NAT IONAL QUALIFICAT IONS CURRICULUM SUPPORT
History
Annotated Bibliography for
France in the Age of Louis XIV
[ADVANCED HIGHER]
Iain Rose

First published 2001
Electronic version 2002
© Learning and Teaching Scotland 2001
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CONTENTS
Introduction
iv
Section 1:
General surveys
1
Section 2:
France under Louis XIV
3
Section 3:
Collections of sources
5
Section 4:
Primary sources
7
Section 5:
Collections of essays
9
Section 6:
Louis and religion
11
Section 7:
Absolutism
15
Section 8:
Louis and government
19
Section 9:
Local resistance
21
Section 10:
Finance
23
Section 11:
Versailles
25
HIST O RY
iii
INTRODUCTION
Louis XIV, ‘the Sun King’, was a central and controversial figure in European
politics during his lifetime and he has attracted the attention of historians ever since.
While attention was at first concentrated on the King, his ministers, their motives
and policies, more recent studies have examined the effects of Louis’ government on
different segments of France – either regions or social classes.
This change in perspective has broadened the historical debate. While older histories
tended to assume that building up a centralised State was desirable and successful,
local studies question the desirability and effectiveness of these policies. They al so
show that the grandiose claims of Louis XIV at the centre of government were not
matched by reality in the localities, and they demonstrate how central government
had to resort to various methods of intimidation and manipulation to achieve an
apparently successful outcome. In this way, many of the ‘achievements’ of Louis
XIV and his ministers have been brought into question.
The whole idea and ideal of ‘Absolutism’ has been scrutinised from a number of
viewpoints, either as a philosophical concept, a p olitical necessity or as a myth and a
façade. The interaction of these viewpoints can be intriguing as various historians
produce evidence to support their particular argument.
The religious policies of Louis XIV were a source of controversy even during his
lifetime. Protestant writers were deeply hostile to his treatment of Huguenots
(French Protestants) and used it to whip up European opinion against Louis. As it
was, most French people at the time supported his actions and welcomed his final act
of withdrawing any recognition of their religion. Over time, the debate about Louis’
religious policy has widened especially when historians attempt to reconcile his
policies to Protestants with his attitudes to the Pope and to other Roman Catholics
who did not conform to his religious views.
Louis attended chapel regularly and it has been said that while Louis worshipped
God, the Court worshipped Louis. Everyday life at the royal palaces was made to
centre upon the presence of the King where even a nod in passi ng was considered to
be a great honour. Court life under Louis was designed to impress visitors, France
and all of Europe with the dignity and power of France and its monarch. Art and
architecture were used as much for a political purpose as for anything e lse. Louis
wished France to become the centre of European culture and he, of course, was the
pinnacle at the centre of France. Louis’ personal symbol, the sun, had been carefully
chosen. Several diaries kept by his courtiers and Louis’ own writings give a very
vivid impression of Court life during the reign of le Roi Soleil.
While a huge amount has been written about Louis XIV, this bibliography is limited
to materials written or translated into English.
iv
HI ST O RY
G E N ER AL S UR V EY S
SECTION 1
The following books include a general s urvey of France at the time of Louis XIV.
Bergin, J, The Seventeenth Century, Short Oxford History of Europe, Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 2001
This book gives an interesting and readable European overview of topics such as
the Economy, Society, Politics, the Age of Curiosity – each written by a
specialist in the field. France is included, but only as one area amongst many.
Briggs, Robin, Early Modern France 1560–1715, Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 1977
Covering more than just the reign of Louis XI V, this is a useful starting point for
readers who want to put Louis XIV in context and see how government, the
economy, society and culture developed in France in the 17th century.
Lockyer, Roger, Hapsburg and Bourbon Europe 1470–1720, London: Longman,
1974
Although a standard general introduction to the period in its day, this book is
now beginning to appear rather dated in its focus and outlook. Indeed, it may be
useful to compare it to similar books written more recently and listed here to see
how the focus has changed in the last thirty years.
MacKay, D and Scott, H M, The Rise of the Great Powers 1648–1815, London:
Longman, 1983
While the focus of this book is on international relations and diplomacy across
Europe, it does also consider the domestic effects of long periods of warfare on
countries. Chapter 1 is specifically on the reign of Louis XIV.
Munck, Thomas, 17th Century Europe; State, Conflict and the Social Order in
Europe 1598–1700, London: Macmillan, 1990
A detailed comparative survey of European history, with particular emphasis on
France, the German lands, the British Isles and Scandinavia. Two chapters deal
with the nature of absolutism in general and one chapter discusses the mid century crisis against which Louis XIV reacted.
Pennington, D H, Europe in the 17th Century, London: Longman, 1989
Still useful as a survey, this is now rather dated in a number of respects, including
how government actually worked during the reign of Louis XIV. It is more of a
narrative type of history than M unck (above) who places more emphasis on social
history.
HIST O RY
1
G E N ER AL S UR V EY S
Stoye, John, Europe Unfolding 1648–1688, Fontana History of Europe, London:
Collins, 1969
In this general survey it is not easy to pick out sections which apply solely to
France – using the Index is more important than using the contents pages.
