King Louis XIV, as France's longest lasting monarch, is one of the most important figures in Western European history responsible for a number of key changes to the feudalistic system among other accomplishments. Born the only son to an already old Louis XIII the new heir would succeed the throne at the age of 4 and, during this period, have his rule primarily made by other mature members of the aristocracy such as Cardinal Mazarin. Eventually taking the throne for himself Louis would be a decisive and largely successful king whose influence shaped modern day Europe. It wasn't until his later years that Louis would come across problems and difficulty in his rule. During King Louis' early life the Cardinal Mazarin made the treaty of Westphalia before Louis finally took hold of the throne in adulthood and changed the system his government worked under destroying the foundations of Feudalism before, finally, having his reign end in an string of failures including a number of decisive battles.
Due to Louis' father dying while he was still a child numerous “Cardinal Ministers” ruled the nation of France before Louis himself became old enough to forcibly take the throne for himself. During this time period Louis and his family lived a turbulent life as he caught in the middle of a French civil war. It was during this time that Cardinal Mazarin finally was victorious in controlling France and created a strong administration for the nation. Afterward, Mazarin helped orchestrate both the Treaty of Westphalia and the Treaty of the Pyrenees (which required the political marriage of Louis XIV and the daughter of Philip IV of Spain) which ended The Thirty Years war and ended a number of internal strife in France.
After Mazarin's death Louis became his own chief minister and began a series of reformations that helped end feudalism in Western Europe. First and foremost Louis, who was soon nicknamed the “Sun-King”, eliminated rival for the position of chief minister Nicolas Fouquet. He then established total control for himself working through his high state council and a few ministers whom he could dismiss at will. Finally, against established tradition, King Louis XIV excluded all immediate family and other older nobility from being a council member. His reformations then went on to attack the corrupt government of France removing Parliament's power to obstruct legislation and revamping the judicial system itself. Among his other famous achievements was manipulating the aristocracy at a personal scale by moving all figures into his palace at Versailles. Finally, he went on to have a series of successful wars and land acquisitions before, in the twilight of his life, he began to face insurmountable challenges.
Louis XIV went into a period of decline during the latter years of his life that ended in the loss of a number of provinces and disputes. His first major mistake was in what has been called his “Revocation of the Edict of Nantes” which caused the protestant population of France to leave in anger weakening the French economy and the availability of skilled craftsmen. It also led to the Protestant population of Europe to unite in hatred against the French king. This new league, which included rivals such as England and Spain, united in their assault on French lands causing a number of problems to the nation. Finally, these war ended with the successful recapture of some French lands and King Louis grudging acceptance to the idea of keeping the crowns of Spain and France separate despite dynastic connections. Finally, his personal monarchy had become an increasingly convulsed bureaucracy further complicating matter. Finally, Louis died the longest living monarch of France in 1715.
Louis XIV led the longest life of any French king and his successes helped bring an end to feudalistic rule in Europe. Despite his failures at the end of his life the foundations laid by him and his contemporaries allowed the power of the aristocracy to be significantly diminished. His mistreatment in childhood helped fuel his hatred for the noble families and thus many of the reasons for his reduction of aristocratic power. The fall of feudalism and the rise of modern day France can be attributed much to the work of the late “Sun-King”.
Due to Louis' father dying while he was still a child numerous “Cardinal Ministers” ruled the nation of France before Louis himself became old enough to forcibly take the throne for himself. During this time period Louis and his family lived a turbulent life as he caught in the middle of a French civil war. It was during this time that Cardinal Mazarin finally was victorious in controlling France and created a strong administration for the nation. Afterward, Mazarin helped orchestrate both the Treaty of Westphalia and the Treaty of the Pyrenees (which required the political marriage of Louis XIV and the daughter of Philip IV of Spain) which ended The Thirty Years war and ended a number of internal strife in France.
After Mazarin's death Louis became his own chief minister and began a series of reformations that helped end feudalism in Western Europe. First and foremost Louis, who was soon nicknamed the “Sun-King”, eliminated rival for the position of chief minister Nicolas Fouquet. He then established total control for himself working through his high state council and a few ministers whom he could dismiss at will. Finally, against established tradition, King Louis XIV excluded all immediate family and other older nobility from being a council member. His reformations then went on to attack the corrupt government of France removing Parliament's power to obstruct legislation and revamping the judicial system itself. Among his other famous achievements was manipulating the aristocracy at a personal scale by moving all figures into his palace at Versailles. Finally, he went on to have a series of successful wars and land acquisitions before, in the twilight of his life, he began to face insurmountable challenges.
Louis XIV went into a period of decline during the latter years of his life that ended in the loss of a number of provinces and disputes. His first major mistake was in what has been called his “Revocation of the Edict of Nantes” which caused the protestant population of France to leave in anger weakening the French economy and the availability of skilled craftsmen. It also led to the Protestant population of Europe to unite in hatred against the French king. This new league, which included rivals such as England and Spain, united in their assault on French lands causing a number of problems to the nation. Finally, these war ended with the successful recapture of some French lands and King Louis grudging acceptance to the idea of keeping the crowns of Spain and France separate despite dynastic connections. Finally, his personal monarchy had become an increasingly convulsed bureaucracy further complicating matter. Finally, Louis died the longest living monarch of France in 1715.
Louis XIV led the longest life of any French king and his successes helped bring an end to feudalistic rule in Europe. Despite his failures at the end of his life the foundations laid by him and his contemporaries allowed the power of the aristocracy to be significantly diminished. His mistreatment in childhood helped fuel his hatred for the noble families and thus many of the reasons for his reduction of aristocratic power. The fall of feudalism and the rise of modern day France can be attributed much to the work of the late “Sun-King”.
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