How Successful Was King Louis Xiv A Success In The 18th Century

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The third most important factor to King Louis XIV’s successful reign was his expansive colonial empire obtained through his loyal standing army. At the time, France was the richest and most powerful nation in Europe, mainly due to their well trained and disciplined military. King Louis XIV fed, trained, and paid 300,000 soldiers to join his standing army, forging a strong relationship between the army and the throne. As well as, creating the largest and most formidable standing army of Europe in the 1600’s. With this advantageous power, King Louis had extensive plans for France, starting with his ambition to expand the French territory. The beginning of King Louis XIV’s rule over France involved reforms and internal development, while his …show more content…

One reason King Louis encouraged expansion west was to support mercantilism, because many of the products and colonies were established in the New World. The territory in the New World was commonly targeted by European rulers because they possessed extensive land, gold, silver, and other riches not produced in Europe. King Louis XIV maintained and assumed control of a strong and fiercely loyal army, capable of vanquishing other nations and gaining territory. The standing army was a main asset to King Louis’ rule as he used them to gain land, power, relations, and wealth. All of which centralized authority and increased King Louis’ power and control, making him an iconic absolute monarch. However, King Louis XIV’s ruler over France was not the only successful absolutist monarch of the time. Russia also flourished as a powerful nation in the 15th to 18th century, famous for their …show more content…

The most important component of King Louis administration that allowed him to rule with ease, was creating intendents who replaced nobility and were effortless to control. As well as, monitoring and distracting nobility from participating in government affairs through the use of the Palace of Versailles. By restricting the power of officials who held input in France’s government, King Louis XIV had complete sovereignty over the nation. In addition, the creation of intendants and Palace of Versailles required money, which fueled King Louis policy of mercantilism, this being the second most significant part of King Louis XIV’s reign. King Louis used mercantilism to assume a surplus amount of money, which allowed him to continue funding programs and projects to centralize authority. The third most significant factor contributing to King Louis successful reign was establishing a mighty and loyal army, which he used to expand the colonies and influence of France. By controlling land in both Europe and the New World, King Louis XIV was able to exert power over other nations and express his strength as an absolute monarch. All things considered, the road to becoming an absolute monarch is filled with hardships and