Louis passed down of his mommy, Anne, a fascination with this new arts and you may surrounded himself with musicians, architects, music artists, and you will writers and singers
Sunlight Queen & Their Women
Whenever Mazarin died from inside the 1661, Louis made a decision to signal in the place of a chief minister, that was unmatched and you may concluded a lengthy traditions away from shared fuel. He got sunlight as his symbol of energy, and therefore brand new appellation of your ‘Sun Queen,’ and you may justified it on such basis as divine correct theory, or even the religion one God himself appointed him queen. He or she is credited into declaration, »I am brand new State» implying which he kept overall stamina when you look at the their give.
All of the effective monarch border himself which have an internal system, and you may Louis are no exception. Their wise financing minister was Jean-Baptiste Colbert just who slashed expense, equalized the fresh fee from taxation, damaged down on fraud, and made France a monetary powerhouse. Another is actually Marquis de- Louvois, their Assistant out-of Condition and you will master army advisor, who professionalized their military doing a strong device of state.
Like many monarchs, wedding is often so much more political than just personal in the wild. Louis was from this source well-known for his of many mistresses and you can illegitimate pupils. He previously a long-term fling which have Maria Mancini, this new child from Mazarin, but also for governmental factors, the guy hitched the brand new Austrian Marie-Therese that have whom he previously six college students.
The his much more famous mistresses is Henrietta from England, Louise de- los angeles Valliere which have exactly who he’d four students, and you will Athenais de- Montespan. After his first spouse passed away, he would not get married an alternative international little princess, and then he age de Maintenon that has offered as their children’s governess. Fundamentally, offspring of the mistresses was in fact kept a key, but Louis legitimized a few of these pupils and anticipate all of them into the their interior network. Of a lot nobles believe is scandalous as their illegitimate children gained far more benefits than simply it performed.
Overseas Situations
Louis engaged in enough foreign battles as he tightened up his grip to the Europe and you can stretched his region. The battle of Devolution (1667-1688) is conducted The country of spain more than possession of one’s French Netherlands. Louis stated that he never ever obtained a good dowry getting his wife’s submit ilies was basically his to the providing.
He along with waged new Franco-Dutch Battle (1672-1678) and therefore finished throughout the Treaty from Nijmegen and you may expanded French territory toward Flanders. Another type of are the battle of your own League off Augsburg (1689-1697), which was waged against a great Western european coalition aligned to check their expansionist requires. France succeeded on Pact regarding Ryswick, but at a top costs. Lastly, the war of the Foreign language Series (1701-1714) are battled over their grandson’s Philip V’s reputation for the Spain. With each other, such battles longer French area but plunged the world towards the massive obligations.
Edict of Fontainebleau
Among Louis’ very notorious serves try his combat towards Huguenots, otherwise French Protestants. Their father Henry IV had awarded the brand new Treaty off Nantes and this extended religious liberty to help you Protestants. Yet not, Louis necessary religious uniformity and revoked it to your Edict regarding Fontainebleau, and that pushed the newest closure out-of churches, Protestant universities, went from Protestant clergy, and you may demanded all the Protestants feel experienced for the Catholic universities.
His armed forces mentor, Marquis de- Louvois, played a key role inside implementing this type of guidelines. It operate besides ushered into the religious attitude however, spotted a great flood from Protestants flee the world throughout the countless amounts, hence poor the French cost savings.
Versailles Palace
The guy privately got countless portraits complete off himself and his awesome loved ones. He is best-known for broadening the fresh new architectural work of art of Versailles Castle. In the first place designed for Louis XIII anywhere between 1631-1634 while the a searching resort, Louis XIV leased the best architects off his go out to make Versailles into an initial-price castle. The guy hired Andre Le Norte to produce the notorious lawn layout at the Versailles, hence turned the jealousy away from Europe.
