Source:
Louis XIV et le second voyage de la reine Christine de Suède à travers l'Allemagne, at traces-ecrites.com (photos dated November 4, 2020)
"La reine Christine de Suède faisait alors une seconde tentative pour retourner en Suède depuis Rome, en passant par l'Allemagne, pour faire valoir ses droits à la couronne. Le voyage, de 1666 à 1668, sera un échec et elle devra retourner à Rome, grâce à l'aide de son grand ami et amour le fameux cardinal Azzolini.
Louis XIV écrivit ce même jour, directement à Christine de Suède, pour lui assurer son soutien dans ce voyage risqué..."
"Queen Kristina of Sweden was then making a second attempt to return to Sweden from Rome, via Germany, to assert her rights to the crown. The journey, from 1666 to 1668, was a failure, and she had to return to Rome, thanks to the help of her great friend and love, the famous Cardinal Azzolino.
Louis XIV wrote that same day, directly to Kristina of Sweden, to assure her of his support in this risky journey..."
The letter:
Mon cousin je scai ce que vous auies contribué aux offres que la Reyne Christine madame ma Seur m'a faites sur son voyage d'allemagne, et comme dans la constitution presente des affaires de ce pays lá rien ne m'en plus important que les effets que jen puis attendre cest vn seruice par lequel vous merités beaucoup envers moy. jai bien voulu vous tesmoigner par ces lignes de ma propre main le sentiment que jen ai et attendant loccasion de vous le faire mieux paroistre je prie dieu quil vous ayt mon cousin en Sa s[ain]te et digne garde. escrit a s[ain]t germain en laye le 28 may
1666louis
With modernised spelling:
Mon Cousin,
Je sais ce que vous aviez contribué aux offres que la reine Christine, Madame ma Sœur, m'a faites sur son voyage d'Allemagne; et comme dans la constitution présente des affaires de ce pays-là rien ne m'en plus important que les effets que j'en puis attendre, c'est un service par lequel vous méritez beaucoup envers moi.
J'ai bien voulu vous témoigner par ces lignes de ma propre main le sentiment que j'en ai; et, attendant l'occasion de vous le faire mieux paraître, je prie Dieu qu'il vous ait, mon Cousin, en sa sainte et digne garde. Écrit à Saint-Germain-en-Laye, le 28 mai
1666.
Italian translation (my own):
Cugino mio,
Io so quanto avete contribuito alle offerte che la regina Cristina, madama mia Sorella, mi ha fatto nel suo viaggio in Alemagna; e poiché nella costituzione presente degli affari di quel paese nulla è più importante per me degli effetti che posso aspettarmi da essa, è un servizio per il quale meritate molto nei miei confronti.
Sono stato disposto a testimoniarvi con queste righe di mia propria mano il sentimento che ho a riguardo; e, aspettando l'opportunità di farvelo apparire meglio, prego Dio che vi abbia, Cugino mio, nella sua santa e degna guardia. Scritto a Saint-Germain-en-Laye, 28 maggio
1666.
Swedish translation (my own):
Min Kusin,
Jag vet vad Ni har bidragit till de erbjudanden som drottning Kristina, madam min Syster, har gjort mig på sin resa till Tyskland; och som i den nuvarande konstitutionen för det landets angelägenheter ingenting är viktigare för mig än de effekter som jag kan förvänta mig av det, så är det en tjänst genom vilken Ni förtjänar mycket mot mig.
Jag har varit villig att betyga för Er genom dessa rader från min egen hand den känsla jag har om det; och i väntan på möjligheten att få det att framstå som bättre för Er, ber jag Gud att han har Er, min Kusin, i sin heliga och värdiga bevaring. Skrivet i Saint-Germain-en-Laye, den 28 maj
1666.
English translation (my own):
My Cousin,
I know what you have contributed to the offers that Queen Kristina, Madame my Sister, has made me on her journey to Germany; and as in the present constitution of the affairs of that country nothing is more important to me than the effects that I can expect from it, it is a service by which you deserve much towards me.
I have been willing to testify to you by these lines from my own hand the sentiment that I have about it; and, waiting for the opportunity to make it appear better to you, I pray God that He have you, my Cousin, in His holy and worthy keeping. Written at Saint-Germain-en-Laye, May 28,
1666.
Above: Kristina.
Above: Cardinal Decio Azzolino.
Above: King Louis XIV of France.
Note: In accordance with the nobility's ideals in the early modern era, kings and queens considered themselves siblings; when talking to someone of a lower rank than their own, they would refer to that person as "my cousin", regardless of whether or not they were related.
FAQs
The foundation of the Royal Academy of Sciences in 1666 was a further expression of Louis XIV's determination to place culture and knowledge at the heart of his model of absolute power.
