Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, is one of the greatest personalities in world history. The reign of this monarch spans more than seven decades: a period of heyday and decline. Thanks to his competent domestic and foreign policy, France has long become a strong, prosperous and respected country in Europe. Under him, France became a model of absolute monarchy, and the court of the Sun King was a role model for many European rulers.
Biography of Louis XIV
Louis XIV was born after the 23-year-old childless marriage of King Louis XIII with Anna of Austria. He was on the throne at the age of five after the death of his father. The king suspected his wife of treason, therefore, in his will, he set a condition according to which power passed to his son after he came of age, and before that the Dauphin should be under the care of the Regency Council, and not his mother. However, Anna of Austria was able to achieve the abolition of this condition and became regent of young Louis.
During the regency of Anna of Austria, the state was actually governed by Giulio Mazarin - the country's first minister and student of Cardinal Richelieu. Queen Mazarini even entered into a secret marriage with Mazarin. Not everyone liked Mazarin's policy, so the state often had riots and unrest, as a result of which the royal family even had to leave France several times and even be under house arrest.
The godfather of Louis became Mazarin. He taught the boy knowledge in the fields of history, politics and the visual arts. Throughout his childhood, Louis was inculcated with the qualities of a leader and given a better education.
After the death of Mazarin, Anna of Austria left for the monastery, and Louis, at the age of 23, entered independent rule. He possessed a truly royal appearance and charisma: tall, with regular features, with a magnificent posture, he knew how to impress and make him catch every word. Influential princes and dukes, who had previously intrigued at court and dreamed of taking the throne, went into the shadows and unconditionally recognized the king’s power. Louis also had a brother, Philip, two years younger than him.
The heyday of the great century and the politics of Louis XIV
Louis XIV ruled of his own free will, not coordinating it with either the parliament or the cardinals. “The state is me!” Said the Sun King, emphasizing that he seeks to make the country majestic and powerful.
The Sun King attracted talented ministers, top economists and the military to his court. The country has strengthened, its military power has grown. Just at that time the neighbors of France weakened: Spain, Germany, Austria. The king expanded the land among the state: first he annexed part of the Spanish Netherlands to his possessions, and then the French troops occupied Flanders, Alsace and reached the banks of the Rhine. The army of Louis XIV was not only the largest, but also the most organized and combat-ready.
A great contribution to the prosperity of France was made by Jean-Baptiste Colbert - statesman and Minister of Finance. Thanks to his talent and numerous transformations, the country's economy has strengthened. In particular, he abolished internal customs between the provinces, increased exports by facilitating and encouraging in the industrial sector. Colbert developed the French navy, patronized the merchant marine campaigns and colonization. To replenish the treasury, he actively used indirect taxation.
French diplomats held in their hands the whole of European politics. France was ahead of other countries in the development of industry and trade, sciences and art. The French court was considered a model for other sovereigns who tried to imitate the Sun King in everything.
Under Louis XIV, the French Academy of Sciences, the Paris Conservatory, the Academy of Inscriptions and Fine Literature were opened. At that time, French literature flourished, the playwright Moliere, the writer Jean de Lafontaine, the poet Pierre Cornell, and the playwright Jean-Baptiste Racine were popular.
Louis XIV ordered the main residence to be transferred from Paris to Versailles - a small forest village where the kings used to go hunting. The king’s father built a hunting lodge there, and his son transformed it into a chic royal palace, full of secrets and secret passages. It took 50 years and 100 thousand working hands to completely complete the construction and improve the gardens and parks. Versailles gradually grew into a small town - the center of high-life in Europe. At the court, there were 3, 000 guests and guests whose maintenance was carried out from the state treasury. The king ordered the introduction of court etiquette, which was strictly observed by both the courtiers and Louis XIV himself.
The personal life of Louis XIV
The century of Louis XIV is the time of the power of his favorites, who had a tremendous influence on the king and on state life.
At a young age, Louis XIV was in love with Mazarin's niece, Maria Mancini. But, putting the interests of the state above his own, he had to marry the daughter of the King of Spain - Maria Theresa of Austria. The marriage was not happy, and the king found solace in the arms of numerous favorites, the total number of which over the whole long life of the king exceeded a hundred.
The most famous of the favorites of Louis XIV - the Duchess of Louise Francoise de Lavalier, the Marquise de Montespan and de Maintenon.
The first favorite, Louise de Lavalier, did not differ in special appearance, but was good-natured and sincere in her feelings. Louise - the only one of all the favorites loved the king as a person. She gave birth to a king four children.
After Louis XIV cooled to Louise, she went to the monastery and gave way to the Marquise de Montespan - imperious, cunning, treacherous and self-serving. She gave birth to a king of six children, and did not allow anyone to stand between her, the king and her children, getting rid of her rivals with the help of poison. De Montespan only allowed Francoise d'Aubigne, the Marquis de Maintenon, a pious and pious Catholic, not seeing her as a rival.
For 10 years, Francoise was engaged in raising children of the Marquise de Montespan and gradually approached the king, convincing him to abandon the sinful life and become an Orthodox Catholic. Louis XIV found in her a close spiritual man, a savior and a comforter. Soon the king removed the former favorite of the Marquise de Montespan from the courtyard. The king provided his new beloved with a title and a luxurious estate, after which he combined with Francoise d'Aubigne secret marriage.
Louis XIV provided palaces and life-long pensions for all the children whom the king recognized as his own.
The sunset of the great century of Louis XIV
Fallen under the influence of Francoise d'Aubigne, her king, on demand, repealed the law, which allowed the Protestants to observe their rites. Hundreds of thousands of Huguenots had to leave France and move to Germany, Austria, England and the Netherlands. And these were the most hardworking and most enterprising residents on whom the country's economy rested.
Military and political affairs went worse and worse every year. The treasury was also devastated due to the numerous wars waged by Louis XIV, and also due to the luxurious life waged by the court subjects.
