The main reason Louis xiv ordered the construction of Versailles
Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles was the principal royal residence of France from 1682, under Louis XIV, until the start of the French Revolution in 1789, under Louis XVI. It is located in the department of Yvelines, in the region of Île-de-France, about 20 kilometres southwest of the centre of Paris.
Why did King Louis XVI have Versailles built?
Versailles was built to impress. What happened at the Palace of Versailles in 1837? In 1837 Louis-Philippe, King of the French, was finally able to inaugurate the historic galleries he had wanted to install in Versailles. The day was a key event in the history of the Palace.
Why did Louis XIV dislike the nobles?
Louis was nine years old when the nobles and the Paris Parlement (a powerful law court), driven by hatred of the prime minister Jules Cardinal Mazarin, rose against the crown in 1648. This marked the beginning of the long civil war known as the Fronde , in the course of which Louis suffered poverty, misfortune, fear, humiliation, cold, and hunger.
Why did Louis XIV believe in a divine right?
Which right did Louis XIV believe in? divine right Louis XIV Assumes Control of France After Mazarin’s death in 1661, Louis XIV broke with tradition and astonished his court by declaring that he would rule without a chief minister. He viewed himself as the direct representative of God, endowed with a divine right to wield the absolute power of the monarchy.
Why did Louis XIV consider himself the "Sun King"?
He chose the sun as his symbol and some believe that he may have thought his role of king of France was similar to role of the sun in the universe. That is a mighty big comparison to make, but this belief is thought to be one of the reasons why the Louis XIV called himself the sun king.
How to take part in the history of the Palace of Versailles?
How long was Louis XIV on the throne?
What is Louis XIV's grand sicle?
What is the absolute monarchy?
What is the symbol of Louis XIV?
Why was the Palace important to the Nobility?
Where was Louis XIV's court house?
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Why did Louis XIV want to control Versailles?
The court was officially established there on 6 May 1682. By moving his court and government to Versailles, Louis XIV hoped to extract more control of the government from the nobility and to distance himself from the population of Paris.
What was the purpose of building Versailles?
From 1682 it became the main residence of the French Court and government. Louis XIV moved not only the aristocracy to Versailles, but also the main body of administration.
What was the importance of Versailles to the French crown?
Versailles was seen as a glorious symbol of the absolute monarch, of France's divinely ordained royal family, and of the state itself.
What did Louis XIV do to the Palace of Versailles?
The Palace of Versailles has been listed as a World Heritage Site for 40 years and is one of the greatest achievements in French 17th century art. Louis XIII's old hunting pavilion was transformed and extended by his son, Louis XIV, when he installed the Court and government there in 1682.
Who built Versailles and when was it completed?
Louis XIII built a simple hunting Lodge on the site of the Palace of Versailles in 1623 and replaced it with a small château in 1631–34. Louis XIV expanded the château into a palace in several phases from 1661 to 1715.
How did Louis XIV use Versailles to enforce and maintain his status as an absolute monarch?
Versailles used propaganda by promoting Louis with its grandiosity and generous portraits that all exuded a sense of supremacy. Versailles also helped Louis take control of the nobility by providing enough space to keep them under his watchful eye.
How did the Palace of Versailles contribute to the eventual French Revolution?
During the French Revolution, the palace was important for several reasons. First, as stated earlier, for the working class members of the third estate, it represented the excess of the monarchy and the gap between the third estate and the royalty.
How did Louis XIV control the nobles?
Louis also attached nobles to his court at Versailles and thus achieved increased control over the French aristocracy. An elaborate court ritual by which the king observed the aristocracy and distributed his favors was created to ensure the aristocracy remained under his scrutiny.
What are some ways that Louis used court life at Versailles to control the French nobility?
He applied a strict etiquette at court, a set of rules and protocols by which his noble courtiers were obliged to abide. With the help of Colbert, he oversaw the administrative and financial reorganisation of his realm, and also set up manufactures and worked to boost trade.
