The Trial of Louis XIVLouis XIV is widely known as the king who was executed at the end of the French Revolution. The common public executed him for what they believed was treason, with a plethora of underlying, but unpopular, legal reasons. But does the failure of his reign as king justify his premature death? We have the opportunity to explore this further with reliable, modern and impartial facts, which ultimately deem Louis XIV innocent of the charges brought. The first accusation focuses on Louis XIV's absolutist rule over France and how it allegedly took away citizens' rights. Absolutism is the form of government in which one ruler controls everything. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original EssayAccording to Thomas Hobbes, the use of absolutism leads to a unified, powerful government in which it is the sovereign's duty to protect the people in exchange for complete submission. It is not done to take away the rights of the common people, but rather to have the common people assist the king in granting them their rights. Louis XIV's goal was to strengthen the power and economy of France, even if it meant sacrificing the rights of some. According to Hobbes, when a government is divided into branches (army, legislation, etc.) where separate individuals have control over different parts, a disagreement between them can cause a dysfunctional government since all branches are needed to fully function. When there is a single power, there can be no disagreement between the leaders of the branches, maintaining order in the state. Although Louis XIV was an absolutist monarch, he supported the long-term well-being of his people. Louis is also accused of spending tax money irresponsibly, which ultimately only benefited him. He is known for being the king who built the Palace of Versailles, which served as offices for bureaucrats, living quarters for royalty and nobility, and as a workplace for servants. It had many practical uses for the government and benefited many more people. Louis also used tax money to build new roads. This promoted trade and benefited the subjects. He also invested in national industry, to increase exports and further strengthen the French economy. Although he invested some money in art for personal reasons, most of the funds were pumped back into the economy. Finally, Louis is accused of hate crimes and discrimination against Huguenots, resulting from the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. This was an approved edict that allowed Huguenots to worship freely in 150 walled cities. According to the absolutist belief, a country must be united in every way to become as powerful as possible. This includes the religious beliefs that still divided Catholics from Huguenots in France. Louis forced Catholic baptism on all Huguenots and ordered them to convert completely. The existence of the Huguenot religion posed a risk for religious wars in France, causing mass bloodshed and negative economic impact. Louis was willing to sacrifice the well-being of a generation of Huguenots for the lasting well-being of France. Louis knew that the destruction of the Huguenot religion would lead to a unified and formidable nation. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Louis XIV was one of the greatest absolutist monarchs of all time. Contradicting common thought, he had the well-being of his subjects at heart. Louis XIV invested in markets that would benefit the French economy and built a multifunctional government workplace in Versailles, which created more jobs for the.
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