Introduction: The Sunset of Absolutism

The death of Louis XIV in 1715 marked more than the end of an exceptionally long reign; it signaled the beginning of the French monarchy's long decline toward revolutionary destruction. The seventy-four years between the Sun King's death and the Revolution witnessed repeated attempts to reform a system whose contradictions had become increasingly apparent. Yet each effort at reform, whether financial, administrative, or social, foundered on the resistance of privileged groups whose interests were threatened by change. The monarchy that had seemed omnipotent under Louis XIV proved incapable of reforming itself when reform became essential for survival.

This period encompasses two full reigns—Louis XV (1715-1774) and the early years of Louis XVI—characterized by starkly different personalities but similar fundamental problems. Both kings inherited a system designed for an absolute monarch of exceptional ability and dedication, yet neither possessed Louis XIV's commanding presence or work ethic. Both faced financial crises that required fundamental reforms, yet neither could overcome the institutional and social obstacles to change. Both presided over periods of remarkable cultural and intellectual achievement that paradoxically undermined the very foundations of royal authority.

Understanding this period requires examining not just the monarchy's failures but also the broader transformations in French society that made traditional absolutism increasingly anachronistic. The Enlightenment's challenge to inherited authority, the emergence of public opinion as a political force, the growing sophistication of financial markets, and the rising aspirations of the bourgeoisie all created pressures that the unreformed monarchy could not accommodate. The tragedy of the later Bourbons lay not in their personal inadequacies—though these were real—but in their inability to adapt an inflexible system to a rapidly changing world.