Louis XIV, The Sun King Essays - Knights Of The Golden Fleece

Louis XIV, The Sun King Louis XIV, The Sun King Louis XIV was only four years old when he succeeded his father to the French throne. Often uncared for, he nearly drowned because no one was watching him as he played near a pond. This began to shape in his young mind an early fear of God. Louis' character was also shaped by the French Civil War. In this, the Paris Parlement rose against the crown. For five years, Louis would suffer fear, cold, hunger and other spirit-breaking events. He would never forgive Paris, the nobles, or the common people. Finally, in 1653, Cardinal Jules Mazarin was able to end the rebellion. He began to instruct Louis on his position as king. Even though Louis XIV was now of age, the Cardinal remained the dominant authority in French politics. French kings gained respect as a soldier; Louis served with the French army during France's war with Spain. His biggest battle, however, was sacrificing his love for Mazarin's niece for politics. In 1660 he married the daughter of the king of Spain to bring peace between the two countries. Mazarin died March 9, 1661. On March 10, Louis claimed supreme authority in France. Not since Henry IV had such a claim been made. Louis saw himself as God's representative on earth, therefore, infallible. He oversaw roadbuilding, court decorum, defense, and disputes within the church. He had the support initially of his ministers, then that of the French people. He had given France the image it desired-youth and vitality surrounded by magnificence. Louis won the favor of the nobles by making it evident that their future depended on their ability stay on his good side. This weakened the nobility, and would eventually weaken France. Louis had among his supportors a wide spectrum of individuals. Writers such as Moliere were ordered to glorify him. Monuments rose throughout the country and Louis had palaces built in his honor. The most elaborate was Versailles, located outside Paris. Away from disease, Versailles also isolated the king from his people. The aristocracy became mysterious. France was also undergoing an economic revolution. Exports were increased, and a navy, merchant marine, and police association emerged. Roads, ports and canals were being built. He invaded the Spanish Nederlands in 1667. The restarted war between France and Spain would be on again, off again for the remainder of Louis' reign. In 1668, the French army retreated under pressure from Dutch and English forces. Louis swore to defeat the Dutch and ruin their Protestant mercantile republic. He allied himself with his cousin, Charles II of England, and invaded the Netherlands in 1672. Louis was victorious when the Treaty of Mijmegen was signed in 1678. When the Dutch were defeated, he had also defeated its allies, Spain and the Holy Roman Empire. France's borders had expanded to the north and the east. His navy had become as as large as that of England and Holland. His private life was not as fortunate. Friends had been implicated in the Affair of the Poisons, where eminent people had been accused of sorcery and murder. Louis ordered his court to become discrete. The seat of Government was transferred to Versailles in 1682. When the Queen died, he married her Mme de Maintenon, who had been governess to the King's children. Louis did not understand the reformation, and he viewed French Protestants as threats to the throne. He revoked the Edict of Nantes, which had granted them freedom of worship. Many left France, those that remained were persecuted. England, the Dutch, and the Holy Roman Empire united in 1688 in the Grand Alliance to stop French expansion. This war ended in 1697 with the signing of the Treaty of Rijswijk. France lost part of its territory, and Louis lost public support. He was forced to recognize William of Orange as king of England. This went against his belief that the Stuarts had divine right to the throne. Charles II, the last Habsburg king of Spain died in 1700, and bequeathed his kingdoms to Louis' grandson, Philip of Anjou (Philip V). Although initially opposed to the inheritance, Louis finally went along with it in order to prevent Spain from falling into the hands of the Holy Roman emperor, Leopold I, who disputed Philip's claim. In the War of the Spanish Succession the anti-French alliance was reactivated by William of Orange. By 1709, France was near to losing all it had gained over the past century. Louis' private life was also a wreck: his son, two grandsons, and a great grandson died. Instead of breaking down as was expected, he held himself together. He bore not

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Race and Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Race and Religion - Essay Example He then illustrates the attitude the religious community had towards the black population as they were not accepted as Christians. Rather, the community placed the black people in an environment associated with inferiority and slavery. Furthermore, black people are wrongly associated with the mark of Cain, which was falsely used to misrepresent these individuals as cursed. Father Brown states that traditionally in Exodus, the Jews would cry and tell their trials and tribulations to God who would come down to help them. Brown states that the white American religious denomination also attempted to adopt the same culture. However, West Africans had other approaches when it came to interaction with God. Hence, in this perspective, Brown illustrates the differences that existed in the religious activities of different races. He also illustrates how black West African individuals had to adapt to the western principles of religion. Father Brown also states the discrimination that existed towards black people even in some rituals in the church. These individuals were prohibited from singing certain songs, which further shows how European Christianity made blacks inferior individuals. The attitude that existed towards the black Catholics at that time made these individuals attend other churches that gave them the possibility to express themselves and feel the Holy Spirit. Brown relates to the fact that individuals from other races such as the Germans during the fall of the Berlin wall also sang souls which helped them relate with the spirits. This shows the necessity of this element which was denied to the black populations in the earlier times. Brown also relates the oppression that the African Americans endured to the walls of Jericho. He states that the reason individuals during these times related to the song about Jericho was because it resembled the situation they were experiencing. The African Americans were