However, as the title suggests, Stoye sets each country in its European context.
The New Cambridge Modern History Vol. V, The Ascendancy of France 1648–
1688, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1961
This volume covers the history of Europe and contains two chapters specific to
France (Chapter X ‘France under Louis XIV’ and Chapter XI ‘The Achievements
of France in Art, Thought and Literature’). These chapters deal with the period of
the Fronde and Mazarin and, although quite old, are useful in putting the personal
reign of Louis in context.
There are also excellent general chapters on Economics, Philosophy, Political
Thought, Church and State, Art and Architecture and the Social Foundation of
States which will allow readers to place developments of France in a European
context.
The New Cambridge Modern History Vol. VI, The Rise of Great Britain and
Russia 1688–1725, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1970
Only one chapter is devoted to France (‘The condition of France 1688–1715’) but
again the general chapters (on Cultural Change, War Finance, and Economic
Activity) allow this to be placed in a wider context.
2
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FRA NC E UN D ER L O U IS X IV
SECTION 2
Pamphlets
Campbell, P R, The Ancien Regime in France trans. J W Hunt, London
Historical Association Studies, 1988
Mousnier, Roland, Louis XIV, London Historical Association, 1973
Shennan, J H, Louis XIV, Lancaster Pamphlet, London: Methuen, 1986
Books on the Reign of Louis XIV
Bluche, François, Louis XIV, Oxford: Blackwell, 1990
A long laudatory biography which concentrates on Louis himself and which
ignores most of the work of non-French historians. Consequently it is considered
to be a bit old-fashioned and deficient – at least by non-French historians!
Goubert, Pierre, Louis XIV and Twenty Million Frenchmen, London: Penguin,
1970
Goubert considers Louis XIV in the context of the people he ruled and he
evaluates, critically, the effectiveness of Louis’ government and its policies on
the people of France. His perspective is very mu ch from the people upwards
rather than from the King downwards. He is scathing about Colbert (comparing
him to Richelieu as a bureaucrat compared to a statesman).
Goubert explains enough about foreign policy to allow readers to understand
what was happening and why the government urgently needed money and
supplies. He then explores the effects of these demands on the people of France.
On the subject of France generally, he gives a panoramic rather than a detailed
picture, but points out directions for further reading and specialised studies.
Sturdy, David J, Louis XIV, London: Macmillan, 1998
Sturdy gives a very clear description of the main issues in the reign of Louis XIV
through theme based chapters (e.g. Louis and Government, Louis and the Church,
Louis and the Direction of Ideas in France).
HIST O RY
3
FRA NC E UN D ER L O U IS X IV
He synthesises scholarship to date and the different points of view rather than
reflecting these different interpretations.
Treasure, G R R, 17th Century France, London: Longman/John Murray, 1981
The advantage of a book covering the whole of the 17th century is that it allows
readers access to events and developments prior to Louis XIV and, in particular,
the contribution of Richelieu. This will give some sense of context and continuity
to policies such as the centralisation of authority and the development of the
economic and religious policies of Louis XIV.
A critical eye is cast over most aspects of Louis’ reign, e.g. ‘Versailles: the
Government’ is followed by a chapter on ‘The Strength and Limitations of
Government’.
Treasure, G R R, Louis XIV, London: Longman, 2001
This new book is currently at the printers. It should provide a very useful and up to date account of Louis XIV and could become a core text for this course.
Wilkinson, R, France and the Cardinals, London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1996
Much of this book covers an earlier period, but it is useful on the minority of
Louis XIV.
Wolf, John B, Louis XIV, London: Panther History, 1968
By concentrating on Louis XIV and explaining his perspective, the a uthor gives
readers a clear understanding of problems and issues as Louis understood them
and the policies he pursued. It also gives a very vivid and readable account of life
at court. The disadvantage of this approach is that the effects and effectiveness of
his policies are discussed only when Louis became obliged to change them.
Wolf, John B, ‘The Formation of a King’ in J C Rule, Louis XIV and the Craft of
Kingship, Columbus, OH: Ohio State University Press, 1969, pp 102 –31
This essay discusses Louis’ life up to 1661, when he was 23, and assesses the
influences (good and bad) on the young King.
4
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CO L LE C T IO N S O F S O UR C E S
SECTION 3
Beik, William, Louis XIV and Absolutism, Boston, MA: Bedford/St Martins, 2000
A considerable number of documents have been gathered and translated here.
There is a very brief Introduction (16 pages), but each chapter has its own
Introduction and some of the documents are set in context individually.
There is a useful section of ‘Thirteen Questions to Consider’ at the end of the
book that will encourage readers to think about the documents they have been
reading.
Although there are a large number of official documents in this collection, there
are others, such as letters and memoirs, that add spice to the mix.
Campbell, P R, Louis XIV, London: Longman (Seminar Studies in History),
1993
This is a good starting point for readers new to this topic.
Campbell gives an up-to-date description of Louis XIV’s France which takes into
account conflicting viewpoints and evidence but which avoids a plethor a of
detail.
