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Example research essay topic: How Much Power Did Louis Xiv Really Have - 664 words

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Absolute monarchy meant that the king had ultimate authority in the state. Louis XIV has often been called the best example of an absolute monarch. He was accepted by the nobility and people of France because of their belief in his divine right to rule (Spielvogel 417). How much power did Louis XIV really have? Louis was able to centralize more power within himself, but was limited by his dependence of local agents, his views on religion, and his expenditure on war and lavish lifestyle. Louis XIV gained a lot of power by attempting to centralize all power in himself.

He completely reorganized his system of government and abolished his ministers and secretaries (Spielvogel 420). Louis kept three ministers in his high council that had to answer only to him and could only take action with his say. He involved himself with political affairs and even held meetings twice a week to keep informed about what was happening in his provinces. He ultimately had final say with decisions regarding foreign policy and diplomacy (Goubert 66).

Louis also gained success by realizing that publicity can make it easier to govern. He had writers, painters, and historians pensioned to praise his rule. Coins were even struck to comment on the glories of his time in power. (Berner 96). He also built Versailles, which became a symbol for the greatness and glory of King Louis Xiv's power. Versailles also served as home to high nobility, thus limiting the power they could execute since they were in close quarters with the King and he could watch over them (Spielvogel 420).

While Louis was effective in controlling the central policy of government, he was less successful in the internal administration of the kingdom. France was large and fragmented. He needed to function through local agents even if he was in charge of decision-making policies. This in itself limits his authority. Local officials could still obstruct policies they disliked (Spielvogel 420).

The divine right of kings, a theory that argued that certain kings ruled because they were chosen by God to do so and that these kings were accountable to no person except God, was the ideology of France at the time of Louis reign. The king ruled by virtue of God's authority, so he should be obeyed (Church 5, 6). This belief in itself implies limitations to Louis power. If God was the one that chose the king, then the king would have to answer to God. This created a difference between an arbitrary government and an absolute one. Louis was expected to act with restrain and respect to his people (Church 7).

Another limitation to Louis Xiv's power was economic. Louis waged four wars and kept a standing army of 100, 000 men during peacetime and 400, 000 men during (Spielvogel 422). Although the building of Versailles did help him in many ways, the overall lavish style of the court cost a lot of money. Indeed by the end of his rule, the treasury was virtually empty and even anticipated revenues for the next three years were spent (Goubert 281). Without an unlimited source of income, a king could never expect to have unlimited power. He was forced to borrow money at high interest rates (Goubert 310).

As you can see, the traditional image of Louis XIV as the greatest absolute monarch is flawed. He did succeed in reorganizing the government to give himself more power. This allowed him to have ultimate say in decisions regarding foreign policy and diplomacy. However, he was limited in his power by his dependence on local agent, religious views, and economical issues. Works Cited Berner, Olivier. Louis XIV: A Royal Life.

New York: Double Day, 1987. Church, William, F. The Greatness of Louis XIV: Myth or Reality? Boston: D. C. : Heath and Company, 1959. Goubert, Pierre.

Louis XIV and Twenty Million French. New York: Pantheon, 1970. Spielvogel, Jackson, J. Western Civilization: Volume II, Since 1500. 6 th Edition. Thomson Wadworth, 2006.


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Research essay sample on How Much Power Did Louis Xiv Really Have

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