Louis XIV The Extravagant Sun King LOUIS XIV

Louis XIV The Extravagant Sun King

LOUIS XIV • Ruled France for 72 years • He gave himself the name the Sun King because he felt he was the center for French culture and life • He believed he was the source of all light in the nation • “I am the nation”

VERSAILLES • Built a vast palace and forced important nobles to live there with him • Everything they did required the Kings approval • Nobles even took daily ballet lessons in order to learn how to move and gesture gracefully • His word was law • There was no government

CAMPAIGNS • The king became involved in many wars so he could promote his own interests and expand French territory • His campaigns were very unsuccessful • He also claimed that the French monarch has special rights within the Roman Catholic Church • His persecution of Calvinist Protestants caused a huge decline in population

FRENCH ECONOMY • The Calvinist Protestants were called Huguenots in France • They were often business people and entrepreneurs • These conflicts along with the building of Versailles almost ruined the economy

LOUIS XV • Louis XV came to the throne when his great grandfather died in 1715 • He was only 5 years old • During his reign, France continued toward economic disaster

VERSAILLES ASSIGNMENT If you were Louis XIV, what would your Versailles look like? Draw your ideal palace and grounds on the 11 x 17 piece of paper provided Mark Breakdown: 5 rooms 5 explanations Drawing Features /10 /25 /10 Criteria required: § Must label 5 rooms (minimum) § Features on your palace grounds – pool, gardens, etc… § Palace name § Explanation and description of each of your 5 rooms – do this on a separate piece of paper