Who built the Palace of Versailles and why?
Louis XIV ruled France for 72 years, and in that time transformed Versailles by encompassing Louis XIII's chateau with a palace that contained north and south wings, as well as nearby buildings housing ministries. Versailles was built to impress.
Why was king Louis XIV important?
Louis XIV's reign was important in French history not just because it lasted so long but because he was a strong-willed ruler who was determined to make his subjects obey him and to make his kingdom the predominant power in Europe.
What did Louis XIV accomplish?
In that time, he transformed the monarchy, ushered in a golden age of art and literature, presided over a dazzling royal court at Versailles, annexed key territories and established his country as the dominant European power.
Who built Versailles What king and why?
Louis XIV built the extravagant Palace of Versailles In 1682, Louis XIV officially moved his court to the lavish palace at Versailles, 13 miles outside of Paris. Europe's grandest palace became a center of political power and a symbol of the king's dominance and wealth.
Why was Versailles not destroyed?
Even though the sovereign and the court were no longer in residence, the Palace was not left to go to ruin. On the contrary, and as always during the royal family's absences, the opportunity was taken to carry out repairs.
What are 3 facts about Palace of Versailles?
Facts About the Palace of VersaillesIn French, it's known as Château de Versailles.The Hall of Mirrors within the palace has a total of 357 mirrors.Everything used to construct and decorate the Palace was created in France.At the time of the palace's construction, Venice had a monopoly on making mirrors.More items...•
How much would it cost to build the Palace of Versailles today?
The approximate cost to build the structure today would be $50.7 billion U.S. dollars. On a square-foot basis, this comes out to be $74,583, making Versailles the most expensive palace (per square foot) on the planet!
Louis XIV - Brother, Spouse & Accomplishments - Biography
Follow King Louis XIV's reign during France's classical age, including his revocation of the Edict of Nantes and aggressive foreign policy, on Biography.com.
The Reign of Louis XIV (1643-1715): An Overview | History
Born in 1638, Louis XIV succeeded his father, Louis XIII, as king at the age of five. He ruled for 72 years, until his death in 1715, making his reign the longest of any European monarch. By the time he died, he outlived his son and his grandson, leaving the throne to his young great-grandson Louis XV.
The Palace of Versailles and the Absolutism of Louis XIV
Henry VIII is often called a |Renaissance prince' and is popularly remembered for his ebullience and the extraordinariness of his reign. What is often not so well appreciated, is the extent to which his style of monarchy and the events of his reign were influenced by his relationship with that other |Renaissance prince', Francis I. Rarely, since their time, have France and England been so ...
How to take part in the history of the Palace of Versailles?
Take part in the history of the palace of Versailles by supporting a project that suits you: adopt a linden tree, contribute to the missions of the Palace or participate in the refurnishing of the royal apartments.
How long was Louis XIV on the throne?
With Louvois he reformed the army and enjoyed a string of military victories. After 72 years on the throne, Louis XIV died on 1 September 1715. He was buried in the Saint-Denis Basilica, and the throne passed to his great-grandson Louis XV, aged five. Louis XIV continues to embody the Grand Siècle, synonymous with the splendour ...
What is Louis XIV's grand sicle?
Louis XIV continues to embody the Grand Siècle, synonymous with the splendour of Versailles and the glory of France.
What is the absolute monarchy?
An absolute monarchy. As sovereign by divine right, the King was God’s representative on earth. It is in this respect that his power was “absolute”, which in Latin means literally ‘free of all restraints’: the king was answerable to no one but God. During his coronation, Louis XIV swore to defend the Catholic faith.
What is the symbol of Louis XIV?
King by divine right. At the start of his reign, before turning to more political allegories, Louis XIV chose the sun as his personal emblem. The sun is the symbol of Apollo, god of peace and the arts; it is also the star which gives life to all things, rising and setting with unfailing regularity. Like the god, Louis XIV was a warrior fighting ...
