Louis XIV

by John B. Wolf

Professor Wolf focuses on the problems of high politics and war, which intrigued Louis and were his instruments of power. Without ignoring the fact that Louis was also a son, husband, lover, and father―as well as king―he gives us a striking new image of Louis as “soldier administrator” and a vivid, accurate picture of the king’s impact on the military machine after 1691, his part in the drama of war and in the emergence of a new Europe. Although Louis XIV was a vitally important figure in European history, he has found no satisfactory biographer until now. The memorists, particularly Saint-Simon, have “fixed” the traditional image of Louis so firmly it is difficult to see him in any other light. John B. Wolf, challenging the myths and biases, has based this important study on Louis’ own documents, his diaries, decrees, and hundreds of the king’s letters from the archives at Vincennes (hereto-fore almost unexploited). He presents the king as he appeared to his ministers, his diplomats, and his soldiers, rather than to the gossips of his court.

Genres: Biography, History, France, Nonfiction

728 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for a seminar I took on Louis XIV, but honestly the book is great anyway. Even though it's non-fiction (and my Professor said it's probably one of the most fair accounts of Louis - he was a reasonably controversial monarch) it reads like historical fiction at times. The people really jump out at you and you get a clear idea of who Louis XIV was as a leader, a patron of the arts, and as a person.

Louis XIV, or The Sun King, ruled France for 72 years - the longest reigning monarch in European history. He inspired the art, literature, music and architecture of people like Mansart, Charles le Brun, Pierre Mignard, Saint-Simon, and Moliere. Louis XIV also had a fascinating and colorful personal life - the dude had a ton of mistresses and some of them were super crazy (ie: using witchcraft and sacrifice to try to win back his love). One of the most interesting aspects of Louis XIV was that he was raised from birth to do what was best for the glory of the realm of France. Wolf really goes into this, describing Louis mother, father, and the profound influence of Cardinal Mazarin on Young Louis.

I found myself reading chapters of this book that were not assigned for the class for pleasure. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in French or European history, art history, Versailles, or just history in general.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this excellent political biography on Louis XIV, Professor John B. Wolf focuses on the king's part in the development of French diplomacy, military strength, bureaucracy, and the rise of the European balance of power as the most important contributions of his reign. The author stresses the continuity in foreign policy between Cardinal Mazarin and Louis XIV. He professes that Louis XIV's wars were not begun simply for personal reasons for gloire, and that "Louis' wars often began with the same unwarranted optimism and shaky moral and political justifications that we find in the actions of other seventeenth-century monarchs" (p.xiv). Wolf addresses the importance of advisers in the formulation of foreign policy, and makes excellent use of his extensive archival research in the War Archives at Vincennes in his coverage of the many military campaigns. However, the author's discussion of diplomatic negotiations, strategy, and military operations dwells mainly on the Low Countries, the German states, and England to the detriment of the Italian states, Spain, and Portugal. The work includes fifty-one illustrations, five maps, and extensive notes.

[Stephen Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been my terrible misfortune all my life to hear the Sunk King mentioned only in terms of egomania, sordid lust, and general foppishness. It is to my great pleasure that I have discovered, by means of this book, the remedy to the dim views I once held.

The painstaking scholarship of Mr. Wolf has surely earned him a place in the ranks of great historians. The picture of les Roi which he paints is in no way gushing, yet he still conveys the grandeur, vision, and depth of personality of the king with utmost clarity.

[Phillip · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 / 5.0

Focuses on European Wars without any historical perspective or motivational analysis.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid biography of Louis XIV. Covers his key advisers and foreign war aims well, but a bit light on his relationship and dynastic goals of the the children/grandchildren who survived adulthood but did not outlive Louis.