Louis XIV

KING LOUIS XIV
Student’s Name
Institution
Professor’s Name
Date of Submission
King Louis XIV
During the seventeenth century, most monarchs in Europe employed absolutism philosophy as a way to rule and govern their people. Absolutist, which is unlimited power to govern by one person, provides a single subject the mandate and power to rule a country. This philosophy was mainly practiced by different rules during the century like Peter the Great and Louis XIV though in different magnitude. However, one of the most renowned absolutists was Louis XIV who ruled the France monarch.
When King Louis XIV assumed the throne in 1661, he had his own vision that was aimed at reforming the state of France political, social and economically. He felt intrigued as a leader to make the country different and great in a way that fits his vision. As such, as an absolutist, Louis XIV imposed himself as the sun king, which placed him as the central command of all the government system. Herein, as a Sun King, he believed all his subjected were beneath him just like the other planet revolves around the sun. He considered himself as the light that all his subjects depended on just like the sun, and this made him viewed more as an absolute monarchy. Furthermore, Louis XIV created a centralized government system where all the other branches or system of the state government completely abided by his rule. This centralized system gave him power over the judicial system, the army and other wings of the government making him only answerable to God.

Louis XIV is considered one of the greatest absolutist due to his conscientious foreign policies, which involved disregarding international diplomatic relationships and trade. During his reign, Louis XIV engaged in numerous continental wars that worsen his relationship with outside nations such as the Dutch. His disregards to trade policies and foreign laws gave him absolute power, and this helped expand his monarchy making him more thorough and ruthless. In his regards to the law, Louis changes the trade system to suit his preference which was not in favor of his neighbor state and this did not bother him even a bit.
Louis made changes in the legislative power that ensured he had a hand in the legal system of France. He ensured all the estate generals were removed and any noble in the legislative system, making him the only ruler with a distinguishable position and power. He forces thousands of nobles and estate general to be punished if they disobeyed his command and set a clear law that indicated his authority as an absolute monarchy. Since religion was considered the center of monarchical power, King Louis XIV made himself the chief controller of all religions. He initiated anti-protestant policies that were aimed at making every person a Catholic. The forced conversion of Protestants especially those in Huguenot communities made him have control of the whole church system. The Edict of Fontainebleau created by Louis was a way of converting all the people under one religion, which would make them obedient to his monarchy. He even closed school and churches that went against his rules.
In summation, King Louis XIV is considered an absolute monarch due to his control of the monarchy, influence in foreign diplomacy, mingling with religion and his long reign in the Europe history. He is considered an absolute monarch of all time as refused to share power with any person and made the people worship him portray him as a god-like image.
Bibliography
Beik, William. “The Absolutism of Louis Xiv as Social Collaboration.” Past & Present 188, no. 1 (August 2005): 194–224. doi:10.1093/pastj/gti019.
J.H. Robinson, ed., Readings in European History 2 vols. (Boston: Ginn, 1906), 2:279-280.
Lossky, Andrew. “The Absolutism of Louis Xiv: Reality or Myth?” Canadian Journal of History 19, no. 1 (April 1984): 1Sahlins, Peter. “The Royal Menageries of Louis XIV and the Civilizing Process Revisited.” French Historical Studies 35, no. 2 (Spring 2012): 237–67.