Louis XIV. / Makers of History Series

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27056

Title

Louis XIV. / Makers of History Series

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This historical sketch by John S. C. Abbott peels back the royal facade to reveal the inner life of Louis XIV. Blending courtly splendor with domestic privacy, the narrative explores the monarch's rise from a boy-king to an absolute ruler, his complex relationships, and the corruption that fueled the French Revolution. A compelling read for those interested in the human cost of despotism.

Summary up to 500 words

John S. C. Abbott's biography of Louis XIV, part of the Makers of History series, offers an intimate examination of the Sun King's reign, contrasting his public grandeur with his private moral struggles. The narrative begins with the troubled marriage of Louis XIII and Anne of Austria, marked by infidelities and intrigue involving figures like the Duke of Buckingham and Cardinal Richelieu. Despite this domestic discord, the couple's eventual birth of Louis in 1638 brought immense joy to the nation. Upon reaching majority in 1651, the thirteen-year-old Louis assumed absolute power, only to face the immediate chaos of the Fronde, a civil war that exposed the kingdom's poverty and noble infighting, forcing the court into flight. Abbott vividly portrays the opulence of Versailles and the lavish festivities that drained the treasury, juxtaposed against the squalid poverty of the common people. A significant portion of the work is dedicated to the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, depicting the persecution of Protestants as a tragic consequence of the king's religious zeal and the influence of his advisors. The biography highlights the king's vanity, his neglect of education, and the corruption surrounding him, noting that even his brother and mother exerted control over his early years. The text concludes with Louis XIV's death in 1715. In his final moments, the aging monarch expresses remorse for his example and advises his successor to avoid war and building projects, seeking peace and piety. However, his death brings little mourning from the populace, who pelt his coffin with mud. Abbott argues that the despotism of Louis XIV and his successor, Louis XV, created the conditions for the French Revolution. Serving as a cautionary tale, the biography illustrates how unchecked power and moral decay can lead to national convulsion, transforming a once-magnificent empire into a scene of sublime earthly drama and inevitable upheaval.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Biography
• History