Page 46 - All About History - Issue 56-17

Versailles and its grounds
were stunningly beautiful

The opulent Hall of Mirrors at Versailles
captures the splendour of the Bourbon court

Louis XIV and his family are
depicted as Roman gods, the
essence of absolutism
For instance, nobody other than a monarch and networking via an intricate system of patronage
their consort could sit in an armchair, and other and apprenticeships.
royals were allowed a chair with back support. The doors to privilege were closed to those
Dukes and duchesses sat on stools, but everyone lacking existing connections to win favour, and
else had to stand until given permission to sit. lesser families had to pay tribute to greater houses
Should a courtier be in the corridors when the to progress. In the new system at Versailles, all
king’s elaborate feasts were being taken to him, had to bow to Louis, regardless of who they
they had to curtsy or bow to the passing food and might be. Through his elaborate and carefully
remain that way until the entire feast had passed manipulated worlds of factions and offices, he easing of taxes on the poor didn’t happen. Louis
46 from sight. Even bodily functions were regulated alone controlled patronage. also pursued an aggressive expansionist policy
and France was frequently at war. The cost for the
and it was considered social death to yawn in
Louis’ presence or even a well-connected noble conflicts was met by increased taxation on those
who might report your faux pas to the king. The gathering storm who could least afford it.
Should one be snubbed by the monarch, one Louis is known to history as the Sun King, a stellar The final war of his reign was the War of the
could consider one’s career at court over. Yet there sovereign around whom the country and court Spanish Succession, which raged from 1701 to 1714.
were incentives beyond connections for those orbited. For the majority of his 72-year rule he sat at The crippling cost drove France again to the brink
willing to give up their lives to be at Versailles, like the very pinnacle of an absolutist monarchy. Access of bankruptcy and famine seized the country. Louis
tax breaks and protection from creditors. to him was along strictly hierarchical lines, and this had been determined to secure the succession of
Though only required to be at the palace for six world dominated by fashion and factions was one his grandson to the Spanish throne, but to the poor
months a year, many nobles so feared falling out that few in France might ever have predicted, but French it looked as though he had chosen family
of the loop that they did all they could to be there it was successful. ambition over the good of his subjects. It was the
for as long as possible, neglecting their own estates. Louis believed in his own divine right, that he final action of the king’s life and he died in 1715,
Soon the Versailles court divided into factions, was chosen by God, and his successors followed having secured Philip’s Spanish claim.
with each playing off against the others for the the same doctrine. Just like the Sun King, they With each king, the royal debt grew larger until,
monarch’s affections. In a world where idleness spent money like it was going out of style and as by the time of the ill-fated Louis XVI, the state was
had become an art form, infighting was the chief decades passed, the citizens grew hungrier and virtually bankrupt again. With the coffers depleted
entertainment for those with nothing better to do poorer while the nobility became wealthier. by war as much as lavish spending, it would take a
than vie for the favour of their king. Under Louis XIV, France became one of the strong and decisive monarch to get things back on
Kept at Versailles and away from their estates for world’s superpowers, with an army to be reckoned track. Louis XVI was neither.
years at a time, the ancient power of the clientèle with and a cultural identity revolving around the Louis the Last, as he was known, was an
system fell away. This allowed the noble classes tastes of its leader. But all of this came at a price. indecisive and timid ruler, desperate to be liked
to band together, favouring one another and Public discontent began early, when the expected and with a hatred of confrontation that meant

24 hours at Versailles Louis loved routine: how better to keep a court in its place?

Official waking The grand entrée The première entrée Grand lever The king’s council
Though he was often up early to hunt, Louis XIV was With the king resplendent in his first wig of the day and With prayers said, lesser courtiers gathered to watch the The king left his state apartments and, followed Louis held several councils each week, dependent
always tucked up in his state bed by 8.00am. Here he nightshirt, an audience of favoured male courtiers filed king dress and shave. According to their rank, courtiers by his courtiers, walked through the Hall of Mirrors on the day in question. As an absolute monarch,
was awakened by his premier valet de la chambre du in to watch the grand chamberlain lay out his clothes were admitted at set moments in the ceremony. and into the royal chapel to observe Mass, at which routine was vital to ensure that he was able to
roi, who opened the bed curtain. Louis’ childhood and made an offering of holy water. The master of the However, by the time he was ready to don his shoes and a new piece of music was performed each day. manage his workload. Though he was always
nurse pressed her daily kiss to his brow and the bedchamber and first servant removed the nightshirt stockings, the entire male court was present to witness Once again, the more important courtiers could use joined by his ministers, they were there in a
royal physician and chief surgeon collected and courtiers presented Louis with a petition of their this daily routine. There was even a lord of the neckcloths, this procession as an opportunity to approach the strictly advisory capacity. Louis listened intently to
the chamberpot for examination. choice before he tucked into a bowl of soup. charged with ensuring the monarch was just so. monarch, at his discretion. their advice before making any decisions.

8.00am 8.15am 8.30am 10.00am 11.00am