It contains a very useful, if brief, Glossary of French terms that are likely to be
encountered but that are rarely explained. The Chronology at the end of the book,
however, is dominated by foreign policy.
The book contains a huge number of references to textbooks and articles (some
with helpful comments) which readers can follow up. It also contains thirty -four
documents (of varying length) illustrating the points made in the text.
Judge, H G, Louis XIV, London: Longman (Problems and Perspectives in
History), 1965
Judge divides his selection of documents into Personal Monarchy, Heroic
Monarchy, Divine Monarchy, Orthodox Monarchy and Regulative Monarchy.
There is a very short Introduction to each chapter and some of the documents are
quoted at considerable length, e.g. six pages are devoted to an extract from the
‘Memoirs of the King’.
There is a short chapter on ‘Historians of the Reign’, and another on ‘Some
Perspectives Considered’ which is useful in guiding the reader towards a diffe rent
view of Louis.
HIST O RY
5
CO L LE C T IO N S O F S O UR C E S
Lough, J, France Observed in the 17th Century by British Travellers , Stocksfield:
Oriel Press, 1985
This is not a collection of extracts or sources, but it does contain a number of
lengthy quotations which could be useful – especially as evidence in a
dissertation.
Mallia-Milanes, V, Louis XIV and France, London: Macmillan (Documents and
Debates), 1986
A useful, short collection of documentary extracts.
Mettam, R, Government and Society in Louis XIV’s France, London: Macmillan
(History in Depth), 1977
While the Contents page indicates 286 documents, some of these are made up of
several lengthy sections, so there is a huge amount of primary source material
here.
The book is divided into sensible sections which are preceded and interru pted by
Mettam’s introductions and commentary along with detailed footnotes.
Readers will need to be reasonably familiar with 17th -century France before they
begin to dip into this book.
Smith, David L, Louis XIV, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (Topics in
History), 1992
This book is aimed at A-level students, and both the text and the translations of
documents reflect this. The introductory chapter lays out the main issues clearly,
and the chapters that follow are devoted to individual topics – Absolutism,
Economic, Social and Religious Policies, Versailles, and the work of historians.
Each topic is explained and discussed before individual documents are placed in
context and their main points highlighted. These points are then followed up by
questions which, although they do not reflect the type of questions appearing in
Advanced Higher, will encourage readers to pay close attention to what they are
reading and assess its significance.
6
HI ST O RY
PR IM ARY SO UR C ES
SECTION 4
Letters from Liselotte Elisabeth-Charlotte, Princess Palatine and Duchess
of Orleans, ed. and translator Maria Kroll, London: Allison & Busby, 1988
These letters began in 1672 when Elizabeth -Charlotte, Princess Palatine arrived
in France to marry the younger brother of Louis XIV and continued until her
death in 1722.
Liselotte did not have a happy time in France; she was neglected by her husband,
devastated by the French invasion of the Palatine and was the victim of court
intrigues. Nevertheless, she kept up a lively correspondence and, in reading it, i t
is very easy to forget that she was one of the most important people in France
especially when she lets rip at her pet targets, such as Madame de Maintenon
(‘The old whore is a false and wicked old devil’).
There is an alternative translation of the le tters available as
A Woman’s Life in the Court of the Sun King, trans. E Forster, Baltimore,
MD/London: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1984
Louis XIV, Memoirs for the Instruction of the Dauphin, trans. P Sonnino, London:
Collier-Macmillan, 1971
While there has been debate about the reliability of these memoirs because they
were written to order some time after the period they purport to describe, there is
little doubt that they do reflect the thinking of Louis XIV at that time. Perhaps they
should be read along with his Testament to see how the King’s perspective changed
over time.
The Introduction to this volume is very useful.
Saint-Simon, Louis de, Memoirs of the Duc de Saint-Simon, editor and translator
Lucy Norton, Vol 1 1690–1709, 1967; Vol 2 1710–1715, London: Prion Press, 1968
Saint-Simon was a very entertaining writer and it is this which encourages us to
read more and more of him and, gradually, to accept his version of life under Louis
XIV. However, he wrote from a very biased perspective – he was a nobleman
excluded from real power who looked down on the ‘vile bourgeois’ whose support
Louis XIV depended upon to govern France.
Saint-Simon described only the last years of Louis XIV’s reign (1691 –1715) and
edited his diaries after the King’s death, at a time when the nobles had resumed
their ‘rightful’ place in the government of France.
If readers can recognise the bias and enjoy the prejudice, this is a very lively
account of life at Versailles.
HIST O RY
7
PR IM ARY SO UR C ES
Madame de Sévigné, Selected Letters, ed. and translator Leonard Tancock,
London: Penguin Classics, 1982
Madame de Sévigné was a prolific letter writer who knew almost everyone of
importance in France. Her letters cover a wide range of subjects from court
intrigue and gossip (she was a personal friend of Madame de Maintenon) to the
cultural and religious issues of the day. The letters are useful not only in
revealing what happened, but also what people thought about what happened.
Unfortunately, this selection of letters does not have an index and Madame’s
letters (mostly to her daughter) were irregular, so there are gaps in their coverage.
