Louis XIV: his domestic and foreign policies Essay

Louis XIV strove vigorously for supremacy in orthogonal affairs. He was to use his foreign policy to establish a common monarchy for himself or alternatively to use it to secure natural frontiers for France thus ameliorate its defenses. He worked successfully to fashion an absolutist and centralized state. During his reign Louis was refer in four major warfares, some of which Louis may be responsible as the provocateur however, I believe that mainly his motives were purely defensive. The war of Devolution served as a pretext which nettled him part of Flanders, although the Dutch then moved against him with the Triple Alliance. Louis was determined to crush Holland and this began the third of the Dutch wars, which depleted his treasury. Louis proved an incredibly extravagant spender, dispensing huge sums of money to finance the royal court. The following ten years the king limited his policies to diplomacy. Louis keep the nobilitys exemption from taxes but forced its member int o fiscal dependence to the crown and the provincial nobles also lost political power.Louis does allow a genuine concern for his country and despite his dubious methods he does manage to secure the territories that he wishes to secure. He curtailed local authorities and created vary ministries. Louiss grandson retained the Spanish throne but the war of Spanish Succession left France in great debt and a weakened military. Louis utilise the bourgeoisie to build his centralized bureaucracy. He illustrated new administrative methods to invent him more in control. Louiss general Colbert worked to improve the cut economy. Colbert worked to create a favorable balance of trade and increase Frances colonial holdings. He achieved a reputation for his work of improving the state of French manufacturing and bringing the economy back from the brink of bankruptcy.He reduced the discipline debt through more efficient taxation. His principal taxation devices included the aides, the douanes, t he gabelle, and the taille. Louis dog-tired so much money on luxury and wars France actually became more and more impoverished. The aggressive and opportunistic implementation of Louiss policies understandably persuaded those threatened by it that the kings intention was expansionist and his intentions unlimited. There had been acts of gratuitous emphasis as well which underlined the arrogance and ruthlessness of French conduct. In stopping point it seems that by the end of his reign the wars had placed him in a difficult and secure position in Europe yet his intention was non entirelyfor glory.