Louis XIV declared his goal was '' one king, one law, one fait''. analyze the methods the king used to achive this objective and discuss the extent to which he was successful.
These sites will help you with that question.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XIV_of_France#Personal_reign_and_reforms
http://www2.stetson.edu/~psteeves/classes/louisxiv.html
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0830396.html
To analyze Louis XIV's methods and the extent of his success in achieving his goal of "one king, one law, one faith," we need to understand the context and the ways in which he implemented his policies.
Firstly, Louis XIV sought to consolidate his power as an absolute monarch by centralizing authority and reducing the influence of his nobles. To do this, he established a highly organized system of governance called absolutism. He appointed loyal and capable ministers to govern different regions of France and weakened the power of regional parliaments, ensuring that his commands would be carried out without opposition.
Another key method Louis XIV employed was the enforcement of a single law throughout his kingdom. He introduced a unified legal code known as the "Code Louis," which standardized legal procedures and ensured that his subjects would be subject to the same laws, regardless of their status or location. This helped to maintain stability and promote obedience to the king's authority.
Furthermore, in his pursuit of religious unity, Louis XIV aimed to reinforce Catholicism as the dominant faith in France. He revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685, which had previously granted religious freedom to French Protestants (Huguenots). This decision resulted in the forced conversion or emigration of many Huguenots, as well as the destruction of Protestant churches. By promoting Catholicism as the official and only accepted religion, Louis XIV attempted to suppress religious differences and strengthen his control over the population.
In terms of the extent of Louis XIV's success, he was mostly effective in achieving his goal of one king and one law. Through the establishment of absolutism and the centralization of power, Louis XIV ensured that his commands were often unquestioningly obeyed. He limited the influence of nobles and successfully maintained a strong grip on the governance of France. Similarly, the introduction of the Code Louis provided a standardized legal system that contributed to stability and uniformity throughout the kingdom.
However, his success in implementing one faith was limited. Although Louis XIV significantly weakened Protestantism in France through the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, he was unable to completely eradicate religious diversity. Some Huguenots remained in France practicing their faith covertly, and a significant number of Protestants chose to emigrate, leading to economic and cultural losses for the country. Additionally, religious divisions continued to exist among the population despite his efforts.
In conclusion, Louis XIV employed various methods, such as absolutism, the standardization of laws, and the suppression of Protestantism, in his quest for "one king, one law, one faith." Although he achieved success in terms of centralizing power and implementing a unified legal system, his efforts to establish religious unity had limited success.