Louis XIV, the "Sun King"
Using the Versailles Web Site to explore an Absolute Monarch

In this exercise, you are asked to explore the palace at Versailles, to learn about the rule of Louis XIV of France. You will be asked some factual questions and will also be asked to draw some conclusions based on the information given. The goal is for you to get a feel for what royal life was like for this "absolute monarch."

When you log in, go to http://www.chateauversailles.fr/

Click on "English" (even if you are fluent reading French)

Take a moment to look over the opening page. This shows how the site is organized. Notice the 8 categories, Places, People, Life, and Masterpieces in particular. If you "get lost" and click on "home," you'll return this way.

Click on "Places."
Observe the layout at the top for this section of the site.
Click on "Chateau."
When was Versailles built? ________________ Who had it built? ___________________
When did it become the official residence of the court of France? ___________________

Go to the bottom and click on "Next"
You should be at "State Apartments (Grands Appartements) and Hall of Mirrors."
What is the significance of the Grand Apartments having a theme of Seven Planets decorating its salons (rooms)? _________________________________________________________
What is the significance of the Hall of Mirrors, both then and later? ___________________________________________________________________
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Click on the symbol under the picture of the Hall of Mirrors. It may take a moment for the next page to load. When it does, enjoy the view. Experiment some with moving the picture around. Click and hold on it, seeing how to control the movement. What motivation do you think would a person have to build such a room? ___________________________________________________________________________
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Click on your "Back" button.
Go to the bottom and click on Next (King's Bedchamber and Private Apartments) .
Why do you think Louis XIV's bedchamber was the exact center of the chateau? ______________________________________________________________________
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Click on the symbol under the picture of the bedchamber. You'll have another panoramic view of this elaborate room. Notice the rows of seats around the bed (behind the railing). Why do you think they are there? ___________________________________________________________________
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Click on your "Back" button. Go near the bottom of the page and click on Louis XV's chocolate recipe.
Does it sound good? _________ How long should it be made ahead of serving? _____________________
Click on your "Back" button. Go to the bottom and click on Next (Chapel Royal and Opera).
Who is the Chapel Royal consecrated to? __________________________
Who is he? _________________________________________________
Near the top of the page, click on "People."
You should be at the page, "Louis XIV, the Sun King." Click on the picture of Louis in the Sun's Chariot.
What Greek god is he posing as? ______________________________
Click on "Back."
How old was Louis when he became king? _____________
How old was he when he began ruling alone? ______________
What were his first actions, which helped consolidate his power? ______________________________________________________________________
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Why did he exclude the grand nobles? _______________________________________________________________________
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What were three of his accomplishments in the "Century of Louis XIV?" _______________________________________________________________________
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Why did Louis XIV choose the sun as his emblem? What are some of the comparisons he wanted to make between himself and Apollo, the Sun God? ________________________________________________________________________
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Go to the bottom and click on Next (Louis XIV, An Absolute Monarch) .
Click on the portrait of Louis XIV.
Describe what you see. _________________________________________________________________________
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Click "Back."
What were three ways Louis controlled the nobility at Versailles? __________________________________________________________________________
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What does the phrase 'L'Etat, c'est moi' mean? (Hint: we saw it in our notes yesterday, and it's in this paragraph.) __________________________________________________________
What is one of the ways this statement was meant? __________________________________________________________
What does the phrase "monarch by divine right" mean? __________________________________________________________
In Louis XIV's final years, what threatened the balance of power in Europe, leading again to war? (Hint: the word "hegemony" means "domination.") __________________________________________________________
At the top of the page, click on "Life."
You should now be at the page, "A Day with the Sun King."
How many people attended the "full levee?" ________________________
It became more and more a special privilege to assist the Sun King with his daily rituals, including getting up in the morning, washing and combing him. Why would a French noble compete for this "honor?" _________________________________________________________________________
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How did this help Louis maintain control over his nobles? _________________________________________________________________________
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Reading through this page, you can see that Louis XIV had no privacy. How is this connected with his statement, "I am the State."? _________________________________________________________________________
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At the bottom of the page, click on Next (Versailles, Power, and Authority).
Click on the painting of Louis in Roman clothing.
Who is Louis supposed to resemble here? ______________________________-
The title of this painting is "The King Governs by Himself, Facing the Powers Neighboring France." Looking at the painting, how is this idea represented? __________________________________________________________________________
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Click "Back."
Why are so many royal emblems and paintings like this one at Versailles, the King's residence? __________________________________________________________________________
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What is the significance of touching the ill people? __________________________________________________________
At the bottom of the page, click on Next ( Courtiers ).
How many people went to Versailles on a daily basis? __________________
Name three ways that status in the court was shown. ___________________________________________________________________________
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At the bottom, click on Next (Festivities and Ceremonies).
Why was it important to have entertainment regularly? __________________________________________________________
Name four things Louis provided as entertainment. __________________________________________________________
At the bottom, click on Next (Royal Tables).
What was the "grand couvert?" __________________________________________________________
What time did the evening meal begin? ____________________________

On the rest of this page, discuss at least three ways that Louis XIV used the palace at Versailles to enhance or strengthen his authority and power as an absolute monarch. Give facts to back your statements.













































Copyright © 1999 Ellis Batson