AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
Louis XIV, France and Europe, 1643– 1715 (A-level only) – France defeated,…
Full specification wording
2F The Sun King: Louis XIV, France and Europe, 1643– 1715 (A-level only) – France defeated, 1697–1715: The legacy of Louis XIV by 1715: the last years of the reign; the problem of the succession; the annulment of the King’s will and the formation of the regency of Orleans
Louis XIV’s final years were marred by military defeat, severe famine, and crippling state debt, leaving a complex legacy by 1715.
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 4 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Louis XIV’s final years were marred by military defeat, severe famine, and crippling state debt, leaving a complex legacy by 1715. The succession became a critical problem following a series of tragic deaths within the royal family, leaving his fragile five-year-old great-grandson, Louis XV, as the direct heir. To protect his legacy and limit the power of his nephew, Philippe, Duke of Orleans, Louis XIV drafted a will establishing a regency council heavily influenced by his legitimised sons. However, immediately after the King's death, Orleans successfully appealed to the Parlement of Paris to annul the will. In exchange for restoring the Parlement's right of remonstrance, Orleans secured full powers as sole Regent, fundamentally altering the political structure Louis XIV had meticulously built.
What earns the marks
- Assess the socio-economic and financial crises characterising the last years of Louis XIV's reign, including the impact of the War of the Spanish Succession.
- Explain the dynastic crisis caused by the premature deaths of the Grand Dauphin, the Duke of Burgundy, and the Duke of Brittany.
- Analyse the stipulations of Louis XIV's will, specifically his attempt to empower his legitimised sons to constrain the Duke of Orleans.
- Evaluate the political manoeuvring by the Duke of Orleans to annul the will through the Parlement of Paris and establish his regency.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Assuming Louis XV was Louis XIV's son.
Put it right: Louis XV was actually his great-grandson, which exacerbated the vulnerability of the succession.
Claiming the Duke of Orleans was excluded from the regency entirely.
Put it right: Louis XIV's will made him head of a regency council, but severely limited his independent authority.
Stating that the Parlement of Paris annulled the will out of loyalty to Louis XIV.
Put it right: They did so because Orleans promised to restore their political power of remonstrance.
Exam tips
- Link the domestic struggles of the last years, such as famine and debt, to the broader assessment of Louis XIV's overall legacy as the 'Sun King'.
- Use the annulment of the will to demonstrate the fragility of absolute monarchical power immediately following the death of a strong ruler.
- Discuss how the restoration of the right of remonstrance to the Parlement of Paris sowed the seeds for future conflicts between the Crown and the nobility.
Try the lesson
The start of the 2F The Sun King: Louis XIV, France and Europe, 1643– 1715 (A-level only) – France defeated, 1697–1715: The legacy of Louis XIV by 1715: the last years of the reign; the problem of the succession; the annulment of the King’s will and the formation of the regency of Orleans lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
What was the primary cause of the succession crisis in France during the final years of Louis XIV's reign?
Listen
Louis XIV’s final years were marred by military defeat, severe famine, and crippling state debt, leaving a complex legacy by 1715. The succession became a critical problem following a series of tragic deaths within the royal family, leaving his fragile five-year-old great-grandson, Louis XV, as the direct heir. To protect his legacy and limit the power of his nephew, Philippe, Duke of Orleans, Louis XIV drafted a will establishing a regency council heavily influenced by his legitimised sons. However, immediately after the King's death, Orleans successfully appealed to the Parlement of Paris to annul the will. In exchange for restoring the Parlement's right of remonstrance, Orleans secured full powers as sole Regent, fundamentally altering the political structure Louis XIV had meticulously built. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Assess the socio-economic and financial crises characterising the last years of Louis XIV's reign, including the impact of the War of the Spanish Succession. Explain the dynastic crisis caused by the premature deaths of the Grand Dauphin, the Duke of Burgundy, and the Duke of Brittany. Analyse the stipulations of Louis XIV's will, specifically his attempt to empower his legitimised sons to constrain the Duke of Orleans. Evaluate the political manoeuvring by the Duke of Orleans to annul the will through the Parlement of Paris and establish his regency. Exam tip: Link the domestic struggles of the last years, such as famine and debt, to the broader assessment of Louis XIV's overall legacy as the 'Sun King'.
Key words
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Dynastic fragility and succession
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Absolutism and its limitations
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The resurgence of noble and parliamentary power
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Socio-economic crisis in early modern France
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See every definition
- Dynastic fragility and succession
- A critical problem arose from a series of tragic deaths within the royal family, leaving a fragile five-year-old great-grandson as the direct heir.
- Absolutism and its limitations
- The annulment of the will demonstrated the fragility of absolute monarchical power immediately following the death of a strong ruler.
- The resurgence of noble and parliamentary power
- Orleans appealed to the Parlement of Paris to annul the will, restoring its right of remonstrance in exchange for full powers as sole Regent.
- Socio-economic crisis in early modern France
- The final years were marred by military defeat, severe famine, and crippling state debt, leaving a complex legacy by 1715.
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