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THE ABSOLUTE MONARCHY IN FRANCE |
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LINK TO... ABSOLUTE MONARCHY |
  The legacy of centralizing governmental power in one place in the hands of one man has deep roots in France. As early as the eighth century A.D. a large portion of Europe, including what is now France and Germany, was ruled by Charlemagne, King of the Franks. He maintained power by military might and was recognized by the Catholic Church as the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire in a famous ceremony in 800 A.D. Even though Charlemagne's empire fell apart when he died, the power of the king gradually grew until it reached its apex during the reign of the Bourbon king, Louis XIV, in the late 1600s and early 1700s. Louis was the single most powerful individual in Europe during his time, and he ruled by divine right, or the belief that his power was ordained by God. His ministers controlled the local areas, extracting taxes for Louis' many expensive wars. In contrast, by the late 1600s the English Parliament had gained much power, and the limited monarchy was well established by the time of William and Mary, brought to power in 1688. The Absolute Monarchy continued in France through the reign of Louis XV and the ill-fated time of Louis XVI. Find out more about Louis XVI, the "Sun King." Or, who was the Man in the Iron Mask, anyway?
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