The French Monarchy

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The French Monarchy

J. B. Bossuet wrote that there are four essential characteristics of

an absolute monarchy. They are, "First, royal authority is sacred.

Second, it is paternal. Third, it is absolute. And fourth, it is

subject to reason." These four features of absolutism can bee observed

in the Bourbon Dynasty of France. The reigns of Henry IV and Louis XIV

proved repeatedly that Bossuet's statement truly reflected absolute

monarchy. Each of Bossuet's four ideas on absolute monarchy can be

seen in the actions and lives of the Bourbons.

"Royal authority is Sacred." Absolute rulers believed that they were

given their kingdom through Divine Right, or the approval of God, that

they are, as Bossuet declared, "Anointed of the Lord," or God's agents

on Earth. The Bourbons truly believed that their power came from God

and the only institution beyond their influence was God Himself. By

claiming Divine Right, the Bourbon kings had theological backing for

their reigns.

"Royal Authority is Paternal." Bossuet and other philosophes viewed

that the absolute monarch is a father figure to his subjects, and his

subjects were expected to act as children towards the monarch. During

the time of the Bourbons, children were expected to be obedient

towards the king. This idea of subordination allowed Louis XIV to

continue to tax the peasantry to support his wars and allowed for both

Louis and Henry IV to maintain overall stability within France. As Sir

Robert Filmer wrote, "As the father over one family, so the king over

many families…" In other words, it was thought that the king knew,

like a father with his children, what was best for his su...

... middle of paper ...

...to the equity of the laws…but they are not subject to the

penalties of the laws." The Bourbon kings followed that idea. They

generally tried to follow the laws of France, however if the laws did

not suit them, they would ignore the consequences of not following

them. This is the idea of absolute monarchy: That nothing holds a king

back and that actions taken by the king can be excused for raison

d'etat, or "Reason of state."

The Bourbon Dynasty was the last set of absolute rulers in France.

They fit the four characteristics that Bossuet described; they

acknowledged their Divine Right, they made themselves appear to be a

patriarch to their society, their rule was absolute, and they followed

the laws of the land when it suited them. The French monarchy was the

ideal monarchy, and defined what an absolute monarchy is.

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