THE RISE OF LOUIS XIV
You're late
News from Vincennes; it seems the King is still there
When will he return?
He intends to stay there, our son-in-law says...
...close to the sick-bed of Cardinal Mazarin
Our son-in-law! Always at the King's beck and call
His Majesty's best lackey
A King's only a man like any other
The English just chopped off their king's head; the world didn't end
No king; no palace. No palace: no work for us
That's enough talking, we've got work to do.
More doctors going to Vincennes
We can’t even get a barber to bleed us if we're ill
We've been awaiting you. His Eminence is gravely ill
I needed your opinion, my dear colleagues
Here are the colleagues I mentioned Your Eminence
How do you feel?
I have difficulty in breathing
Dreadful bouts of stabbing pains
I would like to examine the...
Only a miracle...
Desiccation has set in
Gout, gravel...
Dropsy of the lung... He must be bled
But he was bled three times yesterday
Draw foul water from the well to make it sweet
The more a wet-nurse gives suck, the more milk she has
So it is with blood and bleeding
The body can lose thirty-five pints of blood without dying
So we can remain within reasonable limits
Nowadays we bleed patients in infancy and in advanced age
His Eminence is not yet sixty; we can but try
Rest assured, Your Eminence...
...with God's aid we shall do all in our power...
...to restore you to health
There's no hope
Is he insufficiently purged of evil humours ?
I administered rhubarb last night
These gentlemen have abandoned hope
You think the time has come ?
I think so
Perhaps a wet-nurse to suckle His Eminence...
...as in the case of His Majesty
Or precious stones, perhaps
Is it worth trying ?
I've never tried them on a patient
So I must leave all this
My son, do not be afraid
Put your trust in Our Saviour's infinite mercy
But I feel no fear at all
That's what saddens me
I know I am going to die
I should tremble at the thought...
...of appearing before my Creator and Judge
Think of your sins
I think of this country, this Kingdom of France
This country I have chosen as mine
Perhaps that is why...
...you have served it better than many native Frenchmen
I believe I have served peace
In serving peace I have served my godson, the King
Perhaps it is because I was born a Roman
All nations are children of Rome
Think of your sins
The gold, the money...
...the paintings and treasures you have accumulated...
...to whom will they go ?
My poor family
Was all this wealth honestly acquired ?
From the benefices of my sees and abbeys
Nothing unusual about that
Of course, but I don't mean ecclesiastical benefices...
...although twenty-three abbeys...
I mean civil appointments
A mere trifle
Take Brouage, for example
A busy port, but it brings me next to nothing
Not only Brouage
You are the chief shareholder in La Campagnie du Nord
Since when has whaling been a dishonest trade ?
All offices may be bought
And have you not benefited ?
Come to the point, Monsieur Joly
What must I do to make my peace with God?
What the King has given you, you may leave to your family
What you have given yourself, you must restore to the King
My family
I have no reason to be proud of them, despite my favours
But I cannot cheat God
Do you wish to confess?
Monsieur Colbert, His Eminence wishes to see you
My trusty Colbert
I shall have given you much work
It is hard for an orderly man like you...
...to serve a spendthrift such as I
I am content to serve His Eminence as best I can
It is a task, I fear...
...which will not occupy you much longer
But you have official standing
You may well cherish hopes
I have no wish to usurp anyone's position
I have never aspired to rise above my station
But Monsieur Fouquet...
Monsieur Fouquet, too, has served me well in his time
There is some truth in the report...
...which you submitted to me concerning his administration
His scandalous administration. Exorbitant tax commissions...
...speculation, squandering of public funds
I know. But I returned the report to you...
...with orders to make peace with Fouquet
The state owes him, personally, the sum of five million
He might feel entitled to succeed Your Eminence
He is intriguing already, I am told
The Queen Mother supports him
The Court is rife with intrigue since you fell ill
Courtiers hope for the return to power of the "favourite"
Pretty women imagine they'll rule the twenty-two year old King
Monsieur Fouquet is behind all these intrigues
All your Eminence's work could be destroyed in a few weeks
The spirit of our old opponents, the Fronde, is not dead
It could easily seize Fouquet and his friends...
...even though he supported you against the Fronde
Never at any time...
