Louis XIV

Context: Europe was now seeing a rise in absolutism. France was going through several rough periods with uprisings known as the Fronde. Under the rule of Louis XIV, France became a European power. France one of the largest armies and became the cultural center of Europe.

Louis XIV

Creation of an absolute government

Patronage to the arts

Initially, Louis took complete control over government when his minister Mazarin died. He was the first king in centuries not to have a chief minister at his side. In this way Louis could decide the fate of France all on his own.

His love for the art came from his mother, and as he took control over his state he implored the making of new art. Possible the greatest master work Louis created was the Palace of Versailles.

Louis was able to control the nobles with the use of his grand palace. Here he would have the nobles be distracted the beauty and onslaught of entertainment at the place.

Louiss love for the arts and fashion led France to become the cultural center of Europe. French became the national language. France was now considered a power through its cultural changes.

With the political success of Louis XIV, he increased his support of his nation by revocating the Edict of Nantes. Under the reason of the state he was able to kick out the Calvinist in France. With complete power Louis was able to wage wars with other nations on the simplest of whims. This creating a massive army; however this army took a toll on the national economy as the arm ys funding was massive. With France now the cultural center of the world, France was now a national power in Europe. With the creation of the army and French being spoke in every country, France had a advantages in trading and war. Louis conducted wars in multiple states at once depleting his army eventually slowing the expansion of France. These wars (like the War of the Spanish Succession) led to the French Revolution.