A Synthesis Essay: The Contribution Of Louis XIV

Although Louis XIV’s reign branched towards despotism and collaboration via several of his methods, holistically, Louis XIV was an absolutistic leader. His ideology centered around “the divine ordination of monarchy; the king’s absolute grant of power from God; complete denial of the right of resistance; the indefeasibility of hereditary right; and the corroboration of coronation” (Fox 140). Paul Foxes writing on the theories that Louis XIV adhered to is notably valuable because Fox extracted Louis’ political theory directly from his manuscripts, a primary and reliable source in terms of providing true insight on behalf of the king. The facets of kings that Fox introduced are prime examples of how Louis XIV adhered to the expectations of an absolute ruler. Another theory that dictated the Louis XIV’s actions was the principle of “indefeasible hereditary right,” a principle that …show more content…
Because the king demanded to supervise the “distribution of royal patronage at court,” patronage became easily obtainable at Versailles, which lead nobles in need of assistance and patronage to go to the court in order to obtain it (Kettering 71). Kettering’s insight is valuable to this investigation because in her work, Kettering examined the modern state building that occurred during Louis XIV’s reign, a political centralization that is largely unrecognized. In the Palace of Versailles, Louis XIV’s bedroom was the center, identifying the king as omnipotent. The king remained behind the scenes, reachable only through intermediaries as he manipulated the nobles surrounding him. The “imposing grandeur” of the palace demonstrates the impressive wealth of Louis’ kingdom (Wolf 362). The fact that it was constructed without moats or walls demonstrates the authority and power of Louis’ government (Wolf 362). Here, it is important to take into consideration the value of John Wolf’s