8
HI ST O RY
CO L LE C T IO N S O F ES SA Y S
SECTION 5
These collections contain essays ranging over a number of topics.
Individual essays have also been listed under the specialist topic headings.
Essay collections devoted to only one topic have been listed under that topic.
Hatton, R (ed.), Louis XIV and Absolutism, London: Macmillan, 1976
This collection of essays contains a number that are worth studying.
Bluche, F, ‘The Social Origin of the Secretaries of State under Louis XIV’,
pp 85–97
Dumont, F, ‘French Kingship and Absolute Monarchy in the 17th Century’,
pp 55–84
Durand, G, ‘What is Absolutism’, pp 18–36
Kossmann, E H, ‘The Singularity of Absolutism’, pp 3 –17
Levron, J, ‘Louis XIV’s Courtiers’, pp 130–153
Meuvret, J, ‘Fiscalism and Public Opinion under Louis XIV’, pp 199 –225
Orbical, J, ‘Louis XIV and the Edict of Nantes’, pp 154 –176
Kierstead, R F (ed.), State and Society in 17th Century France, New York: New
Viewpoints, 1975
Some relevant essays in this collection are:
Bernard, Léon, ‘French Society and Popular Uprisings under Louis XIV’,
pp 157–179
Grassby, R B, ‘Social Status and Commercial Enterprise under Louis XIV’,
pp 200–232
Hurst, J J, ‘The Parlement of Brittany and the Crown 1665–1675’, pp 44–66
Lemarchand, Guy, ‘Economic Crises and Social Atmosphere in Urban Society
under Louis XIV’, pp 233–264
Loirette, François, ‘Resistance to Absolutism’, pp 180 –197
Rule, J C (ed.), Louis XIV and the Craft of Kingship, Columbus, OH: Ohio State
University Press, 1969
Some of the essays in this collection can be used to introduce aspects of Louis
XIV’s reign in more detail than would be found in general textbooks. Others are
likely to stimulate ideas and contribute to critical analysis. I t is important to
remember that this volume was first published more than thirty years ago.
Church, William F, ‘Louis XIV and Reason of State’, pp 362 –406
Judge, H G, ‘Louis XIV and the Church’, pp 240 –264
Moote, A Lloyd, ‘Law and Justice under Louis XIV’, pp 225–239
HIST O RY
9
CO L LE C T IO N S O F ES SA Y S
Rowen, Herbert H, ‘Louis XIV and Absolutism’, pp 302 –316
Rule, J C, ‘Roi Bureaucrate’, pp 20–93
Whitman, Nathan T, ‘Myth and Politics: Versailles and the Fountain of Latona’,
pp 286–301
Wolf, John B, ‘The Formation of a King’, pp 102 –131
Sonnino, P (ed.), The Reign of Louis XIV (Essays in Celebration of Andrew
Lossky), Atlantic Highlands, NJ: Humanities Press, 1990
This is a series of introductory essays to the topic. The authors provide a
summary of current thinking on each subject; for t hat reason alone it should be
very useful.
10
HI ST O RY
LO UI S AN D R E L I G IO N
SECTION 6
Benedict, P, The Huguenot Population of France 1660 –1685, London: Routledge,
1991
This book covers the whole of the 17th century and so its scope is much wider
than simply the reign of Louis XIV. It does, however, a lot to explain the
background to the religious problem that Louis XIV had to deal with.
Doyle, William, Jansenism, London: Macmillan (Studies in European History),
2000
The divisions within the Catholic Church perplexed Louis XIV as muc h as the
problem of the Huguenots. General histories tend to skirt over the issue and the
reasons for the problem, and the depth of feeling involved can be difficult to
grasp. This book explores the origins of Jansenism and follows the debate right
up to the French Revolution.
This poses a problem for the reader; the focus on the role of Jansenism in feeding
the revolutionary mind of 18th-century Europe diverts attention from the disputes
during the reign of Louis XIV. Two chapters explain the origins of Jansenism,
three cover phases of the dispute during Louis’ reign and a final two pursue it
through the 18th century.
There is a very useful four-page Glossary which reminds readers what has been
more fully explained in the book.
Sedgewick, A C, Jansenism in 17th-Century France, Charlotteville, VA:
University Press of Virginia, 1977
This very clearly written book focuses on Jansenism in France in the 17th
century. To that extent it is able to concentrate on the issues which exercised the
minds of people at the time of Louis XIV and to give a well explained and
sympathetic picture of the victims of Louis’ concern with orthodoxy and religious
uniformity without drowning them in theological details such as the neo -Pelagian
heresy
van Kley, Dale, Religious Origins of the French Revolution, New Haven,
CT/London: Yale University Press, 1996
Although the sweep of this book takes it up to the outbreak of the Revolution,
there are sections which explain very clearly the religious basis of absolutism at
the time of Louis XIV. The section ‘Aspects of Absolutism’ (pp 32 –74) discusses
absolutism in relation to Gallicanism, Jesuits, Jansenists and the principal figures
in religious life at this time. The discussion, however, ranges through the reigns
of Henry IV and Louis XIII as well as that of Louis XIV.
