Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Louis XIV
AtthecenterofallthiswasEurope'sgreatestking.HewasatrueRenaissanceMan,
a century after the Renaissance: athletic, good-looking, a musician, dancer, horse-
man, statesman, patron of the arts, and lover. For all his grandeur, he was one of
history's most polite and approachable kings, a good listener who could put even
commoners at ease in his presence.
Louis XIV called himself the Sun King because he gave life and warmth to all
he touched. He was also thought of as Apollo, the Greek god of the sun. Versailles
becamethepersonaltempleofthisgodonearth,decoratedwithstatuesandsymbols
of Apollo, the sun, and Louis XIV himself. The classical themes throughout under-
lined the divine right of France's kings and queens to rule without limit.
Louis XIV was a hands-on king who personally ran affairs of state. All de-
cisionsweremadebyhim.Nobles,whoinothercountrieswerethecenterofpower,
becamevirtualslavesdependentonLouisXIV'sgenerosity.For70yearshewasthe
perfectembodimentoftheabsolutemonarch.Hesummeditupbesthimselfwithhis
famous rhyme—
“L'état
,
c'est moi!”
(lay-tah say-mwah): “The state, that's me!”
