Historians of three centuries have both defended and ridiculed King Louis XIV's controversial reign. Many people have hailed him as a great king; mighty as the sun he took for his emblem. Being "great” as a king entails putting people before personal ambition, taking only necessary military action, achieving big things for his country, and instilling a sense of national pride in the people he rules. Louis the XIV did indeed instill national pride but his other faults negate his claim to "greatness”. The epitome of absolute monarchy was under Louis XIV. This was clearly evident throughout France for sixty-one years, during which he brought a centralized control never before seen. His total control over all aspects of government and culture was …show more content…
There were restrictions on the individual rights and liberties of people living in the absolute French regime, however, the political, economic, and cultural benefits that developed from Louis XIV's absolutism justify the restrictions put on human rights in France. Louis XIV implemented several political reforms, challenging the old feudal system of government, and bringing French politics into eighteenth century. In addition to advancing political policies, French absolutism stimulated the French economy, strengthening commerce inside France, while protecting the nation from a flood of European exports. As well, supported by the absolute reign of Louis XIV, French culture rose to a new level of prominence, and French customs spread throughout …show more content…
Internationally, Louis XIV's absolutism distinguished France as a powerful and admirable nation. By 1680, France was considered by many nations as ". . . the dominant power in Europe.” Louis encouraged colonies in North America, building a strong navy for their protection. The armies of Louis XIII and Mazarin were a "hard bitten, hard-fighting, undisciplined, ill-fed, badly paid rabble, held together by the prestige of famous generals and colonels, living by loot and extortion, things of horror and terror to the civilian population, friend and foe alike.” In 1682, the system of enlistment