11 October 2023
A Day in the Life of Louis XIV at Versailles
As you know, life at Versailles was dictated by etiquette and protocol. But what did a day in the life of Louis XIV actually look like? Let’s find out! In the heart of the Palace of Versailles just outside Paris lies the bedroom of His Majesty Louis XIV, King of France. All is still quiet in the nerve centre of French power, but this all changes when the first valet awakens the king, thus setting in motion the proceedings of daily Court Ritual. The king's daily schedule determines the rhythm and meaning of life at court: a lavishly staged play with Louis as its protagonist and director. His stage is the sumptuous château with its beautiful gardens, and the king's props and costumes are expensive and elegant. The aristocrats who live at court act as the audience and extras in his self-staged play. But the court ceremonial with which the king surrounds himself is much more than just a show-off. The absolute monarchy has stripped all the power from the nobles living at court and has locked them into the strictness of court ceremony.
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