V.5. THE SUN KING, ANTI-CAPITALIST

5.5. SUN KING: ANTI-CAPITALIST

V.5. LOUIS XIV'S ENIGMAS: BUILDING VERSAILLES AND OUTLAWING PROTESTANTISM 

The need to contain capitalism explains them.

Louis XIV at the Siege of Douai, 1672 by Charles le Brun

The monarchy at the height of its power

• The new king taxes and spends 

• Other ways to unload funds

• The monarchy's string of palaces near Paris  

• Waterless Versailles

• The logic of pharaonic expense  

• Was outlawing Protestantism a way to bring capitalists to heel? 

• Detour: A faith specific to France

• Detour: memories of persecution and wartime rescue of Jews

• Controls on profit-seeking start to crack 

*     *     *

Next,

5.5.1.

The new king taxes and spends