Absolute Monarchy

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We've gotten to that place in our history studies where the egomaniac extraordinaire encounters their delusions of grandeur level, dream career. No, not as a social media star with the pull of a Kardashian. Even the orbital-rumped and pnuematic lipped don't have the cerebral inflation of the bloke who figures himself able to rule like a god, or maybe just a tiny cosmic step down, and attempts to ascend to a throne as the Divine's sovereign representative on Earth. Yes, all you, mini-meglomaniacs, we will be covering the form of governing that gaslights like no other, absolute monarchy. To be fair most absolute monarchs were born into their grandiose self-delusion, perhaps none on a grander scale than the lift wearing, wig donning, Louis the XIV. The so-called Sun King's bouffant would not be eclipsed until the coronation of Marie Antionette. You'd think her end would be warning enough for those of us who would be queen, or king. Attention, s'il vous plaît.

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Today's source is the ever-dependable and entertaining Crash Course History.

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From our studies ...

Absolutism is a form of tyrannical rule, generally requiring strict adherence to a state religion and economic and social conformity. Taxes and/or colonizing wars are needed to support the economic drain the lavish lifestyles that absolutists tend to adopt. In other words, tyrants tend to live large.

In absolute monarchy, the king, or sovereign, is said to have a divine right to rule a realm and its people; it is believed he or she is placed on the throne by the will of God. Because of this belief in Divine Right, everything the monarch does is thought to be the will of God and above questioning or reproach. The establishment Church will reinforce the idea of Divine Right. The support of Church meant the ideals of the Reformation were a direct challenge to Catholic monarchs in Europe, and in the case of British Isles, divine right was a tool to place the British sovereign as the head of the Church of England.

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The most well-known king to wield absolute power was the so-called Sun King, Louis XIV. Louis ruled France from 1643 to 1715. He was a child when he inherited the throne. France was ruled by the regent powers of his mother, Anne of Austria, and Cardinal Mazarin until Louis came into majority. During the regency, the 30 years war continued, taxes were high, and Louis had to be moved around for his own protection. Circumstances were very difficult for the common people, and there were many revolts and attempts at a coup d'état.

Anne ran a foul of the Nobles of the Robe, bureaucrats and judges who had purchased their position with a tithe called the Paulette. The Noble of the Robe grew to threaten the power and popularity of the crown. The people of Paris revolted when Anne imprisoned some of these judges. Her regency government was forced to release them. Their release planted the idea that the Monarchy's power was not absolute after all and could be challenged.
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In 1654, at the age of 15, Louis XIV was officially crowned King of France . His main goals became organizing the administration of the kingdom, raising funds, and uniting his subjects in loyalty to the Crown. He distracted his nobility from further insurrections with a lavish court life, lots of parties and luxuries. In the 1680's, the king's court was moved from Paris to the extravagant and sprawling palace complex at Versailles Louis had built up Versailles from a hunting lodge to basically a party compound for France's nobility. In addition to partying, the nobility vied for the King's favour and their own status. Louis was surrounded by sycophants, and no one would have dared to challenge the idea that he was anything less than the Divine's representative on Earth. This positive reinforcement of his placement at birth and the crown's wealth maintained the power needed for Louis' absolute monarchy to continue throughout his reign. Louis' power inspired monarchs all over Europe to try to replicate it.

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