HIST O RY
11
LO UI S AN D R E L I G IO N
Readers will have to be on their toes to discriminate between trends which
influenced ideas at the time of Louis XIV and incidents which are not relevant.
Essays on Religion
Briggs, Robin (ed.), Communities of Belief, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1989
This essay collection concentrates on the Catholic Church and its place in
society.
Hepburn, A C (ed.), Minorities in History, London: Arnold, 1978
‘The Huguenots in Seventeenth-Century France’, David Parker, pp 9–30
In a robust examination of the Huguenots throughout the 17th century, Parker
examines the main reasons for their failure to survive far less become the
dynamic and revolutionary force that the Puritans became in England. By
examining the theological and social tensions that existed within the Huguenot
ranks and placing them firmly within French society, Parker draws attention to
the weaknesses of French Protestantism which is a useful perspective when
considering the effectiveness of Louis’ religious policies.
Hatton, R (ed.), Louis XIV and Absolutism, London: Macmillan, 1976
‘Louis XIV and the Edict of Nantes’, J Orbical, pp 154 –76
If students are inclined to consider Louis’ decision to revoke the Edict of Nantes
solely in a religious context or treat it as just a step towards imposing a pleasing
uniformity to which an absolute monarch aspired, this article will make them
think again. By placing the Revocation in the context of international power
politics, Louis’ decision will be seen in a different light .
Prestwich, Menna, ‘The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes’, History, lxxiii, 1988
This review article summarises most of the important work on this topic.
Prestwich, Menna, International Calvinism, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1985
Three essays are of interest from this collection.
Chapter X, ‘Calvinism in France 1598–1685’, Elisabeth Labrousse
This article covers the whole of the Huguenot period and so it might appear that
parts of it are redundant. However, it clearly describes the tensions that existed
when Louis ascended the throne and explains the cumulative effect of royal
policy on the survival of the Huguenots. The evaluation of royal policy is
vigorous, but so too is the evaluation of the Huguenots’ reaction.
12
HI ST O RY
LO UI S AN D R E L I G IO N
Chapter XI, ‘French Calvinist Political Thought 1534–1715’, Myriam
Yardeni
Yardeni’s complex essay discusses the Huguenots’ problem of rendering
obedience to a Catholic monarchy which saw them as a political danger and a
menace to religious uniformity and the divisions it caused among them .
Chapter XII, ‘The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes’, Philippe Joutard
Joutard is concerned with the fate of the Protestants after the Revocation of
Nantes and gives a detailed account not only of conversions but also of
emigration and the effects that it had – which is useful when considering the
economic consequences of the policy on France.
Rule, J C, Louis XIV and the Craft of Kingship, Columbus, OH: Ohio State
University Press, 1969
‘Louis XIV and the Church’, H G Judge, pp 240 –264
The religious policies of Louis XIV and the disputes that they caused are given a
useful and readable overview in this contribution.
HIST O RY
13
14
HI ST O RY
AB SO L U TI SM
SECTION 7
In theory, this section ought to be devoted to general books on absolutism as an
ideal and it should not refer to Louis XIV and his particular contribution to it. In
fact, this is hardly possible. Historians writing about absolutism in the abstract tend
to bolster their arguments by referring to individual absolute monarchs. This can
make these books very daunting for so meone who does not have a background in
17th-century European History.
On the other hand, we find that absolutism in France is a mixture of grand claims
made by the monarch or his supporters and the reality of everyday life. Quite a
number of books have concentrated on what was actually happening and they draw a
comparison between reality and what the monarch and his central government
thought or claimed was happening.
Some of the absolute monarchs’ claims to authority may be dismissed as mere
boasting; it was all very well for Louis to claim the absolute disposal of his subjects’
property – he never dared to try it! Some of Louis’ claims caused conflict when he
asserted his rights, and local organisations tried to wriggle out of obeying him by
using a variety of methods.
The strength of Louis’ regime probably varied from province to province and from
time to time – usually depending on how much Louis needed money to pay for his
wars. So, readers should not be upset if they cannot get one clear picture of
absolutism under Louis XIV.
Many of the general textbooks give close consideration to absolutism before they
evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of Louis XIV.
Anderson P, Lineages of the Absolutist State, London: Verso Editions, 1979/1984
The relevance of a Marxist approach to 17th-century societies has always been
controversial as historians have debated whether its emphasis on economic forces
and social class is appropriate to the period.
Nevertheless, it offers an alternative perspective on the age, and readers who are
familiar with the subject matter should find it broadens their understanding. Two
chapters are relevant – Chapter 1, ‘The Absolutist State in the West’ (although it
ranges across all of the west and most of its history) sets the ge neral scene, and
Chapter 4, ‘France’ where again most of its history to 1789 is included in the
discussion but there is a detailed section devoted to Louis XIV.
HIST O RY
15
AB SO L U TI SM
Beik, W, Absolutism and Society in 17th-Century France: State Power and
Provincial Aristocracy in Languedoc, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,
1985
An important perspective on the relationship between central government and the
provinces.
