Name: ___________________________________
Absolute Monarchs Webquest
In this webquest, you will explore various websites to learn about the
absolute rule of Louis XIV. This webquest was adapted from
http://mraustins.wikispaces.com/Absolute+Monarchs.
Go to: http://www.louis-xiv.de/
Use the menu on the left to go to each of the following sections to read
and find the answers to the following questions.
Introduction
1. How many years did Louis XIV reign? _________
Biography
2. What are the 3 highlights of Louis' reign?
a.
_______________________________________
b.
_______________________________________
c.
_______________________________________
3. When was Louis born? ________________
Timeline
4. What year was Louis crowned? ___________________
5. Who did Louis marry in 1660? ____________________________________________
6. What year did Louis die?
_______________________
The Sun King
7. Why did Louis choose the sun as his emblem?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Castles
8. How many castles did Louis have?
_______________________
Women
9. What did Louis do for his illegitimate children?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
10. Who was Louis' 2nd wife?
___________________________________________
Family - Family Tree
11. Who are Louis' parents?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
12. How many surviving children did Louis & Marie Therese have?
___________________
13. How many surviving children did Louis have in total?
___________________
Go to:
http://en.chateauversailles.fr/homepage
Find the box on the left hand side titled “Explore,” click
on “The Palace.”
14. What did the site of Versailles begin as?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
15. How many kings lived there?
__________
Find the box on the right hand side with yellow border,
click on “Discover the Palace.”
Be sure to enlarge pictures to fully appreciate the splendor of Versailles
Hall of Mirrors
16. What did this hallway serve as?
________________________________________________________________________________________
King’s Grand Apartment
17. How many rooms make up the parade apartment?
____________________
18. What are six of the salons named after? ___________________________________________________
19. Study the various rooms in the King's Interior Apartment. Which one do you find most
appealing/interesting? Why?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Royal Chapel
20. What in the chapel evokes the rule that the king is God's lieutenant on earth?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Apartment of Dauphin
21. Who always used the ground floor apartments?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Queen’s Grand Apartment
22. How many children of France were born in the Queen's chamber?
___________________
Go back to box on left side titled “Explore.” Click on “The Gardens” and find the box on the right side that
says “Discover the Gardens.” Click on “Discover the Gardens.”
The Fountains
23. How many fountains are there? ____________________
24. Study the different pictures. Which is most impressive to you? Why?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Grand Canal
25. How many years did it take to complete?
_______________________
26. How was it used?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Water Parterres
27. How many of these rectangular pools are there? ____________________
The Walks
28. How many garden walks are there?
_________________
Sculpture
Just look at the pictures & enjoy 
Orangerie
29. What 3 different fruit trees are grown here?
a. __________________________________
b. __________________________________
c. __________________________________
Go back to box on left side titled “Explore,” click on “The Grand Trianon.” Find the box on the right side.
Click on “Discover Grand Trianon.”
The Grand Trianon is a smaller palace on the grounds of Versailles used by the royal family to escape the
demands of court life. Think of it like your family room instead of the formal living room.
The Grand Apartment
30. How many rooms make up the Grand Apartment?
Trianon Sous Bois
31. Why was this wing built?
_______________
_____________________
32. View all of the pictures that are available for the Grand Trianon. Now that you have seen the images, think
about the lifestyle of the people who would have lived in these rooms. How might their behavior have been
different from ours? How might their behavior be the same?
Differences in behavior
Similarities in behavior
Go back to box on left side titled “Explore,” click on “Marie-Antoinette’s estate.” Find the box on the right
side.
33. What was the purpose of this portion of Versailles?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Click on “Discover the estate” then click on “The queen’s
hamlet.”
34. Review the hamlet’s houses. How do they compare to the
large palace of Versailles? Why would a queen build this?
Consider the individual buildings and the estate as a whole.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
35. Look at the Queen’s Theatre and enlarge the image. How was this room used?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
36. View the French and English Gardens. Compare and contrast the two gardens.
Differences
Similarities
Click on the interactive map found on the right hand side. Explore the inside & outside of the palace to get
a sense of the size and grandeur of Versailles.
Reflection Questions:
 How has this webquest helped you further understand absolute monarchies?

Discuss at least three ways that Louis XIV used the palace at Versailles to enhance or strengthen his
authority and power as an absolute monarch. Give facts to back your statements.
1. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________