Why was the Palace important to the Nobility?
With enough room to house the whole court, the Palace and its surrounding buildings rapidly became symbols of an age when the nobility were prepared to go to any lengths to be close to the King, who respected the royal tradition whereby the monarch had to be accessible to his courtiers.
Where was Louis XIV's court house?
Louis XIV and his courtiers were based in the Louvre Palace, then the Tuileries, alternating with stints at the Châteaux of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Vincennes, Fontainebleau and the rapidly-growing Versailles.
Why did Louis XIV build Versailles?
The main reason Louis xiv ordered the construction of Versailles was because it would give him all the power in France (absolutism). He would get this by making it his official residence in 1682 and by the moving government there. By moving his government to Versailles it would mean all the nobility will be at his palace. He never achieved this as the cost of the construction was too much, however most of the nobility did move into Versailles and in Versailles Louis was able to control the nobility as they’d always wanted to be in the king’s favour. The construction of Versailles allowed this. Another reason why Louis xiv ordered Versailles to be built is because showed his power in Europe. It showed his power to all the other leaders in Europe because it was a symbol of his own achievements on how he could have a ugly swamp transformed in to a beautiful palace. This showed the other rulers of his greatness and of how he had absolute power in France. Rooms like the hall of mirrors (completed in 1684) demonstrated the glory of Louis reign to the rest of Europe and even though the project it became a burden on France it showed the power Louis xiv had. As you can see Versailles was built so Louis xiv could absolute power in France and was a symbol to the rest of Europe of Louis power over his people and showed how great his reign was to the rest of Europe.
Why was Versailles built?
As you can see Versailles was built so Louis xiv could absolute power in France and was a symbol to the rest of Europe of Louis power over his people and showed how great his reign was to the rest of Europe.
How long did Louis XIV reign?
Saimbert John HST 102-002 19 November 2014 Louis XIV Louis XIV (1638-1718), known as the Sun King, lasted for 72 years, longer than that of any monarch of a major European history. In that time, he transformed the monarchy, also introduced a golden age of art and literature. He established his country as the dominant European power as well. During the final decades of Louis XIV’s rule, France was declined by several wars. Early life and reign of Louis XIV Louis XIV was born on September 5, 1638 , he was….
What is the royal awakening at Versailles?
One example of a court ritual at Versailles was the royal awakening of the king. Saint-Simon provided elaborate descriptions of how the ministers and privileged courtiers had to wait upon Louis XIV as he got dressed. The concept of the nobility serving the French king in such a manner is analogous to servants working for their master. They needed to do so in order to continue living at the palace of Versailles. This dependency of the aristocrats demonstrates King Louis XIV’s power to control them. In….
What was Louis XIV's greatest achievement?
One of his most significant achievements was to leave in his wake the image of grandeur and order that it be remembered in the future. In 1670, Louis finally finished his memoir of the early years of his reign, which was intended to advise his first son, the Dauphin, about the secrets of effective rule. Throughout the memoir Louis provides useful suggestions and information about being the king of France. He informs the Dauphin….
Which two great rulers emerged in France?
two tremendous rulers emerged in France. During the age of rule under both Henry IV and Louis XIV, France obtained an absolutist government, which the majority of citizens supported. Henry IV was more so a compromiser compared to Louis XIV who was at war the majority of his reign. King Henry IV clashes with the characteristics of King Louis XIV as a result. King Henry IV’s reign differed from that of King Louis XIV’s in militaristic, economic, and religious aspects. During his reign, Henry IV only….
What was the effect of Louis XIV's rule on France?
During the final decades of Louis XIV’s rule, France was weakened by several lengthy wars that drained its resources and the mass exodus of its Protestant population following the king’s revocation of the Edict of Nantes.
What did Louis XIV do to the French government?
