Louis XIV Pierre G

Louis XIV and Twenty Million Frenchmen

Pierre Goubert, author of Louis XIV and Twenty Million Frenchmen, is the President of the Societe de Demographie Historique and professor at the University of Nanterre. He previously wrote Beauvais et le Beauvaisis de 1600 a 1730, which is an important work in modern French history. His writing places the life, personality, and reign of Louis XIV in the context of the economic, social, and demographic characteristics of France between 1661 and 1715. Goubert's approach is that of an exploration of the relationship between a king and his people.

The book is written in an organized manner, following the chronology of Louis XIV's life. The main body of the book is preceded by a chapter describing conditions in France at the time that Louis XIV takes the throne and concludes with a summary chapter entitled, "Louis XIV: The Universal Man." This logical format is highly readable and moves in a reasonable manner. As Goubert describes each time period in Louis XIV's life, he stops to explore changes in the economy and culture which influenced events involving Louis XIV. This broad, rich approach to history gives the reader a deeper understanding of a man in a complex interrelationship with the French people and the conditions of the time. Goubert also includes an outline of significant dates and happenings and an appendix of French terms necessary to an understanding of the text.

The theme of the work is Louis XIV's passion for glo

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cts and intuitions came directly from heaven. He reorganized his government to suit his masterful style. He completely abolished the office of the prime minister. He dismissed all of the King's Council, except Le Tellier, Lionne, and Fouquet, who was soon replaced by Colbert. These men were of humble birth, wide experience, and proven loyalty. All important matters of state were decided by these men, and every signature required the king's approval (65). From ages twenty-three to thirty-five, Louis encountered no obstacle to his pursuit of glory that he could not easily overcome, ignore, or get around (79). The court was essentially nomadic, moving from chateau to chateau, escorted by an army of "coaches and carriages bearing furniture, candlesticks, wardrobes, penholders, the Great Seal, records, boots, ministers and grooms" (79). Living was loose. The court knew little of long hours of work, instead enjoying a hunt, tournament, fireworks display, ballet, or a water picnic. In 1661 Louis led a tournament between the Louvre and the Tuileries in the presence of three queens and 15,000 distinguished persons from every corner of Europe. Other entertainments included the comedies of Moliere or music of Lully (80). The youn

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