Monday, February 13, 2012

King Louis XIV of France



Louis XIV:-

Louis XIV was the king of France in the 17th century. He was a self-centered greedy king that always wanted attention form everywhere. He even got into wars just so that he would show off his power and wealth to others. He ruled around 1643-1715. He ruled for 72 years, which quiet a long time. He was an absolute monarch. An absolute monarch is when a king has absolute control over a country. There are many evidences that prove that he was an absolute monarch.

Louis XIV ruled France for a very long time. He ruled it for 72 years, in which is quiet along time for a king to rule a country. If it were a democracy at the time, he would have been elected to govern France for only four years. The fact that he ruled for 72 years made him a dictator, which is evidence that he was an absolute monarch.

Louis XIV had absolute power. He had power to the point where he didn’t take the consent of others to make decisions that involved the country. “I request and order you to seal no orders except by my command, . . . I order you not to sign anything, not even a passport . . . without my command; to render account to me personally each day and to favor no one." Twenty three year old Louis XIV stated this quote the day after Cardinal Mazarin's death. He pointed out that he wants to have absolute power to the point where they have to take his permission even in the smallest most pathetic things.

Louis XIV did not like people around him having power. When he realized that Nicholas Fouquet started to gain and have more power, he instantly ordered his arrest and imprisoned him. " In fact he quoted “I had no intention of sharing my authority with them.” He pointed this quote out when Nicholas Fouquet and others started gaining more power and authority. He then instantly arrested and imprisoned him, which proves that he wasn’t ready to share his power with anyone.

Bureaucracy is a system that King Louis XIV constructed in which helped him in organizing the country. He divided the work out to his nobles but decisions were still under his authority. For example, he gave taxation to the nobles to be in control of but it was still under his authority. Louis XIV was really protective of his country.

Louis XIV had the power to make up laws that gave him more power and wealth. He had so much power that the parliament’s traditional power was weakened. It was weakened because the parliament was the one who had the power and authority to come up with laws, but when Louis XIV started making his own, the parliament now has no use. The fact the

To glorify the monarchy, Louis XIV built the palace of Versailles. He made it huge and beautiful so hat h would display his power to other kings. He liked showing off his power. One of the other main reasons he made it huge so that his nobles and ministers would stay with him and be there when he needed them. He also wanted to keep an eye on them so that they wouldn’t rebel or do something to hurt him. Louis XIV liked showing off and keeping an eye on his men.

King Louis XIV conquered many land. He fought over Europe and managed to conquer some land. He then battled with the Spanish Netherland and successfully gained land in Flanders. He later went and fought with the United Provinces of Netherland because he wanted his vengeance from the Dutch. Later on, that led to the fall of the Dutch’s economy. He didn’t conquer it because of his need. He was pretty much wealthy and powerful without even conquering other land. The only reason he conquered land was so that he would look powerful and wealthy in front of others.

Louis XIV had a dictating personality. He didn’t like being ordered around at all. He only wanted to do what he wants and not what others want. As he said, he wasn’t even used to being ordered around. This proves that he had absolute power to the point where people around him agreed with him on anything.

Louis XIV used to be a self-centered show off. He only cared about money and wealth and not his country or people. He was an absolute monarch that always wanted things under his authority, which made him powerful and wealthy because he made everything by himself and created laws. Louis XIV used to be a selfish braggart king.

1 comment:

  1. 185/200 - A good range of argument though towards the end you fail to clearly identify the explanation. Remember each point needs to be related back to the question.

    "but when Louis XIV started making his own, the parliament now has no use. The fact the"

    Also this sentence is not complete.

    ReplyDelete