Bonney, R, The Limits of Absolutism in Ancien Régime France, Aldershot:
Variorum, 1995
Bonney considers the validity of the term ‘absolutism’. There is also an article by
Bonney listed below (see p17).
Collins, J B, The State in Early Modern France, Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 1995
This book poses an interesting challenge to the concept of Fr ance as an ‘absolute
monarchy’ in the early modern period.
Henshall, N, The Myth of Absolutism, London: Longman, 1992
Henshall tends to debunk the idea of absolutism and, for this reason, his book is a
useful antidote to much that has been written about i t.
Mettam, R, Power and Faction in Louis XIV’s France, Oxford: Blackwell, 1988
Mettam is interested in contrasting the claims of absolutism with the reality of
what Louis’ government actually attempted to do and the effectiveness with
which it accomplished its aims. For example, one section is entitled ‘The Crown
and the Provinces: Bluff and Reality’. He treats historians of Louis’ reign in
exactly the same way and discussions of historians’ views pervade this book.
For someone familiar with the topic these historiographical excursions are very
useful, but a novice, unfamiliar with the evidence, may find rival interpretations
of it confusing especially since, in places, the book reads like a polemic.
Interestingly, Mettam does not conclude this book with his own words. Instead
he quotes two and a half pages of the oration spoken at Louis’ funeral.
Miller, John, Absolutism in 17th-Century Europe, London: Penguin, 1990
Three chapters in this book are of particular relevance: the Introduction by John
Miller, Chapter 1 ‘The Idea of Absolutism’ by J H Burns and Chapter 2, ‘France’
by Roger Mettam.
The Introduction contains a lengthy discussion of the possible origins of
absolutism and includes an interesting and useful discussion of a Marxist
16
HI ST O RY
AB SO L U TI SM
approach to explaining it in a European context. This European dimension could
cause problems for students without a knowledge of the history of other European
countries.
Chapter 1 could raise similar problems but it should give readers a good picture
of the idea of absolutism before they embark on the particular French example
discussed in a very clear style in Chapter 2. This book should be used to develop
a greater understanding of absolutism rather than as an introduction to it.
Parker, David, The Making of French Absolutism, London: Arnold, 1983
This book is mostly devoted to the origins and early development of French
absolutism before 1660. But Chapter 4, ‘The Triumph and Failure of French
Absolutism’, is an admirable, short survey of Louis XIV’s system.
Parker, David, Class and State in Ancien Régime France, London: Routledge,
1996
A Marxist interpretation of French society at this time, but with quite an
emphasis on functionalism which readers may find difficult. And it ranges across
the whole of the 17th century. In places Parker is quite critical of Perry
Anderson’s Lineages of the Absolutist State (see p15).
Chapter 5 on the French Nobility and Chapter 6 on Power, Ideology and the
French State are both worth reading.
Essays on Abolutism
Bonney, R, ‘Absolutism: What’s in a name?’, French History 1 (1987), pp 93–
117
A review of recent publications on this subject.
Church, W F, Louis XIV in Historical Thought, New York, 1976
A guide to past interpretations of Louis XIV.
Hatton, R (ed.), Louis XIV and Absolutism, London: Macmillan, 1976
Dumont, F, ‘French Kingship and Absolute Monarchy in the 17th Century’,
pp 55–83
A careful study of the origins and consequent limitations of absolutism which
ranges across the 17th century, so readers have to be caref ul. Towards the end of
the article there is a focus on the critics of absolute power, e.g. Protestants,
Fénelon and Saint-Simon.
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Durand, G, ‘What is Absolutism?’, pp 18 –36
This is a European essay which places absolutism within its social dynamics
relating it to the rise and fall of social classes and the ambitions of the state. It
does help readers to understand that things – including governments – are never
static but change and develop over time, although not always for the best.
Kossmann, E H, ‘The Singularity of Absolutism’, pp 3–17
This article is filled with interesting ideas, e.g. absolutism was the first political
system to benefit from the printing press; the distinguishing feature of absolutism
was its pretension to rise above reality. Thes e ideas are just part of a wider
discussion about absolutism which includes Republican absolutism in England
and Holland, so readers will have to ‘pick and choose’.
Lossky, Andrew, ‘The Absolutism of Louis XIV: Reality or Myth’ , Canadian
Journal of History, no. 19, 1984, pp 1–16
This is a classic examination of the reality of Louis’ claims to authority.
Rule, J C (ed.), Louis XIV and the Craft of Kingship, Columbus, OH: Ohio State
University Press, 1969
Church, William F, ‘Louis XIV and Reason of State’ , pp 362–406
For centuries politicians and monarchs have invoked the higher authority of
‘Reasons of State’ to justify stepping beyond the normal boundaries of their
authority or behaving in a normally unacceptable way. With Louis there was
always an overlap of personal and state interests and, underlying it, a confusion
of his personal authority and that of the state’s bureaucracy.
Church dissects these notions and considers their effect on aspects of domestic
and foreign policy before discussing the nature of the opposition they provoked.
