-Claimed that he was "the living image and lieutenant of God on earth."
-He symbolized himself as the sun which shined on all of France and that its light was reflected and diminished as it passed through subordinate positions such as the nobility, clergy, officials and the Parlements.
-As a result of this, he held the belief that he was the head of the state, church and the social hierarchy.
Centralized Authority
- Louis worked systematically to centralize authority in the hands of the French crown.
- He reduced the power of the nobles through measures like: requiring them to live at court, forbidding them from building fortified castles
- He also weakened the power of the provincial parlements (law courts) by increasing the power of royal administrators known as intendants.
- His famous maxim "l'état, c'est moi" ("I am the state") epitomized his absolute power.
Versailles
- As a symbol of his absolute power and authority, Louis constructed the magnificent palace of Versailles.
- The palace reflected his grandeur, wealth, and dominance.
- It was a lavish showcase and hub for diplomatic affairs, royal gatherings, and cultural events, where the entire French nobility and high-ranking officials revolved around the king.
- The location of the court at Versailles also removed the king from potential centers of dissent, such as Paris, and reinforced the king's control over the administrative and political matters of France.
Art, culture and the arts
- Louis was an influential patron of the arts and culture.
- The court of Versailles became the hub for artistic and cultural patronage, where the king promoted and celebrated arts, literature, music, theater, architecture, and more.
- Louis promoted literature, art, and architecture that flattered and extolled his rule, presenting him as the patron and guarantor of cultural glory and prosperity.
- He used the arts to craft an image of himself as the epitome of cultural refinement, demonstrating the brilliance of his reign.