In the history of France, there is such a king, and people give him a very high evaluation. Voltaire extolled his reign as an "age that is always worth remembering"; Napoleon said, "He was a great king, he created France's first-class position in the world, and what king since Charlemagne can compare with him?" Lord Acton, on the other hand, believed, "He is the most capable of the modern kings." Of course, in his later years, he was so distraught and the populace suffered that "many citizens, when his coffin passed, did not even think it was worth the insult."
<h1 class = "pgc-h-arrow-right" > 5 years old, 24 years old pro-government, majestic and dominant european</h1> overlord
In 1638, Louis XIV was born to King Louis XIII of France and to Anne, Princess of Spain from the Habsburg family. From a prominent family, the royal family passed on, and everything went according to order until the sudden death of his father in 1643. In this year, Louis XIV was just 5 years old, sitting on the king's throne, but it was like a needle felt.
At this time, the country was regent by Empress Anne, and it was Bishop Mazaran who held real power. The latter was not only the head of the religion, but also the lover of the prime minister, godfather, and empress. Under multiple identities, Mazalam became the supreme ruler of the country. He borrowed money from financiers and allowed them to levy taxes. The wallets of the tax collectors are bulging, but the anger of the people is growing day by day. In October 1648, a popular revolt broke out in Paris, King Louis XIV fled the capital, and Mazarin was exiled.
During its exodus, France was caught in internal and external troubles. On the one hand, France fought against Spain; on the other hand, the domestic opposition confronted Mazarin fiercely. Four years later, the weathered Louis XIV returned to Paris, this time the return of the victors. The scene of the 14-year-old Louis XIV, who traveled to the provinces, was abandoned by the people, and rioted wildly, made Louis XIV come to the conclusion that "Paris is not safe, and the people do not love him".
By the time Mazaren died of illness, Louis XIV had no obstacle to governing, and at the age of 24, he was about to start the peak of his life. For more than 50 years, Louis XIV created a powerful monarchy. Politically, the supremacy of the monarchy is the supremacy of the state, weakening the power of the nobility and strengthening the authority of the king; economically, the consolidation of finances, mercantilism, the construction of factories funded by the state, and the manufacture of mirrors are exported overseas; ideological and cultural, religious absolutism, advocating Catholicism, cultural nationalization, and the establishment of royal academies.
Cultural celebrities from all over the country have walked into golden cages. The strength of the country led Louis XIV to want to dominate the continent. First with Spain to launch a war for the inheritance of the Netherlands, then the Franco-Dutch War, the Grand Alliance War, and later participated in the war of the Spanish succession. The conquest and army building in the early stage won France a vast territory and became a Continental Power. However, years of conquest exhausted the people's good feelings for him, and no one compared him to the sun again.
<h1 class= "pgc-h-arrow-right" > the divine, extremely luxurious, heyday of Versailles</h1>
Louis XIV, after the pro-government, obeyed Mazarin's will - not to establish a prime minister, but to do it himself. In order to weaken the power of the nobility, he invited the nobles to versailles. Here, the nobles became members of the king's court, attending balls and banquets in the palace every day, and had no time to manage the place. Gradually, the nobility became vassals, and the king monopolized power. For the submissive nobles, the officials were added to the knighthood; for the rebellious nobles, ruthlessly suppressed. The policy of turnips and sticks allowed Louis XIV to quickly win widespread support.
In order to increase the majesty of the king, Louis XIV relied on the power of religion. Use "divine right of kings" as the supremacy of kingship, wrapped in mysterious colors. At the same time, ideologically restrain the people and unify religious beliefs. He put pressure on Protestantism to advocate Catholicism. Therefore, the more tolerant edict of Nantes was abolished and the strict and fierce edict of Fontainebleau was promulgated. Protestant churches were destroyed, schools were closed, and large numbers of Protestants fled abroad. A unified France is a Catholic France.
To support the high-speed operation of the country, strong economic strength is the backing. Louis XIV reused Colber, "I am very happy with what you have done, and I have friendship. "Suspicious people do not need to be used, employ people are not doubtful, and Körber under the policy of gentleness is carrying out drastic fiscal reforms in France. He straightened out fiscal and taxation, punished corruption, and especially changed the contract tax system to collect taxes uniformly for the state. "In the king's own territory alone, the income increased to 55 days, more than 10 times more than before."
