Question

Which statements about the reign of Louis XIV are true?

Answer 1

He reigned for 72 years and considered himself the "sun king." & He did not involve himself with the struggles of working people or the sufferings of the poor.

Answer 2

Correct answers:

• B. He did not involve himself with the struggles of working people of the sufferings of the poor.
• C. He reigned for 72 years and considered himself the "Sun King."

Details/context:

Louis XIV is a hugely important historical figure.  He was on the throne as king in France from childhood to his old age; he ruled from 1643 to 1715. He was known as the Sun King because all activity in France basically revolved around him.  So much so was that the case, that members of the nobility competed with each other for the right to help the king get dressed in the morning!  It was one of Louis XIV's goals to keep the ranking nobles from being a threat to his power, so he lured them to come live at the glorious Versailles palace with him. That way he could keep them under his influence and away from their lands in the provinces.  They were lavishly entertained, but lost the real power they would have had as lords governing in their provincial lands.  As a result also, the lives of common, working people were neglected by their governors.

Louis XIV also subscribed to the idea of the "divine right of kings." That belief was summed up succinctly by Bishop Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet, who was court preacher at the royal court of Louis XIV.  Bossuet said that monarchy "is sacred, it is paternal, it is absolute … the royal throne is not that of a man but the throne of God himself."  The claim of kings' divine right meant their authority could not be challenged because they were put in their office by God and were to be respected as God's sovereign representatives.  This meant the people could not seek to replace a king even if the king didn't involve himself with their struggles or suffering.