Louis XIV, Bousset’s Political Treatise, and Duc Saint-Simon
Louis the XIV was probably one of the most extravagant kings of his time.
He adored expensive things and compared himself to Apollo the Sun God, one his most favorite things. Today still, he is known as the Sun King.
In Boussuet’s political treatise, he remarks on who kings are established by God.
(Portrait of Bossuet)
Louis the XIV seems to have taken this advice to heart when you look at his reign at the time and his clothing, and especially his palace Versailles. Yet, even though kings are meant to be ordained by God and given that power, Boussuet says they should not regard themselves as masters of that power to use at their pleasure.
In Duc Saint-Simon’s account of The Court of Louis XIV, he claimed that Louis XIV loved nothing more than hearing his own praises, and he delighted in petty details and vanity.
(Portrait of Duc Saint-Simon)
His influence and love for this lifestyle, led his courtiers to live beyond their income and drove him to ruin. It seems to me that Duc Saint-Simon’s account of Louis XIV and his court is exactly everything a God-given king shouldn’t be, according to Bossuet. In any case, Louis the XIV definitely did not exercise his power with humility, that’s for sure. Although even if he was being overly florid, I’m sure no one would dare to challenge him.
