The Great Louis XIV and Absolutism

Absolutism is a political idea and form of government where complete power is held by a single individual. Absolutism is generally spoken about in regards to the 'absolutist monarchs'. In an absolute society, the only person who could change the powers of the monarch was the monarch himself. Louis XIV, the ruler of France from the late seventeenth century to the early eighteenth century said: “I am the state.” I believe that Louis XIV is a better example absolutist then Peter the Great.Louis XIV wanted to encourage religious union, royal pride, and safety of the state. In order for this to happen he would have to make sure he was the only one in power. Absolutism was cultivated in many major parts. The first example was for everyone in his court to live at Versailles so that they would lose importance in governmental power, this would lead them to have no need to rebel. It was easier to make the nobility stay in Versailles at all times so that they wouldn’t have enough time to plot against the king.

He would notice but the smallest of details, such as if someone would miss court. He would choose his ministers, not for their knowledge, but for their ignorance; not for their capacity, but for their want of it. He liked to form them, as he said; liked to teach them even the most trifling things. Now if you would ask him to grant a favor for someone he would say “I do not know him” or “He is a man I never see” and when he said it he meant. Peter the great on the other hand would torture and murder his nobles when he thought there were dishonorable.In 1661 Jean-Baptiste Colbert was appointed as the general of finances. This was one of the smarter things that Louis XIV could have done. They both had the same views towered the wealth of France. They knew if France’s economy was to improve that they needed to export more than import.

The want for more money helped with the collection of taxes and the creation of a marine fleet. In 1685, the Catholic king withdrew the Edict of Nantes. The Edict of Nantes granted freedom of worship and other rights to Huguenots. This caused the Protestant churches, schools and the Protestant clergy to be closed. After the closures, Protestants were told that even their marriage licenses were not valid. Louis got what he wanted but this must have hurt economically. Many fled the country for religious freedom. A similar situation was happing in Russian, the Russian Orthodox Church was also reformed under Peter the Great’s rule. He demanded that the church be supervised by the government by the Chief Procurator. France was able to obtain such good wealth that they could afford a strong army. Louis XIV expanded the size of the French army from 100,000 in 1661 to 300,000 in 1688 and then to 400,000 in 1702.

Louis fought the War of Devolution to declare his rights for a portion of Spain’s properties after his wife’s father died. In an attempt to secure more defensible borders for France, he invaded the Spanish Netherlands, intending to establish French control. He succeeded in capturing numerous towns before the Treaties of Aix-la-Chapelle ended the fighting in 1668. Louis returned much of the territory he had captured, although not the most important towns near the French border. On the other hand, Peter the Great is mostly remembered for changing the way Russia is today. He was responsible for first Russian navy and also various naval academies. Peter the Great’s general goal was to develop Russia into a new age or bring it up to date. But, Louis was a greater ruler. Because he was a strong Roman Catholic, they fought in holy wars and had to believe in his religion. While in Russia, Peter was still letting people believe in what they wanted. This is just an example of how powerful and manipulative Louis XIV was.

“L'etat, c'est moi!” meaning, I am the state. This is the perfect example of absolutism. By the end of the reign of Louis XIV, absolute monarchy was unquestioned in France. Louis was a very powerful ruler because he was able to collect taxes without having to call the French Estates General. Louis the XIV was more aggressive because he was in wars for 33 years and he destroyed Hapsburg. Even though Louis XIV and Peter the Great served as great absolute monarchies that left a heavy impact on their states, I still believe that Louis did it the best.