Words: 761
King Louis XIV was a man of strength and courage with many ambitions that he was fully determined to achieve. He dedicated most of his rule taking steps to accomplish the goal of “one king, one law, one faith” for the country of France. By one king he aimed for the ruler to have supreme power over armies, government bureaucracy, and culture. This would eventually lead to the overall influence of the French upon other countries and their kings. By way of one law he aspired for the nobles to no longer rule over separate states but for one government with supreme power.
King Louis had a desire for an absolute monarchy. As a result he would not be legally bound by any institutions or other persons in the country. This inclination was not easily met or as successful as he had hoped. Louis XIV sought religious unity between the French people, one faith. To do this he revoked the Edict of Nantes. King Louis XIV did not achieve his entire goal to the extent which he had anticipated but overall he was victorious, leaving a huge impact and influence on the French society and Europe as a whole.
Louis XIV believed that one king should have power and control over the country of France. To do this he reorganized the army and was exceptionally prosperous in doing so. Local armies in states led by nobles ceased to exist and Louis had centralized control. In addition to this he stimulated the economy by purchasing weapons and uniforms for the forces. The army became more of a threat, centralized, and organized during peace-time. Louis also wanted control over the government bureaucracy.
He appointed the bourgeoisie as government officials, allies against the nobles, and created ambassadors to the towns who collected taxes, oversaw the courts, and made sure all royal laws were adhered to. Additionally the king wanted to make a grand gesture spreading the influence of the French culture by building the palace Versailles. King Louis’ main goal in constructing Versailles was to prevent the nobles from decentralizing the country. The king centralized the army, limited the power of the nobles against the bourgeoisies, and spread French influence all across Europe.
He was superfluously triumphant in establishing the idea of one king. King Louis wanted supreme control over the country of France. The king was threatened by nobles who were losing their power due to his desire of centralized control over justice and force. The nobles were in control of separate states and the bourgeoisies were suffering. This led to a mini-civil war between the nobles, royalist, and king called the Fronde. The king and the bourgeoisies won the battle and were successful in gaining power.
Moreover, Louis wanted more power was determined to have an absolute monarchy. Although his desire was strong the French societies disfavor was stronger. Louis depended on a host of advisors and bureaucrats and could be easily let down by the burden of the local customs of the French society. Louis was not able to gain full control of law but he prevailed in dismantling the noble supremacy. King Louis XIV of France yearned for religious unity within his country. He tried to accomplish the goal of one faith by revoking the Edict of Nantes.
This revocation caused a religious upheaval and was a huge blow to the French people. Protestants were found in each level of French society and one of the most mobile when it came to commercial and industrial classes. The French lost their most useful class. Although they had lost this important class the Huguenots began to convert to Catholicism. He held back by an act of volition the Jansenism movement within the Catholic Church but caused the Protestants to suffer. Louis wanted one faith but it was almost impossible for him to fully achieve it. Everyone would never be one religion.
All things considered, King Louis XIV of France was a notable leader and exultant when it came to accomplishing his goal. None of his goals were totally successful but the French society benefited from each of the many steps he took. The king was not close to being an “absolute” ruler. Despite everything he still managed to create the largest, most centralized, and organized monarchies in Europe. He managed to put and end to civil war and made way for civic equality. King Louis was a very popular and influential leader who has been remembered throughout history.