While Rule in his introductory essay concentrates on central authority ( a ‘top down’ perspective), Church looks at it from the point of view of those affected by
these policies.
Rowen, Herbert H, ‘Louis XIV and Absolutism’, pp 302–316
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LO UI S AN D GO V ER N M ENT
SECTION 8
Bluche, F, ‘The Social Origin of the Secretaries of State under Louis XIV’, in
Hatton, R, Louis XIV and Absolutism, London: Macmillan, 1976, pp 85–97
Saint-Simon’s quote about the ‘reign of the vile bourgeois’ is well kno wn and
historians tend to repeat that Louis’ ministers were not drawn from the nobility.
Where did they come from? Colbert claimed to be descended from a King of
Scotland, but Bluche traces their roots and, while they might be ‘bourgeois’, their
family trees are not ‘vile’.
Harding, R R, Anatomy of a Power Elite, New Haven, CT: Yale University Press,
1978
This book shows how the nobility kept power under Louis XIV.
Dewald, J, ‘Politics and Personality in 17th-Century France’, French Historical
Studies, xvi, 1990
An interesting and important review article.
Rule, J C (ed.), Louis XIV and the Craft of Kingship, Columbus, OH: Ohio State
University Press, 1969
There are two relevant essays in this book:
Moote, A Lloyd, ‘Law and Justice under Louis XIV’, pp 225–239
While the traditional picture is that Louis curbed the Parlements and had few
limitations imposed on his authority, Moote describes what actually happened
and how the Parlements changed tactics to evade unwelcome royal intrusions.
This article usefully balances the claims of historians who concentrate on orders
rather than on the extent to which they were obeyed.
Moote also considers (and dismisses) Marxist interpretations of this issue, and
the role of the Parlements in provincial uprisings.
Rule, J C, ‘Roi Bureaucrate’, pp 20–93
This introductory essay reviews Louis XIV’s principal policies and sets the scene
for other essays that make up the book. It contains some interesting ideas and
perspectives, but in some areas the debate has moved on.
Scott, H M, The European Nobilities in the 17th and 18th Centuries, London:
Longman, 1995
This book is in two volumes. The first has an extended study of the French
aristocracy and includes the reign of Louis XIV.
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LO CA L R ES I S TA NC E
SECTION 9
There are two strands to this section.
Firstly, the local institutions, the Parlements and the Estates tried to resist or to
exploit the increasing power of central government.
Secondly, there are a number of studies of local revolts which were sometimes
directly related to the activities of central government, especially if extending
taxation was involved.
Ascher E L, Resistance to the Maritime Classes, Berkeley, CA: University of
California Press, 1960
Colbert’s rational but elaborate scheme to recruit sailors without having to pressgang them and make their families destitute was sabotaged because of opposition
from the men, the Church, the Estates and the Parlements. This very detailed
book does show the limits of absolutism, but it may be too technical for some
readers.
Beik, W, Urban Protest in 17th-Century France, Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 1997
An innovative and colourful analysis of urban unrest both before and during
Louis XIV’s reign.
Bercé, Y-M, History of Peasant Revolts: The Social Origins of Rebellion in Early
Modern France, Cambridge: Polity Press, 1990
This work has more detailed material on the first half of the 17th century than on
the second half; but the general chapters cover the whole century.
This will be a worthwhile book for those prepared to make full use of the Index
as well as the chapter headings.
Goubert, P, French Peasantry in the 17th Century, Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 1986
The classic overview of French rural history from one of the most eminent social
historians in France.
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LO CA L R ES I S TA NC E
Kierstead, R F (ed.), State and Society in 17th-Century France, New York: New
Viewpoints, 1975
The following essays are relevant to this topic:
Bernard, Léon, ‘French Society and Popular Uprisings under Louis XIV’, pp
157–179
This analysis of five provincial revolts takes account of the theories of Marxist
historians, as well as the work of Mousnier, which offers a different
interpretation. In a detailed examination, Bernard finds both deficient.
Hurst, J J, ‘The Parlement of Brittany and the Crown 1665–1675’, pp 44–66
This is a detailed account of the 1675 revolt in Brittany.
Loirette, François, ‘Resistance to Absolutism’, pp 180 –197
One of a series of detailed studies that shows how a local community reacted to
encroachments by central authority wanting to extend its tax base.
Le Roy Ladurie, Emmanuel, The Peasantry of Languedoc, trans. John Day,
Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 1974
A classic text that looks in detail at events in one part of France rather than at
what the central authority claimed was happening in the country as a whole.
Salmon, J H M, ‘Venal Office and Popular Sedition’ , Past and Present, vol 37,
1967
This article illustrates how the venal officials, who had bought their offices and
so had paid highly for their privi leges, tried to prevent the further sale of offices
which would dilute their status.
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FI NA NC E
SECTION 10
Most of the general textbooks deal at length with the financial policies and
difficulties of Louis XIV. These books and articles tend to be more specialis ed.