His finance minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert (1619-1683), implemented reforms that sharply reduced the deficit and fostered the growth of industry, while his war minister, the Marquis de Louvois (1641-1691), expanded and reorganized the French army. Louis also managed to pacify and disempower the historically rebellious nobles, who had fomented no less than 11 civil wars in four decades, by luring them to his court and habituating them to the opulent lifestyle there.
What were the aristocrats expected to do at the Palace of Versailles?
At the Palace of Versailles, aristocrats were expected to compete for the privilege of watching Louis XIV wake up, eat meals and prepare for bed. During the early years of Louis XIV’s reign, Anne and Mazarin introduced policies that further consolidated the monarchy’s power, angering nobles and members of the legal aristocracy.
How did Louis XIV die?
On September 1, 1715, four days before his 77th birthday, Louis XIV died of gangrene at Versailles. His reign had lasted 72 years, longer than that of any other known European monarch, and left an indelible mark on the culture, history and destiny of France. His 5-year-old great-grandson succeeded him as Louis XV.
What was the first war of devolution?
In 1667 Louis XIV launched the War of Devolution (1667-1668), the first in a series of military conflicts that characterized his aggressive approach to foreign policy, by invading the Spanish Netherlands, which he claimed as his wife’s inheritance. Under pressure from the English, Swedish and especially the Dutch, France retreated and returned the region to Spain, gaining only some frontier towns in Flanders. This unsatisfactory outcome led to the Franco-Dutch War (1672-1678), in which France acquired more territory in Flanders as well as the Franche-Comté. Now at the height of his powers and influence, Louis established “chambers of reunion” to annex disputed cities and towns along France’s border through quasi-legal means.
What did Louis XIV appreciate?
A hard-working and meticulous ruler who oversaw his programs down to the last detail, Louis XIV nevertheless appreciated art, literature, music, theater and sports.
What did Louis XIV control?
Louis XIV Assumes Control of France. The Arts and the Royal Court Under Louis XIV. Louis XIV and Foreign Policy. Louis XIV and Religion. Death of Louis XIV. The reign of France’s Louis XIV (1638-1715), known as the Sun King, lasted for 72 years, longer than that of any other known European sovereign. In that time, he transformed the monarchy, ...
How to take part in the history of the Palace of Versailles?
Take part in the history of the palace of Versailles by supporting a project that suits you: adopt a linden tree, contribute to the missions of the Palace or participate in the refurnishing of the royal apartments.
How long was Louis XIV on the throne?
With Louvois he reformed the army and enjoyed a string of military victories. After 72 years on the throne, Louis XIV died on 1 September 1715. He was buried in the Saint-Denis Basilica, and the throne passed to his great-grandson Louis XV, aged five. Louis XIV continues to embody the Grand Siècle, synonymous with the splendour ...
What is Louis XIV's grand sicle?
Louis XIV continues to embody the Grand Siècle, synonymous with the splendour of Versailles and the glory of France.
What is the absolute monarchy?
An absolute monarchy. As sovereign by divine right, the King was God’s representative on earth. It is in this respect that his power was “absolute”, which in Latin means literally ‘free of all restraints’: the king was answerable to no one but God. During his coronation, Louis XIV swore to defend the Catholic faith.
What is the symbol of Louis XIV?
King by divine right. At the start of his reign, before turning to more political allegories, Louis XIV chose the sun as his personal emblem. The sun is the symbol of Apollo, god of peace and the arts; it is also the star which gives life to all things, rising and setting with unfailing regularity. Like the god, Louis XIV was a warrior fighting ...
Why was the Palace important to the Nobility?
With enough room to house the whole court, the Palace and its surrounding buildings rapidly became symbols of an age when the nobility were prepared to go to any lengths to be close to the King, who respected the royal tradition whereby the monarch had to be accessible to his courtiers.
Where was Louis XIV's court house?
Louis XIV and his courtiers were based in the Louvre Palace, then the Tuileries, alternating with stints at the Châteaux of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Vincennes, Fontainebleau and the rapidly-growing Versailles.