The Enlightened King: Louis XV and the Age of Enlightenment

The Enlightened King: Louis XV and the Age of Enlightenment provides a detailed exploration of the reign of Louis XV, one of France's most complex and controversial monarchs. The book delves into the political, intellectual, and social challenges faced by Louis XV during a period of profound transformation in France. It examines the king's attempts to navigate the shifting currents of the Enlightenment while managing the declining fortunes of his monarchy. Despite efforts at reform, including his struggles with the Parlement of Paris and the financial crisis caused by costly wars, Louis XV's reign is marked by military failures, personal indulgences, and resistance from the rising forces of intellectual and political change. Through a close analysis of key historical events, figures, and philosophical movements, the book highlights Louis XV's interactions with Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau, whose critiques of absolute monarchy and calls for reform resonated with the French intellectual elite. The book also examines the growing influence of public opinion, the rising power of the nobility, and the king's failure to adapt to these changes. By the end of his reign, the stage was set for the collapse of the ancien régime, and Louis XV's legacy is ultimately one of transition—an era of royal decline that paved the way for revolution. This book offers a comprehensive understanding of Louis XV's reign, shedding light on the personal, political, and cultural forces that led to the downfall of the French monarchy and the rise of revolutionary ideals.