Louis XIV gained power for himself and his national government through absolutism. Absolutism is unlimited power in government and society. In government to be an absolutist the king would have unlimited power in all forms of the government such as the legislative, judicial, executive, and revenues. As an absolutist Louis would have unlimited power in the society by controlling the economy and church. To control the church he would follow the divine right of kings, which goes along with absolutism in most cases, and be a figure to the people that is spoken through by God. “Louis XIV’s stress upon the Divine Right of Kings precluded …show more content…
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Louis XIV's reign abolished this system, creating nine cadet companies, each with an instructional staff for the benefit of the cadets. He built up the "strongest army in Europe and produced the best generals.” At the same time, beside from expanding French borders, the king succeeded in unifying his country, creating an aura of French nationalism. Louis XIV assembled the various French states, unifying them into the strong, independent nation of France. Critics of Louis XIV's absolute governing argue that the king restricted religious freedom, and was in opposition to the doctrines of the Pope. In 1685, the king revoked the Edict of Nantes, which gave Protestants the right to practice their religion freely, without the threat of persecution “Not since the early decades of Louis XIV’s reign had the army been so important in establishing the states …show more content…
. . . we have resolved to establish a council particularly devoted to commerce, to be held every fortnight in our presence, in which all the interests of merchants and the means conducive to the revival of commerce shall be considered and determined upon, as well as all that which concerns manufactures.”
“We desire, in the present letter, not only to inform you concerning all these things, but to require you, as soon as you have received it, to cause to be assembled all the merchants and traders of your town of Marseilles, and explain to them very particularly our intentions in all matters mentioned above, in order that, being informed of the favorable treatment which we desire to give them, they may be the more desirous of applying themselves to