Advancements and Reformations of Louis XIV and Henry VIII

 Advancements and Reformations of Louis XIV and Henry VIII

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Advancements and Reformations of Louis XIV and Henry VIII
The world history holds glory and fate of many great figures who have left their imprint on the history of their countries, and these people are famous for their deeds. Whether they are good or bad, some people are never meant to be forgotten for what they've done to gain their glory. These two men are famous for advancements they brought to the societies of their kingdoms, and they reigned countries so great that there was no other choice, but to expand and multiply greatness of these countries for all the people to acknowledge them as great kings of their epoch.

This paper aims to discuss some of the advancements and reformations of two great Kings - the Sun King and the Tyrant King - Louis XIV and Henry VIII.

It is quite easy to judge and criticize these two men for their deeds and faults, but it is undoubted that they made many great things, sometimes bloodcurdling things, and they brought many advancements and reformations that are seen as roots of a new, a more progressive society. They are so different, but yet so alike at the same time.

Louis XIV was born to be a king; his father King Louis XIII dreamed of the male successor that would rule France after him. He became the king at the age of four, but the real power was given to him when Cardinal Jules Mazarin died in 1661. And since then, the style of the reign of the French kingdom has changed forever. According to Rule and Trotter (2014), past and modern historians had many debates and discussion about the style of his reign and consequences it had on France in general, as the style of reign combined war, diplomacy, and what would be called later on a bureaucratic fashion. The fact that he took the helm of the state solely, pointing out that those who have looked for Mazarin guidance before should follow him unquestionably in future, only proves his position as a sole leader of the State. And by doing so, Louis XIV led the kingdom to the age of the absolute monarchy in which he, as the king, would be the supreme and the only great power.

Campbell (2013) in his book "Louis XIV" points out that modern illustrations of Louis XIV's figure is rather complex than those described in the past works, and many factors should be taken into account when judging deeds of this King. Louis XIV was bound by certain factors and resources that cannot be ignored when portraying the King, considering the wars he fought against other European countries. However, it is evident that foreign policy was of primary importance to King Louis, but even this factor cannot be evaluated properly without his internal policy (Campbell, 2013).

One of the most important traits of the young King Louis XIV was that he had no intention to share his power with anyone, and it led him to the decision to choose ministers-servants rather than first-ministers; that was one of the main reasons for choosing such servants among the middle class and gentry who would serve the kingdom diligently without asserting to become the next Mazarin or Richelieu.

The story of Henry VIII assertion to the throne is quite the opposite. Being the second son and the third child of King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, young Henry was not destined to be a king. He received a strictly religious education that would later influence his manner of ruling the kingdom greatly, and Henry remained a full-blooded religious man until his dying day. He became a king right after his father's death, at the age of seventeen, and the next day proclaimed his will to marry Catherine of Aragon, as the last will of his dying father, King Henry VII. Henry VIII was seen as a new hope for England during his early years of reign; he was seen as a vigorous young man, full of new and bright ideas. However, Henry had a huge ego and a mind full of thoughts different from the ones of his advisors and ministers, and no person could feel safe near Henry.

Alison Weir (2008) describes Henry in his fifties as an enormous mass that occupied the large chair and resembled a pile of purple-clad flesh. Weir also states that his mind was full of dark and furious thoughts, and his black heart was filled with bloodlust and cruelty. Indeed, at the end of his life, he was huge with all the physical mass fastened to the chair. He never really rested, like a bird of prey, he was ready to spring into action and scourge an innocent soul, as he kept a wary eye on all his court. He is known as the Tyrant King of England, the great reformist of his age, and the paranoid king, obsessed with treason and conspiracy among his court.

Both Louis XIV and Henry VIII were great fans of hunting, a fancy hobby that caused their death. Both Kings were hunting to distance themselves from annoying things to ponder on events that preoccupied their minds.

Hassall (2014) describes Louis XIV