...has Fouquet pretended to care for the public good
In his circle the only concern is for public office
...influence to be bought, position to be won
If the King is not the man we alone seem to think he is...
If Fouquet becomes Prime Minister...
Well?
I will answer for nothing
What time is it ?
Not yet seven
Ask His Majesty...
...to visit me as soon as he rises
The Queen calls for something ?
No, she is informing us...
...that the King has this night performed his marital duty
How is His Eminence ?
His Eminence wishes to see His Majesty
I wish to see His Eminence
Your Eminence, It is the King
Inform His Majesty I will receive him at once
His Eminence's rouge
Sire, His Eminence will receive you in a moment
Sire, I owe all to Your Majesty
I leave all to you
What do you mean?
My wealth, my property. I have so decided, Sire
I may be the richest man in Europe...
...but I wish to die as though a pauper
This thought has always comforted me
All I beg is, Your Majesty...
...to be generous to my unfortunate family
I refuse
I refuse, Cardinal
I am touched by this token of your love for me
But it is in the name of the state I represent...
...that I refuse
It is not your godson Louis who refuses: it is the King
Think, Sire, how your power would be increased...
...if you possessed such great wealth
I think also of public opinion...
...if it is known that this wealth comes from one of my subjects
Sire, you will be a great king
I die happy; you yourself are ready to govern
Listen to the advise of your ministers...
...use it if you so wish
And I think I acquit myself in full, Sire...
...by leaving you Colbert
Spare yourself, Cardinal. Rest
To my mother's apartments
Monsieur Fouquet, have you come to enquire after our friend ?
I was grieved to learn that His Eminence is at death's door
The Cardinal endures great suffering with admirable fortitude
I will receive you soon, Monsieur Fouquet
Good day, Monsieur Le Tellier
What is it, Louis? You seem downcast
I have just spoken to Mazarin; for the last time, perhaps
Are you moved ?
I loved him and he loved me
You hated him
He saved my crown; but for him, the Fronde would have won
You called him "The Great Turk"
I was young; I copied other people
Have you no regret for this man's death ?
Yet you supported him against all France
Yes, even at the risk of losing your throne
But I deplore his ingratitude
He banished me from affairs of state. He lacked respect
His insatiable passion for riches always frightened me
Forgive me, Madame; he was my only friend
The only person I could confide in, apart from you
I fear his death may mean a return to chaos
The security of your throne is assured
France is united behind her King. The nobles are appeased
You think such senseless hatreds are so quickly forgotten?
I fear the Cardinal's death...
I am sure you will find a worthy successor to Mazarin
We have no lack of gifted nobles
Do you remember nothing mother?
The Fronde made you tremble, too
I was still a child, but some things are unforgettable
A prince of the Blood, leading my enemies
In January, 49, we were forced to flee by night...
...in a humble carriage, from the Louvre to Saint-Germain
We might have suffered the fate of my uncle in England
No, power is shared by too many opposing interests
The Cardinal cleverly balanced these forces...
...parliament, nobility, financiers, provinces
Even at Court I'm aware of little disinterested loyalty...
...and even my seemingly loyal subjects...
...are as much to be feared as the most rebellious
You will make yourself ill if you harbour such thoughts
In their greed, the nobles sell themselves to France's enemies
Even the Prince of Conde seeks Spanish aid
The nobles, no longer living on their lands...
...seek money from merchants
As in the time of the Fronde, they no longer sustain the Crown
They are in other hands, governed by base interests
Honour has become a commodity, like sugar and spice
Today we are suffering the effect of the sale of offices
Parliament, no longer content with its old privileges...
...seeks other powers
The English parliament delivers its master to the executioner
Ours might do the same and profane the divine right...
...since money alone holds power
Each must be content with his lot
That must be the order of things
Yes. Well ?
Forgive me, Madame
Forgive me, Madame, for having wearied you
He is still a child
Do you think he will ever forget the Cardinal's niece ?
She is engaged and will soon leave France
The King ignores her; he spends every night with the Queen
Pray God that continues
What are you thinking about, Monsieur Le Tellier ?
About His Majesty's words
I must say, I couldn't really understand him
I was reminded of something he said a few days ago...
...after a Council presided over by His Eminence
His Majesty said to me:
"I want to govern, to attend Council every day, without fail "
He also said that he alone should have choice of action...
...in many circumstances...
