V.4. THE SUN KING, ANTI-CAPITALIST?

: 5.4. The Sun King anti-capitalist?

LOUIS XIV'S ENIGMAS:
BUILDING VERSAILLES AND OUTLAWING PROTESTANTISM 

The need to contain capitalism explains them.

The power that confirms itself then
also explains why France becomes 
Europe's most centralized state --
it still is 

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

The monarchy at the height of its power

• The new king taxes and spends   

• Versailles, a madman's palace ? 

• The logic of pharaonic expense  

• Did outlawing Protestantism bring capitalists to heel? 

• Detour: A faith specific to France

• Detour: Memories of persecution and wartime rescue of Jews

• The end of brakes on gain -- almost

*     *     *

Next,

The new king taxes and spends