On the other hand, mercantilism is practised. Encourage exports, restrict imports, and vigorously develop industry and commerce, especially foreign trade, in order to continuously accumulate national wealth. In order to attract foreign technical talents, France spent a lot of money to introduce relevant personnel, and with the support of national forces, it quickly grew into an economic powerhouse. External expansion objectively further promotes capital accumulation. France actively expanded its overseas colonies. With the East India Company as the main force, it opened the door of wealth in the Eastern world. Promoted by national power, in turn, it can consolidate the authoritarian monarchy.
At the Palace of Versailles, Louis XIV created a glittering court life. The king's cutlery was made of gold, while the princes' nobles were gilded. Before each meal, a clarinet decorated with golden lilies is used to start the whole banquet. There are also exquisite dishes, drink soup first, and wipe your hands with a wet towel. Smorgasbord, small grilled meat, tender fish, refreshing salad, and finally fruit finale, pleasant snacks. Here, the Royal Academy of Dance, the Academy of Painting and Sculpture, the Institut de France in Rome, Louis XIV became the cultural center of France.
<h1 class= "pgc-h-arrow-right" > high-heeled perfume, Catholic, to the Kangxi Sino-French dialogue</h1>
Louis XIV, who single-handedly promoted the rise of France, had an unspeakable secret - he was too short. The height of 1 meter 54 is really not worthy of his tall image. So Louis XIV called the shoemaker and told them to put thick heels on the heels when they made shoes. As a result, the first high heels in the modern sense were formed.
However, the original high heels were out of disciplinary considerations. At that time, many palace women often sneaked over the wall at night to attend the ball, and Louis XIV asked the craftsmen to design a kind of shoe to restrict the movement of the palace women. As a result, the shoemaker raised the heel of the palace maid and made a noise when her foot stepped on the floor. On the one hand, it arouses people's vigilance, on the other hand, it is not conducive to running. Unexpectedly, the palace maid who adapted to high heels not only raised her figure and stretched her legs, but also learned to dance in high heels. It's really unintentional. Louis XIV himself began to wear high heels, but the sole of his own shoes was red, symbolizing the king's honor.
Solving the height puzzle, the next thing is the vice of not bathing. On the one hand, the urban facilities at that time were backward, and the sewers and baths were inconvenient; on the other hand, it was a matter of religious belief. Louis XIV was a devout Catholic, and the Catholic Church stipulated that a dirty body would bring people closer to God, and that bathing was an act of depravity. In fact, it is more like an original sin theory. Louis XIV, who promoted religious despotism, did not bathe and spread throughout the country. Thus there is a record of the king's mistress, Madame De Montespon, "The stench on his body can be smelled ten steps away, and it is disgusting!" ”
To mask the stench on his body, Louis XIV invented perfume. Throughout the 17th century, the French perfume industry reached its peak, which is also the credit of Louis XIV. In addition to the habit of not bathing, perfume is able to shield harmful air. Because of the plague epidemic at that time, doctors regarded perfume as an effective sterilizing item, objectively promoting the prevalence of perfume. Today, France, the capital of perfume and the capital of romance, should thank the Sun King.
His gaze had also been aimed at the far east. Louis XIV sent envoys to Kangxi, bringing armillary spheres, mechanical clocks and other instruments. The Jesuits and the science-loving Kangxi Emperor drew the Imperial Public Opinion Overview Map and studied the Geometric Primitives. After the Battle of Yaksa between China and Russia, French missionaries negotiated with Tsarist Russians, who also knew French, to lead to the signing of the Treaty of Nebuchadnezzar. It is worth mentioning that these Western emissaries once offered cinchona cream to cure Kangxi's malaria. The two male lords of the East and the West only met in a shallow way, and history failed to change the fate of the country after all.
On 1 September 1715, Louis XIV, who had been diligent all his life, never got up again. The king, who worked more than eight hours a day and did his own thing, could no longer look down on the continent. During his reign of 72 years and 110 days, people who loved him, hated him, and had different reputations could no longer see the majestic strategy of Louis XIV.