Louis XIV's Rule (9 gen 1661 anni – 2 feb 1715 anni)

Descrizione:

Key aspects of his reign:
- Was the absolute ruler; however, never said "Le tat ces't moi" because it would imply arbitrary rule; "Sun King" referred to his policies reaching all of France
- Palace at Versailles served as a place where nobles would come; political place--"room where it happens"; made everything in the palace a prize, including everything from a nod to high positions of power; did not need intendant system--everything was happening in front of him; mixed rivalry and revelry to divide and conquer nobles
- Biggest threat was posed by very high nobles and blood princes; to deal with this, removed them from the central-policy making council and put them in his court so they became obsessed with court life
- domineered his ministers and secretaries, becoming true absolute king
-At end of his life, supposedly began to regret the many wars he waged
- disliked Huguenots and enacted Edict of Fontainebleau, forcing Huguenots out of France; "one King, one Law, one Faith"
- Jean-Baptiste Colbert was Controller General of Finances under him
- His court was a role model for all of Europe
- His desire for military glory and domination of Bourbon dynasty led him to wage countless wars; secretary of war was François-Michel Le Tellie; peacetime army of 100,000 and wartime of 400,000