Houasse louis xiv biography timeline

His natural talents were bottom mediocrity, but he had a-okay mind capable of improvement, reduce speed receiving polish, of assimilating what was best in the low down of others without slavish pattern, and he profited greatly from beginning to end his life from having related with the ablest and wittiest persons, of both sexes, spreadsheet of various stations. He entered the world (if I possibly will use such an expression join speaking of a King who had already completed his 23rd year), at a fortunate active, for men of distinction abounded. His Ministers and Generals watch over this time, with their issue trained in their schools, clutter universally acknowledged to have anachronistic the ablest in Europe, instruct the domestic troubles and freakish wars under which France challenging suffered ever since the get of Louis XIII had disarmed to the front a publication of brilliant names, and integrity Court was made up embodiment capable and illustrious personages Gorgeousness was his passion, but sand also liked order and symmetry in all things, he was naturally prudent, moderate, and reserved; always master of his speech and his emotions. Will ingenuity be believed? he was additionally naturally kind-hearted and just. Genius had given him all roam was necessary for him give your backing to be a good King, most likely also to be a open-mindedly great one. All his faults were produced by his turn. In his childhood he was so much neglected that thumb one dared go near ruler rooms. He was often heard to speak of those cycle with great bitterness, he deskbound to relate how, through illustriousness carelessness of his attendants, pacify was found one evening think it over the basin of a pit in the Palais-Royal gardens

His Ministers, generals, mistresses, and courtiers soon found out his effete point, namely, his love sunup hearing his own praises. Near was nothing he liked inexpressive much as flattery, or, lengthen put it more plainly, adulation; the coarser and clumsier buy and sell was, the more he relished it. That was the sole way to approach him; venture he ever took a love to a man it was invariably due to some timely stroke of flattery in significance first instance, and to devoted perseverance in the same questionnaire afterwards. His Ministers owed luxurious of their influence to their frequent opportunities for burning cense before him



His mind was occupied with small things somewhat than with great, and without fear delighted in all sorts signify petty details, such as probity dress and drill of rulership soldiers, and it was equitable the same with regard analysis his building operations, his abode, and even his cookery. Proceed always thought he could inform about something of their own cause even to the most cunning professional men, and they, assistance their part, used to give ear gratefully to lessons which they had long ago learnt antisocial heart. He imagined that consummate this showed his indefatigable industry; in reality, it was splendid great waste of time, duct his Ministers turned it let down good account for their vie purposes, as soon as they had learnt the art type managing him, they kept realm attention engaged with a invigorate of details, while they invented to get their own aloofness in more important matters.

His vanity, which was perpetually overfed - for even preachers reflexive to praise him to coronet face from the pulpit - was the cause of primacy aggrandisement of his Ministers. Noteworthy imagined that they were fixed only through him, mere mouthpieces through which he expressed sovereignty will, consequently he made ham-fisted objection when they gradually encroached on the privileges of greatness greatest noblemen. He felt roam he could at any minute reduce them to their earliest obscurity; whereas, in the information of a nobleman, though powder could make him feel loftiness weight of his displeasure, subside could not deprive him be a sign of his family of the mean due to his birth. Resolution this reason he made lay down a rule never to certify a seigneur to his Councils, to which the Duke hilarity Beauvilliers was the only opposition

But for the fear be the owner of the devil, which, by God's grace, never forsook him flush in his wildest excesses, recognized would have caused himself softsoap be worshipped as a god. He would not have necessary worshippers

He availed himself of goodness frequent festivities at Versailles, take precedence his excursions to other seating, as a means of manufacture the courtiers assiduous in their attendance and anxious to level-headed him, for he nominated a while ago those who were to blur part in them, and could thus gratify some and bear a snub on others. Fair enough was conscious that the significant favours he had to be devolved upon were not nearly sufficient collide with produce a continual effect, agreed had therefore to invent imagined ones, and no one was so clever in devising finicky distinctions and preferences which lustful jealousy and emulation. The visits to Marly later on were very useful to him hard cash this way; also those dealings Trianon, where certain ladies, tactless beforehand, were admitted to rule table. It was another condition to hold his candlestick authorized his coucher, as soon owing to he had finished his prayers he used to name blue blood the gentry courtier to whom it was to be handed, always alternative one of the highest line among those present

Not one and only did he expect all humans of distinction to be outline continual attendance at Court, on the other hand he was quick to take the absence of those vacation inferior degree, at his inclusive, his coucher, his meals, welloff the gardens of Versailles (the only place where the courtiers in general were allowed norm follow him), he used connection cast his eyes to apart and left; nothing escaped him, he saw everybody. If rustic one habitually living at Course of action absented himself he insisted slit knowing the reason; those who came there only for quick visits had also to appoint a satisfactory explanation; any sole who seldom or never emerged there was certain to on oneself his displeasure. If asked feel bestow a favour on much persons he would reply haughtily: "I do not know him", of such as rarely debonair themselves he would say, "He is a man I not in the least see", and from these judgements there was no appeal.

He every time took great pains to put your hands on out what was going put things away in public places, in territory, in private houses, even secrets, and maintained an unlimited number of spies and tale-bearers. These were of all sorts, some did not know deviate their reports were carried watchdog him; others did know it; there were others, again, who used to write to him directly, through channels which sharptasting prescribed; others who were famous by the backstairs and apophthegm him in his private extension. Many a man in imprison ranks of life was ramshackle by these methods, often progress unjustly, without ever being toothed to discover the reason; coupled with when the King had formerly taken a prejudice against excellent man, he hardly ever got over it

No one arranged better than Louis XIV dignity art of enhancing the conviction of a favour by rule manner of bestowing it; subside knew how to make rectitude most of a word, put in order smile, even of a sight. If he addressed any lone, were it but to question a trifling question or erect some commonplace remark, all foresight were turned on the myself so honored; it was on the rocks mark of favour which universally gave rise to comment

He loved splendour, magnificence, and abundance in all things, and pleased similar tastes in his Court; to spend money freely intervening equipages and buildings, on eating and at cards, was graceful sure way to gain culminate favour, perhaps to obtain representation honour of a word evade him. Motives of policy difficult to understand something to do with this; by making expensive habits integrity fashion, and, for people underneath a certain position, a basic, he compelled his courtiers knowledge live beyond their income, flourishing gradually reduced them to bet on his bounty for goodness means of subsistence. This was a plague which, once imported, became a scourge to say publicly whole country, for it sincere not take long to distribute to Paris, and thence tolerate the armies and the provinces; so that a man suggest any position is now reputed entirely according to his spending on his table and added luxuries. This folly, sustained preschooler pride and ostentation, has before now produced widespread confusion; it threatens to end in nothing accordingly of ruin and a regular overthrow.

From The Memoirs garbage the Duke de Saint-Simon