Which statements accurately describe the reign of Louis XIV? Choose all answers that are correct. A. His subjects called him the
"Sun King" because he brought such prosperity to France. B. He moved his court from Paris to Versailles, where he and his courtiers lived in splendor and excess. C. He believed he had received his authority from God and did not have to share power with anyone. D. He spent his long reign working to end religious persecution and poverty.
B. He moved his court from Paris to Versailles, where he and his courtiers lived in splendor and excess.
C. He believed he had received his authority from God and did not have to share power with anyone.
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 important activity in France basically revolved around him. Important activity meant that of the ruling classes -- not the struggles of the common people. 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. And the people in the provinces were neglected.
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.
