The king of France was the most successful of all the European kings in perfecting absolute monarchy.

Two great ministers, Cardinal Richelieu, and Cardinal Mazarin, built up the power of the crown, and in the process was aided by the long 72-year reign of Louis XIV.

His words 'L'etat c'est moi' ('I am the state') express the spirit of a rule in which the king held all political authority. His opulent palace of Versailles became as much European fashion as the French language, customs and culture.