A Comparison of the Characteristics of the Absolutist Rule of Charles I of England and Louis XIV of France

In 1661 Cardinal Mazarin died. He was the main adviser to the throne and ruled France until Louis

Louis XIV, the ruler of France from the late seventeenth century to the early eighteenth century, claimed, “I am the state.” He considered this to be absolutism. His goal, also acquainted with absolutism, was, “one king, one law, one faith;” Furthermore, Louis wanted to promote religious unity, royal dignity, and security of the state. In order to achieve this goal, he had to rule with a firm hand, laying down the law for all to see. Louis XIV’s absolutism fostered in four major parts: the building of Versailles to control the nobility, the breeding of a strong military, the improvement of France’s economy, and, while quite harsh, the brutal extinction of religious toleration.

Of all the absolute rulers in Europe, by far the best example of one, and the most powerful, was Louis XIV of France. Although Louis had some failures, he also had many successes. He controlled France’s money and had many different ways to get, as well as keep his power, and he knew how to delegate jobs to smart, but loyal people.

Until now, the analysis of both Louis XIV and Peter the great form of absolutism showed some similarities in term of ideals, but more important differences on the method of application. And this contrast in again portrayed in their use of religion but also in the monarch himself.

Once the seventeenth century began, western civilization became based upon bounds. In a structured and shared-power system known as limited monarchy, rulers either became hastened within their bounds or exploded from them. As the British Isles were frustrated in the religious, political, and national voices going unheard, England developed a Protestant-run nation in conjunction with Scotland as a bounded country in 1707. Their Parliament would make their decisions, distribute the country’s wealth, and stand for the rights of individuals. The model of one man who could not be chained to a Parliamentary system was France’s King Louis XIV. His reign begins in 1643 which brings about the genuine definition of an absolute monarchy and it’s faults. Absolutism was a practice built heavily within the Middle Ages, it would include Kings as the primary shareholders of their land, partnerships with nobles and their Churches. It would prove unsatisfactory for most kingdoms as they failed under civil war and invasion until the seventeenth century shines a new importance on superior command. Through the strife of religious reformations and international conflicts, absolutism grants those in kingship unlimited power. King Henry IV had brought France from fifteenth century centralization and the Reformation’s civil war to cleanse the people’s doubt in their King. The Bourbons built a monarchy for the ages with their grandson Louis XIV, and Boy-King in 1643. Utilizing absolutism to accept

Louis XIV had the longest reign in European history, ruling from 1643 to 1715 for a total of 72 years. He was born on September 5th, 1638, succeeding his father on the throne at the age of four. Because he was too young to rule France himself, his mother, Anne of Austria, became regent and ruled in his place. During his mother’s rule, the noble and judges of the parliament of Paris launched a civil war revolt known as the Fronde

Louis XIV was crowned king of France at the age of four, but it was Cardinal Richelieu who was entrusted with governing France until Louis was ready to take control. When Cardinal Richelieu died when Louis was twenty three, Louis expressed his readiness and his determination to become the

The monarchical rule of England and France changed completely during the 17th century. Absolutism existed in most of the western countries including England and France but during the rule of Charles I and King Louis XIV, both the countries went in different political directions. There were many factors that were responsible for this including the religious and the financial instabilities of the countries. In England, constitutional monarchy was being followed which had a policy of religious toleration. On the other hand, France was going in the complete opposite direction of making absolutism more extreme.

When it come to which leader was the most absolute I would say that Louis XiV of France. While his earlier policies were a bit heavy handed and were unpopular enough to cause rebellion he quickly learned from his mistakes. He then took a much subtler approach to absolute rule and by the end of his rule France had expanded greatly and the crown had a stranglehold on both domestic and foreign policies. The first of his many great decisions was that he appointed no Chief minister that way no noble could simply challenge a single man, they had to challenge the entire crown. He had also made many of the people who would form his councils those who had just begin to rise in the social structure. This tactical move ensured their loyalty and competence

An absolute monarch is a ruler by divine right who has control over every portion of his kingdom. The most famous absolute monarch, Louis XIV, had the longest reign of any of the French kings. Louis achieved this as a result of his reformed laws, foreign policy, a smart economic advisor, and his decision to deny power to the nobility. Although some of these ideas could be viewed as having a negative impacting on France, overall Louis XIV's absolute government was beneficial to the development of his country.

King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland, acts as a testament to why an absolutist monarchy is doomed to failure as a country cannot function efficiently and with moral dignity without a parliament. The justification of an absolute monarchy lies in the Divine Right to Rule, the philosophy that God had entrusted kings and queens both the Right and Duty to rule over their subjects. Hence why, questioning their judgement is to question God Himself, an unreservedly blasphemous act which was designed to maintain order and discipline amongst servants to the monarchy. However, as early as 1625, the year of Charles I’s succession to power, Parliament began to show resistance towards this Divine Right, only giving the monarch the right to collect

Louis XIV's absolutism in France caused significant consequences in France. Economically, he used 80% of the wealth of the country on his personal palace. After the reign of Louis XIV, France was not in a good state financially. Politically Louis XIV centralized the government, strengthened the royal administration, decreased other sources of authority, and weakened power of the nobility. Socially, France was one of the strongest countries; however, Louis XIV used much of the money and there were not many surrounding areas who allied with France or helped them out. Socially, the people of France as far as peasants, they stayed peasants, the wealthy and powerful had everything.

Louis XIV's power in France actually led France into a lot of success initially. France was the dominating power in Europe up until the early 18th century when the treaty of Eutrich was signed. Although France was the European powerhouse, Louis did some stupid things in his time of rule. He had absolute power over his country and never forgot the noble Fronde that tried to take his power, so he locked up the nobles in Versailles and didn't allow them to leave. Also when building the palace of Versailles, Louis spent a large sum of the country's total revenue on the construction. Along with bad choices from his advisors, many Huguenots were sent out of the country leaving a hole for skilled workers that could not be filled and the crown lost

Louis XIV was able to become an absolute monarch with his strategy of impeding the power of nobles to the effect of creating more power for himself. He greatly feared another insistence of the Fronde. When taking the throne fully at the death of his Chief Minister, Mazarin, he was quoted saying, “L’état, c’est moi” or “I am the state” , expressing his need for absolute power.

A king is a great ruler of an independent state especially the one who inherits the position by birth rights. Kings are also great men that have authority over a kingdom or community. They have a life that is of destruction or peace when it comes to higher power. Most kings have had armies and lots of food sometimes even lots of live animal stock. When it comes to King Louis XVI and what kind of ruler he was, I would say he was a man with great responsibility and crowned as king of France at a very young age, despite his inability to rule. In this paper we will discuss King Louis XVI early life, his reign as king, and his role during the French Revolution