What was the statement made by King Louis XIV where he declared? ›
L'État, c'est moi ("I am the state", lit. "the state, that is me") is an apocryphal saying attributed to Louis XIV, King of France and Navarre. It was allegedly said on 13 April 1655 before the Parlement of Paris.
What was French King Louis XIV's famous quote? ›
Louis XIV claimed that he was the direct representative of God, and therefore had absolute power in his kingdom. His most famous quote is "I am the state!", which shows his belief that whatever he wanted to happen, that was what the country needed to do.
What was the Code of Louis was Louis XIV's attempt to do? ›
Called the most monstrous legal document of modern times (Louis Sala-Molins), the Code Noir was passed by Louis XIV in 1685 in Versailles to define the conditions of slavery in the French colonial empire.
What style is Louis XIV? ›
The Louis XIV style or Louis Quatorze (/ˌluːi kæˈtɔːrz, - kəˈ-/ LOO-ee ka-TORZ, - kə-, French: [lwi katɔʁz]), also called French classicism, was the style of architecture and decorative arts intended to glorify King Louis XIV and his reign.
How did Louis XIV change the world? ›
In that time, he transformed the monarchy, ushered in a golden age of art and literature, presided over a dazzling royal court at Versailles, annexed key territories and established his country as the dominant European power.
What did King Louis XIV accomplish? ›
With the help of Colbert, he oversaw the administrative and financial reorganisation of his realm, and also set up manufactures and worked to boost trade. With Louvois he reformed the army and enjoyed a string of military victories. After 72 years on the throne, Louis XIV died on 1 September 1715.
How did King Louis XVI respond to the Declaration? ›
At the outset of the Revolution, Louis XVI adopted a pro-reform stance. But the King was indecisive and reluctant to ratify the texts proclaiming the abolition of privileges and the Declaration of the Rights of Man, promulgated shortly after the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789.
What resulted from Louis XIV? ›
He thus became one of the most powerful French monarchs and consolidated a system of absolute monarchy in France that endured until the French Revolution. Louis also enforced uniformity of religion under the Catholic Church.
What did Louis XIV say that he had loved too much on his deathbed? ›
Louis himself on his deathbed said, “I have loved war too much,” but his subjects, who often complained of his prudence and moderation, would not have understood had he not used force to strengthen the frontiers of France.
He wanted to make the biggest possible statement and what he ended up with was Versailles: a palace designed to glorify the French monarch by incorporating both ornate Baroque decoration that amply demonstrates his wealth and glory and the stricter rules of classicism that express his intellectual and cultural stature.
What message does the Palace of Versailles send about Louis XIV? ›
“The most important message Louis XIV sent through the architecture of Versailles was his ultimate power. He is an absolute monarch, untouchable and distinct. But, even more than that, he is the Sun King.”
What did Louis the 14th do bad? ›
He was a religious bigot.
The coup de grâce came in 1685, when, in revoking the nearly century-old Edict of Nantes, he stripped them of all religious and civil liberties. Hundreds of Huguenots who continued practicing their religion were put to death and at least 200,000 others fled France for more tolerant lands.
How many wives did Louis the 14th have? ›
Louis XIV had two wives. He married Maria Theresa of Spain in 1660 and remained married to her until her death in 1683. His second wife was Francoise d'Aubigne, also known as the Marquise de Maintenon, whom he married in 1683.
What religion did Louis XIV practice? ›
Like his predecessors Henri IV and Louis XIII, Louis XIV wanted to see France achieve religious unity. Although he was a devout Catholic, he resented the Pope's efforts to control the French Church.
What major things did Louis XIV do? ›
With the help of Colbert, he oversaw the administrative and financial reorganisation of his realm, and also set up manufactures and worked to boost trade. With Louvois he reformed the army and enjoyed a string of military victories. After 72 years on the throne, Louis XIV died on 1 September 1715.
What did Louis XVI do in the revolution? ›
At the outset of the Revolution, Louis XVI adopted a pro-reform stance. But the King was indecisive and reluctant to ratify the texts proclaiming the abolition of privileges and the Declaration of the Rights of Man, promulgated shortly after the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789.
What did Louis XIV do when he was in power? ›
In the early part of his reign, Louis worked with his finance minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to tighten central control over the country, reviving the use of regional royal officials, 'intendants' and carrying out other financial and administrative reorganisation. Louis also expanded the French army and navy.
What was Louis XVI wanted for? ›
The trial of Louis XVI—officially called "Citizen Louis Capet" since being dethroned—before the National Convention in December 1792 was a key event of the French Revolution. He was convicted of high treason and other crimes, resulting in his execution. "Louis the Last" being cross-examined by the convention.
