The Road From Versailles : Louis Xvi, And The Fall Of The French Monarchy Essay

Still, the negative aspects of France’s rule under King Louis XIV far outweigh the positive ones. His reign can best be described by the statement “L’état, c’est moi,” (I am the state) that is attributed to him. King Louis XIV spent state money to pay for his own luxuries and monuments that glorified his image. It was also customary for the artists King Louis XIV sponsored to include direct or indirect allusions to him in their productions thus creating a god-like image of him. The Palace of Versailles alone used 5% of France’s income. This liberal

In Timothy Tackett’s When the King Took Flight, it’s explained how Louis XVI’s flight to Varennes resulted in escalating events to happen in the French Revolution that changed and shaped the history of France. In his flight to escape the revolution and upon his capture, he unintentionally created a domino effect that rippled throughout France with consequences that were far from his original plans when attempting to escape the country. This essay will explain how the flight to Varennes radicalized the revolution by further weakening the monarchy and its authority along with its image, that the most significant reaction was that it opened ideas to new forms of government, and that the seeds for this radicalism was already present.

← Doyle, William. The French Revolution: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc. 2001

When the King Took Flight, by Timothy Tackett, describes the events leading up to and directly following Louis XVI’s attempt to flee the country. During the time of the Revolution and the implementation of the Constitution by the National Assembly, Louis XVI and the royal family are convinced to flee the country to Austria and from there work on bringing power back to the Monarchy of France. It took years of planning to successfully determine how the royal family was going to complete the impossible task of leaving Paris, France without being detected. When the royal family did make the attempt to flee they were halted by the people and sent back to Paris. The decision to send the royal family back was based upon the creation of the National Assembly, the oath to the Constitution, and the calling of the National Guards, showing who the people of France were loyal to. The loyalty to the National Assembly and sending the royal family back to Paris posed the question of how Louis XVI and the royal family should be charged, creating long-term ramifications of doubt toward the Monarchy and France.

Using subjective evidence, Simon argues how the government of France under Louis XIV weakened France’s political structure. For example, he displays this idea in his Memoires when he says that the monarchy of Louis XIV had too much power; as a result, this weakened France’s political structure and created a sense of vulnerability because the power of nobility diminished while Louis was free to consolidate his influence over France (22). France’s government is weak because Louis XIV wants to have absolute authority above all else. As a result, he mentions how only by investing more power outside of the monarchy could there be more stability and prosperity for France. In the end, using his personal observations and beliefs given to him by the gossip brought by friends, he argues how necessary it was to restructure the French

Louis XIV, the ruler of France from the late seventeenth century to the early eighteenth century, claimed, “I am the state.” He considered this to be absolutism. His goal, also acquainted with absolutism, was, “one king, one law, one faith;” Furthermore, Louis wanted to promote religious unity, royal dignity, and security of the state. In order to achieve this goal, he had to rule with a firm hand, laying down the law for all to see. Louis XIV’s absolutism fostered in four major parts: the building of Versailles to control the nobility, the breeding of a strong military, the improvement of France’s economy, and, while quite harsh, the brutal extinction of religious toleration.

An informative book, Lewis’ Splendid Century highlights many aspects of living in France during Louis XIV’s life. Perfect for anyone interested in seventeenth-century France, such as a history enthusiast, this book covers many different topics. From court etiquette to a young girl’s education, Lewis wrote it all. While this book covers a variety of material, Lewis chose to cover topics he found interesting as stated in the foreword. In each chapter of this book, Lewis focuses on a different topic, titling the chapter after the topic he will talk about.

In the article, “Madame de Pompadour and the Theaters of Power,” author Thomas E. Kaiser examines how Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson rose to become Madame de Pompadour, a very influential mistress to the King of France. Her rise was seen in both positive and negative lights, with her acquisition of power being questioned from those within the royal family and the public1. The life of a mistress was never an easy one, but Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson rose to the daunting task and succeeded where most had failed. Thomas E. Kaiser goes on to explain how Madame de Pompadour was viewed in court and society, how she influenced the King, King Louis XV, and how she was able to succeed in her own right, advancing further than most thought possible for a

A. The Palace of Versailles was built by Louis XIV. The last King to reside there was King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette who would be stripped of power and brought to Paris to ultimately

Before the revolution France was ruled under the Ancien Regime system, meaning the country and all its people were under the reign of an absolute monarch. This was a tradition that had been upheld through the years and the Royal family had enjoyed a life funded by the people of France, the royal family’s lifestyle unaffected by the situation outside their palace. The Palace, Versailles, was built by king Louis XIV and the expenses for building this “village” was very high, and in later years the cost for its upkeep would play a significant role in Frances financial difficulties. In order for these difficulties to be overcome France needed a tax reform. The government had a very high tax rate on the poorest of their people, the Third Estate, and they were still not getting enough money to get out of their

Years with frozen winters. Inside brightly lit Versailles Palace Louis XVI and his lovely wife, Marie Antoinette, are having various cakes for their tea time. By contrast, the crops grow terribly, and people do not have enough food. The differences between fullness and hunger not only separate by the solid wall but also their estate. Although Louis XVI called the Estates-General, he did not solve the problem, and he locked third estate’s representatives outside the door. It is totally an unfair treatment. Nevertheless, those third estate’s representatives had their own meeting in Tennis Court, and they will not give up until the government changes the law to have a better

Some people think that King Louis XIV did more harm to France than good. They cite his lack of moderation in managing his money. They also point out that Louis denied religious liberties to the Protestants of France and tightened control over his Roman Catholic subjects by revoking the Edict of Nantes. They also claim Louis’ war efforts were very costly and drained the treasury of France. Some say his arrogance, including his emblem of the “Sun King”, turned “his” people away from him. They think that Louis only cared about himself and what he wanted and didn’t think about future France.

The recent death of Napoleon Bonaparte has been described as the end of the last ruler of France. In truth, these statements are incorrect. The last reigning monarchs of France were King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, though the public abandoned the two approximately 28 years ago following the height of the French Revolution. A recent uncovering of an article published in the 1789 issue of La Cuvette illustrates the forgotten world of the grandiose rulers of France.

Madame de Pompadour is most famously known for her role as King Louis XV’s chief mistress. It is through this role she acquired influence over the king and, in turn, France’s political landscape at large. She advised King Louis XV on matters regarding the management of the Seven Years’ War, internal affairs affecting the nation, and the creation and dissolution of several alliances with other countries. In this way, Madame de Pompadour's immense clout was a consequence of the king’s affection for her, but on a more personal level, her own identity was sculpted by the king’s love for her. By this, I refer not only to how she tailored her identity to accommodate the king’s predilections as a way to retain power but also to how her reputation, during both her lifetime and society’s current remembrance of her, was based on her relationship with King Louis XV. Her overt use of sexuality, while regarded unfavorably during her lifetime, has earned her more propitious representation in current media (Stamberg).

“I have returned from Versailles. I have seen the beautiful apartments; They are enchanting. If I had read about it in a story, I would have built a château in Spain to see its true nature. I have beheld and touched it; it is truly delightful.” (Meyer and Saule, 4) Madame De Sévigné, one of the many royals to stay in the Palace of Versailles, said this quote to describe the grand palace back in the 1700’s. Seeing the grand rooms and decorated walls of the palace is breathtaking.There are just no words to describe it. The history of the palace is even more interesting. The rulers and other royal leaders to stay there have even more fascinating stories. Come, let us go back into the reign of King Louis XIV and explore the Palace of Versailles.