Aim: In what way was Louis the XIV
an absolute monarch?
• Do Now: How would life in the U.S. be
different if it were ruled by an absolute
monarch?
Mr. McEntarfer * Global History II * HSLPS
Instructional Objectives

We will be able to:
 Describe
how Louis the XIV fit the mold of an
absolute monarch
 Evaluate the impact of Louis the XIV rule.
Agenda:
•
Do Now
•
Lecture Notes
•
Document Activity
•
Summary
II. Absolutism:
Right to Rule Rests with
one Person
No Popular Consent
No Interference from
Representative Bodies
Louis XIV of France
Absolutist Image
What differences do you notice
between these two pictures?
Medieval King
Louis XIV of France
•
Divine Right – Claim
by a monarch (king or
queen) that they have
the right from god to
rule and that their laws
are the word of god.
How does this picture
show that Louis the XIV
thought of himself as a
divine monarch?
Support for Absolutism:
• Thomas Hobbes
Humans are GREEDY
and EVIL
King assures Social Order
by controlling the peoples
evil nature.
Why do you think Thomas Hobbes
thought people were naturally evil
and greedy?
Leviathan, 1651
17th Century France
King Louis the XIV of France
•
•
•
Ruled France from 1643 to 1715 – Took the
thrown at age four and ruled for 72 years
Louis took the sun as his symbol implying that
he was the center of the solar system
He is quoted as saying, “I am the State”
meaning he and France were one in beliefs,
accomplishments and faith.
Why couldn’t the U.S.
president ever claim to be
“the state” like Louis did?
Louis XIV Accomplishments
•
•
•
•
•
Created Europe’s strongest army (300,000 strong)
Built an immense palace at Versailles
Drained Frances
Controlled feudal lords through force
Spent huge amounts of money on foreign wars, leaving
France bankrupt
•
Did Louis the XIV leave a positive
impact on France?
•
What might the people do in
response to Louis actions?
Taming the Nobility:
Louis kept his enemies close. He demolished the castles of his
nobility and made them stay under armed guard at his palace
Palace of Versailles: Theater of State
Why do you think Louis
built his palace away from
the capital of Paris?
King’s Sleeping Quarters
Louis saved water by
having soldiers only turn
up the water to the
fountains when they knew
he was approaching
What does this tell you
about the purpose of the
Palace at Versailles?
Fountain of Zeus
Reforming the Army:
Centralization
Professional Soldiers
Standing Army
Wars of Conquests:
What countries did Louis
likely go to war with?
Wars of Conquest:
Colonies
North America
Caribbean
India
What countries colonize
what is today the U.S.?
Failures of French Absolutism:
Resentment of Peasants
Nobles Resent Loss of Power
Bankrupt State
Never Abolished Parliament
Activity
• Complete Documents
• Answer central question on the back of the
paper in a paragraph using all the
documents.
Summary
• Is Louis the XIV an Absolute Monarch?
• Did he believe in Divine Right?
• What did Louis the XIV accomplish during
his reign?
• If you were a citizen of France during the
reign of Louis the XIV how would you
describe him as a leader?
Homework:

“Absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely”. What does
this quote mean? Does the rule of King Louis the XIV
prove this statement. Explain in two paragraphs.