...and provided that he lacked neither sense nor courage...
...none could make that choice better than the King
Have you ever heard of a King of France governing ?
Henry, perhaps. Catherine de' Medici, yes...
...but not her sons
At twenty, Francois I dreamt only of battles
His mother held the reins of power
His Majesty was not being serious
I swear I have never seen him more serious
What does it mean ?
You know the King as well as I do
Hunting, dancing, cards...
...those are his favourite pastimes
He was just showing off, that's all
Wait tonight in the Cardinal's apartments
Tell me at once if he dies, no matter what hour
The King is anxious about the Cardinal. I will watch with you
-When did he die ? -A few moments ago
We must tell the King
We have just lost a good friend
But take comfort, you have found a good master
Why does His Majesty not enter the Cardinal's room
It is not fitting that the King should be in contact with death
Monsieur Le Tellier, I shall return to Paris after dining
I will hold Council at the Louvre at seven tomorrow morning
I wish the Chancellor and the Archbishop to attend too
I command the Court to observe full mourning
Sire, that is an honour reserved for the royal family
Full mourning
The Marechal was amazed when the King turned and said:
"We have just lost a good friend"
" But take comfort, you have found a good master"
It has pleased me, until now...
...to have my affairs governed by the late Cardinal
Now it is time that I governed
You will provide counsel when I seek it
I beg and order you, Chancellor...
...not to use the Royal Seal except by my order
I order you to sign nothing, not even a passport...
...without my consent
I wish you, Monsieur Fouquet, to employ Colbert...
...whom the late Cardinal recommended to me
As for Lionne, I am content with his services
Your Majesty ordered me to discuss Church affairs with the Cardinal
-Whom should I deal with now? -Myself, Archbishop
You know my wishes; it is for you to execute them
Well, gentlemen, this will make your task easier
The King is too fond of his pleasures; he'll soon tire of governing
Things will return to normal in a month or two
Monsieur Colbert, I confirm your appointment as Finance Administrator
Sire, I cannot express my gratitude...
Show the same zeal in great matters as you have in small
As a precaution, the Cardinal lodged sixteen millions in the Bastille
This money is not mentioned in his will
He considered it as belonging to the King
Sixteen million? This frees us from the financiers
You will come to work alone with me each evening
Tell no one. Secrecy is the prime virtue I require of my servants
I believe you understand that. I want to know if Fouquet understands, too
May I advise you, Sire, of a report and a secret thought...
...hitherto kept between myself and the Cardinal?
This is the report
And the thought?
I think Monsieur Fouquet will never grasp Your Majesty's intention...
...that it is time he put his accounts in order
Why should he? Disorder and confusion serve him better
His vanity and ambition know no bounds
His chateau at Vaux, built with money stolen from the state...
...is festooned with his coat of arms, a squirrel...
...with the motto: "Where may I not climb?"
What exactly do you imply ?
The details are in my report...
...but among a thousand other frauds...
...I cite his extraordinate acquisition of unpaid promissory notes...
...which he later redeemed at their full value
It is reliably reported that he is fortifying Belle-Isle and Nantes
He has the soul of a Frondeur
We must not be hasty
My mother must be won over; she supports Fouquet
Yes, he often gives her gold, destined for her good works
I do not wish to endanger tax receipts by precipitate action
For the moment, Monsieur Fouquet remains a Council member
And the Queen Mother?
Cardinal Mazarin removed her from the Council; will you restore her?
No
Your debauchery is unworthy of a Christian king
I am not averse to pleasure, but you abandon all restraint
When you were at Fontainebleau...
...you bathed naked in the river every day with your mistress
And Mignard had to paint the pair of you...
...as Apollo and a shepherdess, as if the Queen did not exist
I know why you do not want me in your Council
You fear I shall reproach your conduct
Have you lost all self-respect...
...all affection for your wife, for me?
You cannot imagine how you grieve me
Spurned by Mazarin, whose fortune I made...
...I am now spurned by my son
Since you behave as though you have no mother...
...I shall retire to a convent, to Val de Grace
Forgive me, mother
Forgive me, Sire, but you must make a decision
I refer to the composition of the Council
Has Your Majesty decided? The Queen Mother...
No change. Neither my mother nor my brother will attend Council
Do you enjoy hunting ?
