Louis XIV and the Establishment of Absolute Monarchy in France
Summary
This article discusses Louis XIV, his reign, and his establishment of absolute monarchy in France. The author argues that although Louis XIV is known for creating a centralized and bureaucratic state, he primarily perceived himself as the head of the Bourbon family. The article further discusses Louis’s exclusion and inclusion of various groups within his kingdom, including grandees and noble families.
Table of Contents
- Louis XIV’s Rise to Power
- Louis XIV and Councils
- The Expansion of the Royal Household
- Louis XIV’s Absolutist Political Culture
- The Failure of Communications
- Louis XIV’s Legacy
Q&A
Q. Who was Louis XIV, and how did he come to power in France?
Louis XIV was the King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. He ascended to the throne at the age of four after his father, Louis XIII, died. Because of his young age, his mother, Anne of Austria, acted as regent along with Cardinal Mazarin. When Mazarin died in 1661, Louis assumed control of the monarchy himself and promptly excluded independent political ambitions.
Q. How did Louis XIV control the different groups within his kingdom?
Louis had the necessary qualities to make a personal monarchy work, primarily by establishing a monopoly of decision-making and legitimate force in his kingdom. He excluded the grandees from the councils and chose his ministers from the legal origins of the “robe nobles,” a group of bourgeois lawyers who could be trusted. However, Louis did not exclude the greatest nobles from patronage, prestige, and power. Instead, the expansion of the royal household, court, army, and navy expanded their opportunities for enrichment.
Q. What were Louis XIV’s views on absolutism and monarchy?
Louis XIV considered himself the head of the Bourbon family and therefore prioritized family over other groups. He favored his illegitimate children and even promoted one of his grandsons to be the heir to the Spanish throne to further family fortunes, leading to intense criticism. Although Louis achieved both a legislative and a coercive monopoly in his kingdom, his absolutist political culture was not omnicompetent or totalitarian.
Q. How did Louis XIV establish his authority in France?
Louis XIV imposed his will on the kingdom by establishing a monopoly of decision-making and legitimate force. The intendants, who represented the king present in the provinces, were the most effective instruments for Louis. They had the power to execute royal orders, and some considered them to be the real rulers of the kingdom. Despite the expansion of the royal household, court, army, and navy, Louis XIV’s attempts to create a modern, centralized, bureaucratic, absolutist state have been overemphasized.
Q. What was the role of the noble families during Louis XIV’s reign?
The noble families were not excluded from power in the provinces, nor were they supplanted from control of the army. Louis XIV did not exclude the greatest nobles from patronage, prestige, and power. Instead, the expansion of the royal household, court, army, and navy expanded their opportunities for enrichment. Louis XIV’s exclusions were primarily political and intended to create a centralized and efficient government.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Louis XIV’s establishment of an absolute monarchy in France was primarily characterized by his desire to impose his will on the kingdom through a monopoly of decision-making and legitimate force. Although he excluded the grandees from the councils, Louis did not exclude the greatest nobles from patronage, prestige, and power. Instead, the expansion of the royal household, court, army, and navy expanded their opportunities for enrichment. Despite the view of Louis creating a modern, centralized, bureaucratic, absolutist state, he primarily viewed himself as the head of the Bourbon family. Therefore, Louis’s political culture was not omnicompetent or totalitarian but was characterized by his priorities and perceptions as the head of a family.
