connecting the two primary wings at the north. Here Louis received foreign dignitaries and ambassadors, forced to begin their walk down one end or the mirrored corridor to the other. It was a symbol of power and intimidation. Versailles would be copied by other monarchs such as Peter the Great’s Peterhof and Frederick the Great’s Potsdam palace, san souci.

Wars and Religious Problems

Louis’ capable ministers – Colbert, the Marquis de Louvois, and Vauban, contributed their intelligence and skills to increase state revenues though the creation of an efficient system of tax and tariff collection, the establishment of a standing army of high caliber and training, and the revolutionizing of siege tactics in war. Yet Louis failed to capitalize on these reforms and resources, squandering vast sums on wars that achieved relatively few gains.

In 1685, the Sun King revoked the Edict of Nantes, put in place by Henry IV in 1598. The Edict allowed French Calvinists, Huguenots, freedom of worship and employment and came after the bloody wars of religion in France at the end of the 16th Century. Louis’ revocation was based, in part, on his view of state unity and that included religion. Although Huguenots may have represented 2 million believers out of the total population of 20 million, they occupied government positions and were well represented in the bourgeoisie.

Persecuted, at least a quarter million fled France, some going to England, others to the English colonies in North America or to Calvinist Holland. Louis’ actions resulted in depriving France of thousands of highly literate and skilled workers.

Upon the death of Louis XIV in 1715, the state was on the precipitous journey of constant financial problems and growing internal discontent. Louis XV was said to have exclaimed, “after me, the flood.” (although the quote is also attributed to Madame de Pompadour) The French Revolution of 1789 had many causes. The travails of France, going back to Louis XIV, may have been, in part, a long term root cause.

Sources:

Pierre Goubert, Louis XIV and Twenty Million Frenchmen (Vintage Books – Random House, 1970)

W. H. Lewis, The Splendid Century: Life in the France of Louis XIV (Waveland Press, 1997)

The copyright of the article Louis XIV of France Successes and Failures in French History is owned by Michael Streich. Permission to republish Louis XIV of France Successes and Failures in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.