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The Age of Louis XIV
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Author:
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Durant, Will
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Set In . . .
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Iran, Middle East
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Genre:
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Other
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Time Frame:
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None
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Published:
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Description:
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From 1643 France exercised an almost hypnotic dominance over Western Europe, in politics until 1763, in language, literature, and art until 1815. No since Augustus had any monarchy been so adorned with great writers, painters, sculptors, and architects, or so widely admired and imitated in manners, fashions, ideas and arts as the government of King Louis XIV. Foreigners came to Paris as to a finishing school for all graces of body and mind. Many Italians, Germans, and even Englishmen preferred Paris over this native countries. In the long duel between Hapsburgs and the French Kings, the Bourbons won where the Valois had lost. Decade after decade some portion of the Empire fill to France, and Hapsburg Spain surrendered her pride and leadership at Rocroi and the Peace of the Pyranees. Thereafter the French state was teh strongest in Europe, confident in its resources, skills, loyalty of its people, strategy of its generals and the destiny of its King. For fifty years France would support and import genuises in science and letters, build colossal palaces, equip immense armies, frighten and inspire half the world. The Durants tell the amazing story of unprecedented glory, wealth, and power that came to be known as the Age of Louis XIV, Le Roi Soleil.
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