Yes, it encourages intimacy; the King is quite at ease
As I said, he'll be easy to control if he can enjoy himself
Your speeches always begin with "As I said..."
Will you never weary of always being right ?
Anyway, your imagination is running away with you
The King presides regularly at Council...
...and takes an interest in everything
His enthusiasm will be short-lived
I shall be Prime Minister within a month
If so, you must get rid of Colbert; he is a man to fear
Worry about that little provincial ?
Mademoiselle de la Valliere
...she is most important
Don't you know her ?
The Queen Mother calls her the” little seamstress from Tours"
Her father was an impoverished noble
She's well brought up, but unaccustomed to wealth
We shall easily win her over
How pretty, Madame
Not playing ?
I will bet for you
Seventeen; you lose
How is your game, Madame ?
Game! Will you never stop tormenting me?
-I don't understand -You know what I mean
Not so loud
-Not playing? -No I always lose
I must speak to you on behalf of Monsieur Fouquet
He is impressed by your beauty and modesty
You may count on his generosity
As a token of his friendship...
...he begs you to accept a gift
Twenty thousand pistoles
Tell him his money cannot buy my complicity
Why are you trembling ?
Anger. Madame Du Plessis just offered me money
Twenty thousand pistoles from Monsieur Fouquet
So my first instinct was correct
This forces my hand...
...to what I have wished and feared so long
You did well to tell me
The next Council will be held at Nantes
The entire Court will leave within three days
I shall see you there. Good night, Madame
Why the change? It's not what was decided at the last Council
There is something behind this
-Have your spies told you? -About what ?
In your shoes, I'd fear the worst
You're imagining things. The king smiled graciously at you
No, the King is young...
...and tempted to demonstrate his power
No, you always look on the back side
He's visiting my domain as an act of homage to his prime servant
Sire, Your Majesty honours the City of Nantes
I wished to pay my respects
You will recover more rapidly if you rest
I hoped to find you alone, Sir, to give you this
I shall read it after. Here is my mother
I want a word with you
I wanted you to know...
...that I will order my guard captain to arrest Fouquet
I called the Council at Nantes to ensure maximum effect
Louis, have you lost your senses?
My treasury is empty, revenue squandered two years in advance...
...the harvest is poor, my people fear another famine...
...yet in one day Fouquet spends more than I possess
His years of plunder and misappropriation from the realm
He is not afraid to flaunt his riches at me
Monsieur Fouquet is devoted to your service
My mind is made up
Arresting Monsieur Fouquet in his own province !
Beware, my son. You may revive the troubles of the Fronde
It will show me who is for and who is against me
My courts will deal with them
You frighten me
What a rotten place
You're always complaining; campaigning's not so bad
Who are we campaigning against ? No Spaniards in Nantes
You'd better ask Monsieur d'Artagnan
In Paris we defend the King
-Do you see him every day? -We ride before his carriage
His Majesty wishes to see you at once
He wishes to consider the duties of your company
Sire, Monsieur d'Artagnan is here
Your mission must be kept secret until it is accomplished
Then as many as possible must know of it
I am greatly honoured by His Majesty's confidence...
Arrest Fouquet when he leaves the Council
Monsieur Colbert will give you detailed instructions
Take care to watch Fouquet after his arrest...
...lest he dispose of any papers
The prisoner will be taken to Angers, via Oudon
At Oudon you will get him to sign a document...
...surrendering Belle-Isle to the King
You may read the rest
Assure the King his orders will be faithfully executed
The next Council will be held at Vincennes
Monsieur Fouquet
I have something to say to you
No... it can wait until some other time
My courts, not I, will decide Monsieur Fouquet's fate
But whatever happens, his office will fall in abeyance
The King must stand alone as the soul of his kingdom
It is not enough to lean on one, possibly loyal, person
All must depend on the King, as nature on the sun
The people must be assured of work and bread...
...so that misery does not ally them with new Frondeurs
We shall try to alleviate tolls and taxes
The nobles must again depend on the King for everything
Privileges, honours, money
This will keep them in our presence...
...away from the bourgeoisie...
...and absence from Court will be a misfortune worse than exile
Take care, Sire, that these measures are not too costly
The cost will be a fruitful investment
Merchants, craftsmen, bourgeois...
