LOUIS XIV 1638-1715. THE SUN KING. Normally, Kings appointed Prime Ministers to run the country. Louis decided he would rule the country himself. He became King at age 4 but did not rule until he was 23. Most Kings in France had problems with the Nobility trying to challenge the kings power
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Normally, Kings appointed Prime Ministers to run the country. Louis decided he would rule the country himself.
Most Kings in France had problems with the Nobility trying to challenge the kings power
Louis had an idea on how to change that
Louis appointed skilled middle class people to government, and earned their loyalty. Nobles influence was diminished
Louis kept the Nobles dependent on him by only giving money to those who were totally loyal to him and served him at the palace
“In everything [Louis XIV] loved received substantial rewards from the Kingsplendor, magnificence, profusion. He turned his taste into a maxim for political reasons and instilled it into his court on all matters. One could please him by throwing oneself into fine food, clothes, retinue, buildings, gambling. These were occasions which enabled him to talk to people. The essence of it was that by this he attempted and succeeded in exhausting everyone by making luxury a virtue and for certain persons a necessity, and thus he gradually reduced [the nobility] to depending entirely on his generosity . . .”
The Duke of Saint-Simon
Louis also had an extensive received substantial rewards from the Kingspy network and knew the secrets of almost every prominent noble. In this way he was able to totally dominate his kingdom throughout his life
“Louis XIV took very special to be informed about everything that was going on . . . in public and in private. He had an infinity of spies . . . of every kind. Some were ignorant of the fact that their relations went all the way to him, others knew it.
“But the cruelest of all the ways by which the king was kept informed, and it was many years before it was realized, and many never did realize it . . . was by opening letters.
“It is impossible to understand how promptly and efficiently it was done. The king saw extracts from every letter . . . which the chiefs of the postal service judged should reach him. A word of criticism of the king or the government, a bit of sarcasm could ruin one forever.”
The Duke of Saint-Simon