William F. Church's book, The Greatness of Louis XIV, was composed to acquaint students with various views on the greatness of Louis XIV, including letters to Louis himself. Louis XIV has beautified Paris and gave France a stable economy but at the same time he has ravaged the country with his ambitions and wars. Louis XIV almost succeeded in taking over Europe, but was stopped by the Grand Alliance. Even though Louis XIV did not achieve the domination of Europe, he ensured France a seat as a major power in later politics and wars. This book gives no supplementary materials.
Louis Madelin, a high ranking historian, vividly describes Louis XIV in his essay Louis XIV, Epitome of His Times . In this article, Madelin states that Louis was “a king that reflected his times”. He noted that Louis XIV loved order in all actions and beings. Madelin explains that Louis was more convinced of divine right of kings more than anyone else had ever been. Louis XIV was positive that “the royal throne is not a throne to man, but the throne of God” and that a king is only answerable to God himself. At the same time, Madelin states that Louis XIV understood reason and in Louis's Memoirs Louis frequently states “Let common sense prevail”. Louis XIV loved his kingship greatly. Madelin notes that Louis calls his kingship a profession and that ”kings must find delight in his duties”.
Lord Acton, a professor of history at Cambridge, gives us his views in his article Louis XIV . Acton notes that “Louis XIV was by far the ablest man”. Acton describes how Louis would boost his men's moral by riding under fire. Acton states that Louis has had a sad love life. Mazarin, Louis XIV's minister, had Philip IV to agree to marry his daughter, Maria Theresa, in the Treaty of the Pyrenees, but Louis XIV loved Marie Mancini, Mazarin's youngest niece. Mazarin sent Marie away “in spite of the tears of Louis”. Acton states that Louis XIV had predominant authority over Europe for more than 10 years. Louis increased his land, recovered Alsace from Germany, and strengthened his army to 112,000 men, but through all of this the people of France were oppressed and impoverished. Louis XIV's interest was the “State, not the nation”.
Voltaire, a great historian and Enlightenment philosopher, portrays Louis XIV as the hero of the age in his essay The Age of Louis XIV . Voltaire states that because of Louis XIV's France the other nations became what they are today. Voltaire notes that Louis XIV was given the title of Great by the Council of Paris in 1680, but he thinks that “a man who has done great deeds inspires more reverence than any epithet”. Voltaire also notifies Louis XIV's love and delight in architecture and the arts. For example, Louis XIV founded the Academy of Sciences, built towns near Versailles, beautified cities, and built the Louvre. Voltaire states that not a single Roman palace has an entrance comparable to that of the Louvre's. He exclaims that Louis XIV did more good for his country than twenty of his predecessors together, and that all the things Louis did for France “still bears fruit”.
For most people, the extent of their knowledge of Louis XIV is nil. For this reason, reading essays and articles about Louis XIV, such as the ones by Madelin, Acton and Voltaire, is important to grasp the greatness of Louis XIV. The previous articles are substantial for a person desiring to learn about Louis XIV. Whenever one hears the name Louis XIV, it is likely that the majority of the people would be clueless as to who Louis is, and because what these three writers have to say is relevant, one would start learning by reading their essays.
Albert Sorel, who wrote Louis XIV, Arbitrary Despot , chose a subject contradicting the previous three. Sorel states that Louis XIV has abused and brought the downfall of the French monarchy, worn out his men, emptied the treasury, and left France crushed by war. He also notes that Louis XIV's revocation of the Edict of Nantes, which allowed Lutherans to freely practice there religion, marked the decline of the French monarchy.
Albert Sorel's article Louis XIV, Arbitrary Despot is not useful to the majority of people willing to learn about the greatness of Louis XIV, for it delves too much into the greatness of Louis's predecessors, England and how Louis XIV brought France into disarray. This in turn distracts the reader from the main focus of the essay, which is the greatness of Louis XIV and his France.
I have always known Louis XIV to have been a great man. However, while reading The Greatness of Louis XIV I learned what specifically happened in Louis XIV's life and how France impacted the world today. Church's book further strengthened my positive view on the greatness on Louis XIV. Personally, I would recommend this book because it gives incredibly detailed descriptions about Louis and his life.