...will realize that prosperity depends on our enterprises
Our plans for building, factories, conquest of new territories...
...will result in great profits
This is my policy. Do you wish to serve it?
With all my soul
What means do you advise ?
Those you describe
We must give France the industry it lacks...
...producing all manner of goods
A fleet and an overseas empire...
...to free us from Holland's monopoly of maritime trade
People must be given work, not charity
Idle hands fall easy prey to troublemakers
We must dig canals, dig roads...
...breed horses for the army...
...combat famine, develop agriculture
We must reduce the tolls...
...which crush the peasantry...
...and introduce more equitable, indirect taxation
Customs dues, salt tax, concessions, tobacco...
This system permits, if Your Majesty wishes...
...relief for the underprivileged classes
And to increase revenue...
...a campaign against dishonest tax-collectors...
...and a firmer control on business transactions
Excellent. We shall adopt these measures
And velvet mantles. I wish to see the master-tailor
Do not forget; it is most important
We have faithfully followed Your Majesty's commands
Not enough lace showing
That is better
Fouquet adopted this fashion; we shall make better use of it
For him it was mere display, not a political weapon
We will ensure that nobles think only of their doublets
In that way they will be best represented at Court
Now try on the wig
Darken the moustache to match
People are more easily governed through appearances than profundities
Does this style please Your Majesty ?
No, it is too plain. Start again
I shall be the first to dress thus; others will copy
Nobles must follow their King in all things
I have decided to keep the nobles away from Paris
Away from parliament and Fronde influence
I shall establish myself in my father's chateau at Versailles
Hitherto, nobles remained at Court at their own expense
Henceforth, they will be lodged and furnished at royal expense
Yet your generosity will not prevent them from incurring debts
With many opportunities for spending money, they will borrow
Let them
I will pay their urgent debts and thus bind them to me
As for those nobles who build houses at Versailles...
...I shall declare their mansions immune from attachment by law
That will attract them
They will answer to me, not to bourgeois money lenders
My father's chateau will be the temple of the monarchy
All the artists of the kingdom shall embellish it
Well, Monsieur le Vau?
Sire, duty obliges me to be brief
How is the work?
The masonry for the centre wing is ready
Plumbing and roofing almost complete...
...and soon a great deal of joinery will be ready
Your Majesty may judge the effect of the balustrades
Have you seen the paintings intended for the state rooms?
Nothing marks the greatness of princes so well as architecture
Posterity judges them by what they build
Versailles will stand as the palace of my dynasty
Remember this and spare no effort
Have you estimated how many the palace will accommodate?
Thirteen thousand, Sire
After the plans to accommodate fifteen thousand
When I am visited by the nobles of foreign princes...
...my palace must truly reflect the might of France
There is another modification, Monsieur le Vau
Here, perfectly exposed to the sun...
...we shall build the greatest orangery in the world
Good day, Madame. I am well
Monsieur de Vardes, I have recalled you
Sire, your recall to Court restores me to life
I am returned from the country, Monsieur
Do you know you must salute no one in my presence?
I have forgotten everything, Sire. Pardon my foolishness
I do so. But what is this costume?
Have you returned from China or the Americas?
Sire, when one is banished from your presence...
...one is not only unhappy, but ridiculous
Rise, and be assured of my regard
His Majesty begins the eighth course
Prepare the chicken. And the baskets of fruit
Don't forget to prepare fresh breadcrumbs
Peas
What about the suckling pig?
The baskets of fruit
A little more sauce. Garnish more generously
Is the pancake mixture ready?
A dozen with jam, two dozen each with chocolate and vanilla
The napkin, please, my brother
Music, please, my brother
The King's music!
Has the King never heard of the fork?
He disapproves of it
When he sees a fork used it throws him into a temper
I am thirsty
Monsieur de Lorrain
When I have eaten, we shall go to the kennels
And I will be pleased to see you at the hunt tomorrow
The King begins the fourteenth course
Form the cortege!
The King's meat !
I do not advise the pork, Your Majesty
Throw it away
I wish to be alone and undisturbed
There is a distinction which owes nothing to fortune
A certain air which seems to destine us to greatness
It is a prize which we imperceptibly assume
By this quality we command the deference of others...
...and it is rather this which raises us above them...
...than birth, honours, even merit
Neither sun nor death may be outfaced