Louis Xiv Dbq Analysis

In 17th-18th century Europe, the age of absolutism, absolute monarchs ruled most of Europe in countries such as Prussia, France, and the Holy Roman Empire. Absolute monarchs are rulers that have complete control over the government and its people. They claimed to rule by “divine right,” where their authority comes from God and they were above the law. The views of being a proper role as an absolute monarch differed very much between rulers and their subjects. Certain rulers had ideas that both the people and ruler should be united, some abused their power with no sympathy towards the people they rule, and the subjects that suffered from the rulings of the monarch had a completely different perspective than the rulers that were in power.
Absolute …show more content…
After he took power, Louis XIV made the nobility tax exempt, so the heavy burden of the taxes lied on the peasants, which made their already hard lives even tougher. In document 3, it explains how Louis XIV keeps his courtier in line so that they stay diligent in pleasing him. The documents also depicts his oppressiveness, stating that Louis XIV had many spies that tattled on anyone of any class which ruined the person’s life since the king was a prejudice who did not bother to ask for explanations. Other cruel changes he made during his rule was revoking the Edict of Nantes, which tolerated the Huguenots in France and gave them religious rights. In place of the Edict of Fontainebleau, which allowed the destruction of all Protestant churches and schools throughout France. During the War of the Spanish Succession, Louis XIV prioritized his personal interests above his country’s because he wanted to insure his grandson's, Philip V, right to inherit the Spanish Empire. The war weakened France and situated the country in a huge financial debt, which was blamed on Louis XIV. This shows his views on how to be a proper role of an absolute monarch; apparently, you can do whatever you want since you hold the power and as long as you keep those who have the ability to rebel under control. It also implies that his views are that …show more content…
As noted in documents 4, 5, and 6, peasants suffered immensely from the high taxes that the monarchs put on them. In document 4, the report of the Commission of Enquiry into the Conditions of the Peasants of Bohemia, it states that even good nobles couldn't protect their peasants from the high taxes and all financial burdens are put on the peasants who are the only ones that pay the taxes. In document 5, an excerpt that was written by Arthur Young, talks about the lives of peasants. This section is saying that the nobility that actually have the money to pay the taxes don't even have to pay, but the ones that can't afford the taxes are responsible for the whole country's financial state. In document 6, Adam Olearius states that the common people are living roughly like slaves but they still endure it without much complaint. The subjects are not being protected by the absolute monarch and they still go through life. There is a great difference in the way the absolute monarchs live and how his subjects live. This leads to the different perspectives on the view of being a proper role of an absolute monarch. While the king only sees the expansion of his kingdom, the peasant sees the hardship of the life in the kingdom. The subjects would view that being a proper monarch you should be kind and consider the aspects of the people you rule's