to what extent was louis xiv an absolute monarch?

“To What Extent Was Louis XIV’s Power In France Absolute?”

Due to his immense power as the King of France, Louis XIV has always a subject of historical debate and controversy. Many of Louis’ contemporaries described his style of rule as ‘absolutist’; a term given to a monarch whose power is deemed so great that they are answerable to none, except God Himself. In theory, Louis should have commanded complete, unquestioned obedience from his subjects and had no advice to take advice or follow guidelines of any kind. Historians have long argued the extent to which Louis XIV’s powers within France were absolute. Many orthodox historians believe that his powers were virtually absolute. However, revisionist historians have begun to question the validity of this, arguing that although powerful, he was not an absolute monarch. During the course of this essay, I will discuss the differing views of historians and decide which is the most viable.

France in the seventeenth...