Chateau De Versailles
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Louis XIV
Louis XIV, a marvelous leader during his reign (1643-1715), was a prime example of an absolutist ruler. He used his position to expand the power of his government with projects like the expansion of the Chateau de Versailles, completed in 1688. Despite the unimaginable cost of the monumental construction of Versailles that exhausted much of Frances finances, its creation was beneficial for the French government, foreign influence, and the historical impact on France and the world.
The French government, which was centered in Paris prior to the expansion of Versailles, did not satisfy King Louis XIV. Paris, forever associated with the Fronde or civil wars of 1648-1653, never appealed to Louis. Like Louis father, King Louis XIII, he was constantly butting heads with the Fronde and needed to escape from them and the rigors of government. The solution to this was Versailles. Young King Louis XIV often escaped to the peace and solitude of Versailles as his father did, but instead for pleasure and a change in his rigorous routine of kingship.
King Louis XIII first built Versailles in the country as a hunting lodge for his leisure and refuge from the hustle and bustle of Paris. Louis XIV later expanded upon the size and grandeur of his fathers retreat and in his reign, installed his royal court within the security of its walls. Versailles, only 10 miles away from Paris, was very accessible to the main city in France as well as away from the troubles of Paris. In its construction, Louis planned to create a place that would house and office his court and essentially his government. Louis completely distrusted the nobility in association with the Fronde. But despite his distrust, he realized that he was isolated in his position as a ruler and that without the support of the nobility he could not rule effectively. In time, Louis XIV gained the support of the nobility and used Versailles as the meeting place for the collaboration between the Crown and the nobility. This collaboration centralized France, as did the French Revolution, which was a good change from the previously chaotic state of France. The reason for the success of Versailles over Paris as the center of their affairs is because Versailles didnt have the political problems as Paris did.
“Versailles was in some sense the church of Louis XIV and the king was himself a religion” In respects to the power of Louis, he was almost a god. In the absolutist period, kings such as Louis believed that they ruled by divine right, “ÐGod had established kings as his rulers on earthÐthey had to obey Gods laws and rule for the good of the people.” The creation of Versailles intensified the power of Louis XIV installed by God and used for the good of the people. “VersaillesÐ at once a center of power and efficient administration and a shrine to magnify and institutionalize the cult of the God-King.” Richelieus successor, Jules Mazarin, left France and its government in a turbulent state which Louis XIV had to repair. The advantages that Versailles provided aided Louis in his strive for excellence and absolute power.
The Chateau de Versailles was a creation of royal splendor unsurpassed in its time. In past times, the vastness and majesty of Versailles construction can be compared to the creation of the pyramids or early Roman buildings. Castles, at the time, were not being constructed in the absolutist period, aside from Versailles. Versailles would be known across continental Europe in a matter of no time for its beauty, majesty, and size. With the supervision of great architects of the time, such as Le Vau, gardens, fountains, huge halls, ballrooms, and many more were designed with the utmost care and fastidiousness. “TheÐ…waterworks which fed the fountains was probably the biggest mechanical system of its time.” Louis was raised with marvelous and precious pieces of material and art. Not only did he inherit the huge collection of Mazarin and his mother, but he also continued to expand the collection within the walls of Versailles. The art collection was displayed on almost every wall in every hall or room in Versailles, and it conveyed to all visitors Frances wealth, genius, and power.
All foreign countries could imagine the huge costs that construction of Versailles would be. There was no question about that. But what the construction of Versailles did for France is that building and maintaining something so vast and so elaborate would cost an unimaginable sum of money. And it did, too. Louis had to support the large number of court members that inhabited Versailles as well as all the servants, courtiers, etc. Foreign countries witnessed France support the magnificent Versailles and it showed the magnitude of Frances wealth, therefore creating the image of Louis XIVs government seemingly even more powerful.
French genius was exemplified through the creation of Versailles. The architecture and art “served as fundamental tools of state policy under Louis XIV. The king used architecture to overawe his subjects and foreign visitors.” These “foreign visitors” would take in what they saw within Versailles and try to take it back to their country to imitate Versailles. Places within the palace, such as the Hall of Mirrors, were prime examples