The absolutism of Louis XIV was the major power behind France’s success during his reign. Through his military strength and effective bureaucracy, Louis XIV successfully transformed France into the most powerful nation of Europe. The absolutism of Louis XIV sparked an era of French dominance that lasted more than a century after his death.
The absolutism of Louis relied heavily on a bureaucracy that was built to manage the affairs of a wealthy, prosperous nation. Through this absolutist vision , Louis XIV financed wars and helped France become one of the most prominent countries in Europe by 1700. Under absolutism, French art and architecture flourished with the building of the Palace of Versailles that became a model for many other European courts.
Louis XIV’s vision of absolutism was not one that simply created power for himself, but rather power that would last after his death through effective management and leadership . Despite France being ravaged from years of war under Louis XIV’s rule, absolutism carried on through a bureaucracy in which power was delegated through carefully chosen ministers.
Admittedly, absolutism has its faults, but the successes of absolutism speak for themselves. France’s history was transformed under Louis XIV’s absolutist rule and created a legacy that would outlive him by more than a century. While absolutism may have led to war in France during much of Louis XIV’s reign, it also allowed for France to flourish as one of the most powerful countries in Europe.
Who doesn’t know about France’s absolutist king, Louis XIV? His reign lasted over 72 years and is known as the “sun king.” Those who studied history knows he was absolutist leader.
The absolutists believed that the King of France had complete power over its people with no restrictions or limits at all. This is evident in their policies that they always pursued absolute sovereignty of the state. This implied eliminating any opposition to its power with little room for negotiation. (background knowledge)
When you think about absolutism, what comes into your mind is probably the idea of French absolutism during the 17th century which included many policies consistently pushed by Louis XIV’s France’s absolutism including the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and the persecution of French Protestants, centralization of power, and aggressive foreign policy. (background knowledge)
Louis XIV pushed absolutism policies in everything he did from religious affairs to economic issues, all in a consistent thread towards absolutism. He believed that France’s absolutist policies were what made him successful as a leader. This also included changing the Western European state system by absolutizing his rule over France which created a system where France was considered a paragon nation.
Another characteristic Louis XIV insisted upon in absolutism style is how well he organized its government during his reign. He organized many councils including the Conseil d’en Haut, which was responsible for absolutist and some religious affairs like hearing appeals from the clergy that were members of society. (background knowledge)
Louis XIV’s absolutism style had a lasting impact on France and Western Europe in general. His absolutism policies created a powerful nation-state system in Western Europe where France was considered the leading power. This also made him an absolutist monarch rather than just a regular king with authority over his people.
During the seventeenth century in Europe, many different systems of government existed. Louis XIV and absolutism reigned supreme. He was the most powerful person in his government, but some power still existed in his advisers, ministers, and the vast bureaucracy which he created. Louis XIVs style of absolutism had a positive influence on France in the seventeenth century. Louis XIV’s brand of absolutism constructed an effective government bureaucracy in France.
Louis bureaucracy started with the division of Frances government into committees, subcommittees of the councils, and bureaus run by various ministers and secretaries of state. These committees, subcommittees of councils, and bureaus were headed by Louis ministers. The king’s secretaries of state ran the bureaus. Louis XIV’s absolutism created a complex system of favors, interference, and corruption within his government bureaucracy. In 1661 Louis XIV established the Council of State to help govern France absently.
In addition to his Council of State, Louis XIV also had a council that advised him on financial matters. This council was called the Conseil d’en Haut, which means “upper council” in French. It consisted of some 40-50 members chosen from leading nobles and high officials inside Louis absolutism. The Financial Section often competed with other sections for influence over policy in Louis absolutism. The majority of Louis’s absolutist power rested with his ministers. The most powerful minister was the chief minister, called the First Minister.
The Ministers were divided into three groups: Guise family members, cardinal ministers, and secondary ministers. During absolutism Louis absolutism, the King’s brothers and cousins held high ministerial posts. These ministers did not necessarily have to be talented; they just had to be blood relations. Finally, there were Louis absolutisms Cardinal-Ministers who headed important areas like foreign affairs and domestic affairs. Although they wielded great power in their particular areas, often they did not necessarily share Louis absolutism’s political views or goals.
Louis absolutism absolutized the central government, by making it more powerful than local governments. The king’s absolutism goal was to replace feudal institutions with modern ones so that his absolutism rule could be strengthened. He accomplished this through Louis absolutism bureaucratic reforms which made the bureaucracy run smoothly. Louis XIV absolutism centralized France by governing more directly from Versailles instead of Paris, where all of France had once been governed.
This not only helped to strengthen his absolutist rule in some areas but also weakened his power in others. The positive impacts of Louis absolutisms style of ruling on France are often cited as being responsible for modern France today absolutizing. absolutism absolutized Louis absolutism XIV was even absolutely idolized by the French people during his absolutism absolute reign. A majority of historians have agreed that Loui’s absolutism reforms gave France a modern absolutes system of government which strengthened the absolutism power and allowed it to expand its territories.
