Louis XIV, The Sun King

The year 1662, Louis XIV crossed the Bidassoa (border river between France and Spain) and married to Maria Theresa of Austria, Princess of Spain, his cousin. The Royal union was, as usual, a means to secure peace between France and Spain.

The Queen of France never learned French nor got integrated into the French society. She spent her life into the reduced Spanish world she created in her apartments, just having contacts with her Spanish camarera mayor and some religious zealots, drinking hot chocolate, eating garlic and playing with her dwarfs.

Although he didn't love her, Louis XIV used to sleep each and every night in her bed.

The most naive queen in the history had 6 children. Only one survived: the Great Dauphin, Louis who would become the father of Philippe 5, King of Spain and the great grand father of Louis XV, King of France.

She died in July of 1683, leaving almost almost no memories in the history of France except her selfishness, her refusal to get integrated into the French society and her childish character.

Seven o'clock AM

The Sun King is sleeping. The First valet de Chambre is waking up, prepares the ceremony that takes place invariably at 8 o'clock. Many gentlemen work in the room: those who open the curtains, those that give the King his shirt or his wig, etc. The largest part of them are nobles.

Eight o'clock AM

Until the year 1683, Louis XIV did not live in Versailles. So, the ritual of the Sun King's rising occurred in one of the following palates: the Louvre, Saint-Germain, Chambord or Fontainebleau...

8:00 AM, the Sun King opens his eyes. The first person who enters Louis XIV's private bedroom early in the morning wasn't his mother. Actually it was his nurse. Members of aristocracy did not raise their children nor did feed them even when they were babies. They paid nurses who used to feed the babies. This strongly tied those people. The children of these nurses were called "foster brother and sister".

After the visit of the nurse and the doctor as well as a first short prayer, the Sun King leaves his bed in order to "rise" in his official bedroom where the "Grand Lever" (Grand Rising) will take place.

Eight Thirty AM

It's the "Grand Lever". There is a multitude of spectators, both living in the castle and coming from the province who hope getting noticed by the Sun King and receive any benefit.

Those people hope to have the chance to talk to him. Indeed, Louis XIV offers the aristrocrats a precious document called "business patent". The business patent allows gentlemen the authorization to talk to the King - do not think this license enables the gentleman to do business with the King ; this is something completely different! It's only a way to ask for a privilege.

Those conversations take place in a special room; the lavatory where the king is sitting on his "business chair" (= doing his bodily needs). Our ancestors had less decency than we have and invited people to talk with them when they sat on this chair.

The next century will adopt the English lavatories and will also create a brand new room in the house: the dining room. But in the 17th century, people used to have conversations while doing their their bodily needs and used to eat in their bedroom.

Nine o'clock AM

The Sun King is having breakfast. Here's Louis XIV breakfast: bread, wine and broth. It's also time for his servants to shave and dress the King. Once dressed, he is going to have a short prayer, the second of the day.

Ten o'clock AM

The Sun King is working with his ministers. Louis works each day, including Sundays. Toussaint Rose takes note of every subject covered during the Council. What does Louis do during those daily Councils? He decides on the future of France, creates new taxes, he governs alone, the ministers being simple puppets.

Noon

Louis goes to the Mass. He will never fail at this task! When the monarchy is definitively settled in Versailles, the mass will be held in a temporary chapel until the construction of the magnificent chapel in the 1700s and will take place at 10 o'clock in the morning instead of noon.

However, before the settlement in Versailles and during the early years of his reign, the mass takes place the mass takes place in the most convenient area or in the closest church; for example when the King is installed in the Palace of Louvre, he attends the mass in the church of Saint-Germain (the Louvre has no chapel). It was also a big ceremony as the King had to leave the castle.

One o'clock PM

After the mass, the King dines alone in front of courtiers who look at him. At that time, the different meals were: breakfast (in the morning), dinner (at noon) and supper (in the evening).

It is a huge ceremony with a big number of different characters: guards, officers of mouth, etc. The most noble person has the right to give the King his towel in order for the King to clean his hand before eating. Six gentlemen serve the King and some of them have useless activities.

Because of the length of the ceremony the King always ate cold food.

Two o'clock PM

We know few things about the program of the King in the afternoon. Let's suppose he's in Madame de Montespan's apartment (or the one of any other royal mistress).

Three or four o'clock PM

King goes hunting. He loves outdoor activities as he's a man of action. And he likes hunting like any member of the aristocracy does.

When he doesn't go hunting, the king dances. In the 17th century, dance is not an entertainment; it is an art which is entire part of the aristocracy lifestyle. He also plays some roles in several "comedy-ballets" created by Moliere and Lully. Theatre is also an extremely "serious" activity in the Royal court of France.

Six o'clock PM

The evening program in Versailles will be fixed for years to come - for example: "apartment" every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. "Apartment" means playing cards or billiard. Before the court is definitively fixed in Versailles, it is hard to have an accurate estimation of his activities; which might be whether he studied the plans of Versailles with his architects, visited his mistresses, listened to some music or went to the ball, etc.

Ten o'clock PM

The King has supper with the Queen and the princesses.

11 PM or Midnight, he is going to sleep and the ceremonies of the morning are repeated in the reverse order.