If it only had two or three hours of daily work, the day of Louis XIV was rigorously organized and suffered no whimsy. Saint Simon wrote about the Sun King:"with an almanac and a watch, one could tell three hundred leagues from here what he was doing". In the three main rooms of the government:the Cabinet du Conseil, the Oeil de Bœuf salon and the royal bedroom, the King's day was well prepared and organized by the officers provided for this purpose. From getting up to going to bed, he followed a strict and regulated schedule...
The King's long awakening
The ceremonial rising and setting of the king, as well as the dinner at the small table and the supper at the large table were a monarchical ritual where the king appeared in public, catching the eye and collecting tributes. In the meantime, the pious King attended mass, settled the affairs of State during the various councils, took advantage of his afternoon to walk in the park of Versailles or go hunting and spent a few moments in private to sign documents, before end the evening with his family.
Let's sneak among the courtiers and spend a day with him...but hush...the King is still sleeping!
7:30 a.m. – 8 a.m.:"Sire, it's time", the First Valet wakes the King, by opening the curtains, the fire is lit, the remains of the snack from the day before cleared. The courtiers wait in the antechambers. The Little Lever begins. The king is washed, combed and shaved (every other day), he chooses his wig, while the doctors, familiars and some favorites of the Grand Entrances enter the room. Then comes the turn of the holders of the great offices of the Chamber and the Garde Robe to attend the Grand Lever during which the King is dressed and where he consumes a broth. The most important personages of the kingdom are admitted to this ceremony. Then finally, it is the presentation of the shirt, reserved in principle for the dolphin; in his absence, the dukes of Burgundy, Berry or Orléans replaced him. The king finishes getting ready with his sword and the blue ribbon of the Holy Spirit.
10 am:the passage of the King:a procession forms at the exit of the King's apartment towards the Gallery Mirrors and the Chapel. All the courtiers are present to see him. Some may talk to him quickly or slip him a written note. The king politely replies to everyone “I will see”. Finally, he moved to the gallery of the Royal Chapel to attend mass for thirty minutes. The choir of the "Music Chapel" sings a new work every day composed by Lully and many other artists, such as Delalande.
Louis XIV holds council
11 a.m. at work:back in his apartment, the King takes advice. Every day of the week, a different piece of advice…and no weekends! Sundays and Wednesdays take place the Council of State or Council “from above”, Tuesdays and Saturdays are devoted to the Royal Council of Finances, finally on Mondays and Fridays an additional Council of State can replace a Council of dispatches in other words, internal affairs where correspondence with the administrators of the provinces was covered; Also on Fridays, there is a Council of Conscience or Religious Affairs with the Archbishop of Paris. Thursday left the day for audiences, official or semi-public. During the Councils for Home Affairs, the King can follow the progress of the work programs. Five or six ministers work with him, he speaks little, listens a lot and always decides last.
1 p.m.:the meal, not so private as that:in his room, facing the middle window, the King eats alone. The meal is private in principle, but Louis XIV admits all the men of the Court, those present at the Lever who remain standing. Three courses are offered, five to seven dishes each.
A relaxing afternoon
2 p.m.:moments of relaxation:the King can indulge in a walk, which is done on foot or in a horse-drawn carriage with the ladies of the court, in the gardens; either he goes shooting in the park or running in the surrounding forests, depending on the orders he gave in the morning.
6 p.m.:some “paperwork” to settle:his secretary having written a certain number of letters, the king signs them. In Madame de Maintenon's time, he joined her from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., in her apartments where he could study some important file with one of her four secretaries. Often Louis XIV let his son preside over indoor entertainment, such as apartment parties.
10 p.m.:evening meal:courtiers flock to the antechamber of the Oeil de Boeuf to attend the Grand Couvert dinner. The King at the table is surrounded by members of the royal family. When he has finished eating, he crosses his room to greet the ladies of the court who are in the living room. Finally, he joins his relatives in his office to enjoy it more freely. He plays a game of billiards and plays with the little ones. The children, grandchildren, the first valets de chambre had their "entrances from behind", not entering through the antechambers.
11:30 p.m.:finally we fall asleep:Bedtime. The ritual is essentially the same as when getting up, but in the reverse order of entries. Then comes the ceremony of the candlestick:the king appoints a courtier who would approach the candlestick… the next day, the whole court comments on this royal favour. Finally, he says his prayers, the room empties, the king can sleep.
To go further
- History of Versailles by Jean François Solnon. Tempus, 2003
- This was Versailles by Alain Decaux. Tempus, 2007.