What did Louis XIV and Peter the Great have in common?
Louis XIV and Peter the Great had many similarities within power, ambition, and their growth. Both rulers were able to rise to power as autocrats. Louis XIV main goal was to expand France in territory and cultural value. Louis XIV built many historical buildings, including the Palace of Versailles to mark France’s power. Peter the Great’s main goal was to advance Russia intro a new era, by increasing their economical status, military, and power. Peter the Great also built historical buildings, once notably being St. Petersburg to demonstrate power and the nobility of the people. As well as he also reorganized the Russian military and created the Russian Navy. Although Louis XIV and Peter the Great had absolute power as autocrats, they were also absolutist.
What did each monarch deal with those who resisted their attempt to impose absolutist rule?
Both rulers needed zero consent to order over the people. The people of Russia felt that Peter the Great was making Russia too “western”, even the military, as he ordered them to shave to match European style. Louis XIV faced the backlash of taxing, which the people felt unfair, the fall of the Protestant population, and draining the resources and money of the country. The people resisted the idea of rule that was against the people’s will.
And finally, which ruler do you feel was more of an absolute monarch and why?
I believe both were absolute monarchs, as they both had great failures, but accomplished a lot for their countries that would establish them culturally, economically, and military wise. Despite a lot of their choices being looked down on, and many who targeted their rule as the center of problems.