Cipolla, C M, The Fontana Economic History of Europe: The 16th and 17th
Centuries, London: Collins, 1969
Coveney, P J, France in Crisis 1620–1675, London: Macmillan, 1997
This book is a contribution to the debate about the General Crisis in 17th -century
Europe. It begins with a detailed examination of the possible roots of the crisis
and the tensions they created. It also discusses the historiography of the ‘17th Century Crisis’ (and what is meant by the word ‘crisis’) by drawing on detailed
examples from other European countries before embarking on a discussion
relating more to France.
Given the amount of closely detailed evidence presented in this book, its
references to other areas of Europe and the historiographical references, readers
would have to be confident in their knowledge and be familiar with most of the
ideas before they began to read it. They should then find it stimulating.
Dent, J, Crisis in Finance, London, 1973
This book covers the whole century and should be read selectively.
Hatton, R, Louis XIV and Absolutism, London: Macmillan, 1976, pp 199–225
Looks at the theories of Colbert and the opposition they aroused.
Kierstead, R F (ed.), State and Society in 17th-Century France, New York: New
Viewpoints, 1975
There are two essays in this book worth studying:
Grassby, R B, ‘Social Status and Commercial Enterprise under Louis XIV’
This article provides a detailed discussion of why the French nobility did not get
involved in trade, and of the uneasy relationship self -made men had with the
titles they had bought. It sheds useful light on Colbert’s ideas and projects.
Lemarchand, Guy, ‘Economic Crises and Social Atmosphere in Urban
Society under Louis XIV’
In a very readable account of the effects of a famine on Upper Normandy,
Lemarchand examines how the different social classes were affected and how
they related to each other in the face of potential disaster and disorder.
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FI NA NC E
Meuvret, J, ‘Fiscalism and Public Opinion under Louis XIV’, in Hatton, R,
Louis XIV and Absolutism, London: Macmillan, 1976, pp 199-224
Looks at the theories of Colbert and the opposition they aroused.
Trout, A, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Boston, 1978
A conventional and not especially informative study of a minister who deserves
much closer scrutiny.
A number of the books and articles on absolutism and on the government of
France give contrasting views about the effectiveness and value of his work.
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VE R SA I L L ES
SECTION 11
Adam, A, Grandeur and Illusion, London, 1972
A study of French literature and society (1600 –1715) that places literature in its
social context.
Asch, R R, Princes, Patrons and Nobility, Oxford: German Historical
Institute/Oxford University Press, 1991
This book offers a number of good essays and an Introduction which is well
worth reading.
Berger, R W, Versailles: the Château of Louis XIV, University Park, PA:
Pennsylvania State University Press, 1985
This book contains some particularly useful references to source material.
Berger, R W, A Royal Passion, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994
Louis XIV as a patron of architecture.
Burke, Peter, The Fabrication of Louis XIV, New Haven, CT and London: Yale
University Press, 1992
This is a fascinating study of how Louis paid attention to his public image even
to the extent of allowing an engraving of him visiting the Academy of Science to
be made although he never actually went there. He thought it was important to
give the impression that he was a patron of the sciences.
At times this can be a difficult book to read – students may well need help with
some of the passages – but the overall impression is of a carefully constructed
and re-constructed image of a king which evolved as times and fashions changed.
Levron, J, ‘Louis XIV’s Courtiers’, in Hatton, R, Louis XIV and Absolutism,
London: Macmillan, 1976, pp 130–153
This is a close study of who did stay in attendance at Versailles and the life, style
and role of the courtiers there – especially after Madam de Maintenon’s influence
became pervasive.
Maland, David, Culture and Society in 17th-Century France, London: Batsford,
1970
Very readable and a good, easy introduction.
Norbert, E, The Court Society, London, 1983
A sociological examination of the dynamics of the court. The author’s views
have been questioned by J Duindam in Myths of Power: Norbert Elias and the
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VE R SA I L L ES
Early Modern European Court , Amsterdam, 1996. These books are European
and readers have to place them in a French context.
Rubin, J, Sun King: The Ascendancy of French Culture during the Reign of Louis
XIV, Washington, DC: AUP, 1992
A collection of essays on culture and the arts in France under Louis XIV.
Tapie, V L, The Age of Grandeur: Baroque and Classicism in Europe , London:
Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1960
Considers how the baroque was received in France.
Walton, Guy, Louis XIV’s Versailles, London: Viking, 1986
This is just one of many highly illustrated books about the Palace of Versailles
and its grounds.
Whitman, N T, ‘Myth and Politics: Versailles and the Fountain of Latona’, in
Rule, J C, Louis XIV and the Craft of Kingship, Columbus, OH: Ohio State
University Press, 1969, pp 286–301
The focus of this article is the Fountain of Latona in the gardens of Versailles
and how Louis XIV used classical symbolism to make a political point. Latona,
Apollo’s mother, was prevented from drinking water by some hostile peasants.
She called down the wrath of the stars who punished the peasants by turning them
into frogs.
Whitman discusses not only the artistic origins of the composition (Latona and
her children in a classical Greek style and the peasants/frogs in a natural North
European style), but also relates it to Louis’ attitude towards the Fronde. This
article is a useful starter for further examination of royal patronage of the arts
under Louis because it raises awareness of so many o ther points to consider.
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