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Essay on Baroque
During the seventeenth century in Europe many different systems of government existed. These differing forms of government ranged from despotism, like the Habsburgs in Germany, to democracy, like the Italian city state, Venice. In some cases theses two distinct forms of government would come into conflict, such as in the English Revolution; which pitted King James’s absolute monarchy verses the Parliament’s republicanism. However, in France there was no conflict over which style of government to use; Louis XIV and absolutism reigned supreme. Absolutism or absolute monarchy is the form of government where the king possesses complete control of the government and people in his country, the king’s word is law. However, Louis XIV’s style absolutism differed from a traditional absolute monarchy. He was the most powerful person in his government, but some power still existed in his advisers, ministers, and the vast bureaucracy which he created. Louis XIV’s style absolutism had, for the most part, a positive influence on France in the seventeenth century.
Louis XIV’s brand of absolutism, constructed an effective government bureaucracy in France. Louis’s bureaucracy started with the division of France’s government into committees, subcommittees of the councils, and bureaus run by various ministers and secretaries of state. In Science and Rationalism in the Government, James E. King states that Louis’s government was actually run by many governments, The so-called military government of the King was exercised by royal governors in thirty-seven governments. Underneath the governors there was another extensive bureaucracy, Below the governor were usually four or five lieutenant-generals and, beneath them, governors of local places, cities or royal Chateaux.
To make sure that his government ran like a well oiled machine, Louis XIV used intendants to watch over officials, report on their actions, and in necessary take over their posts. With this framework, Louis XIV was able to run France efficiently. The efficiency of France’s tax collection system, which had a bureaucracy of tax collectors in twenty-six different districts, helped France gain economic stability.......
