Question

How did Louis XIV control the ambitions of the French nobility? How did his methods compare to those of Richeliue?

Answer 1

Hint: Louis XIV was the king of France from 1643 to 1715. He is known as one of the most important rulers to rule France. He made the central government far more stronger and successfully enhanced the role of central administration in the working of the empire.

Complete answer: The nobility is seen as the threat to any kingship as they are always eager to put out the lineage of the king and put their line of blood into the ruling class. Since the nobility have also been seen as those belonging to a higher bloodline, there wasn’t any opposition if one lineage replaced another. To oust the ruling king, it was needed to find issues with the incumbent ruler and to put them down or gather those who opposed the rule.
Louis XIV could achieve this by a very simple methodology. He made it necessary for the nobles to come to the palace in the Versailles which was also the capital of the empire and stay there. Not only did this efficiently make the workings of the nobles easily observable to the king, it was also like a house arrest but with all the luxury provided to the nobles.
This also started to habituate the nobility to the opulence of the throne and made them subservient to the benefits they received by being on the good side of the king.
This was a very effective way of controlling the ambitions of the French nobility and consequently strengthened the centre’s rule in the empire.

Note: Richelieu wanted to establish monarchical absolutism in the reign of the French empire as he found it necessary to maintain a strong hold. He believed in working hard for the administration, was a religious man against corruption and grew solely through his potential to the ranks of nobility.