The Palace of Versailles is the symbol for Absolutism during the Ancien Régime. Though originally a small hunting lodge under Louis XIII, it became a true palace during the reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King.
Louis XIV was a larger than life guy, the main purpose of building this palace was to show off his wealth. He was able to construct this massive complex and he was able to move he royal court to it, they knew who was king. This showed of his wealth and his power above the aristocracy. During the Fronde, early in Louis XIV’s reign, the nobility had revolted against him. He was only ten at the time and the nobles were crushed, but it shaped his view and many point to this as the reason for his Absolutist nature. Having the royal court in one location made it easier for him to control them and to stop other from rebelling if he could harm their relatives.
The royal family would stay in Versailles until the French Revolution, more specifically during the Women’s March on Versailles when women of Paris, who believed that there were stockpiles of food at the palace, stormed it with weapons and forced the king to return to Paris.
The Palace of Versailles is an opulent complex and former royal residence outside of Paris. It has held sway in the public imagination for years because of its architectural grandeur and political history. Located about 10 miles (16 kilometers) southwest of Paris, the palace is beside the settlement of Versailles. The town was little more than a hamlet before becoming the seat of royal power. By the time of the French Revolution, it had a population of more than 60, 000 people, making it one of the largest urban centers in France.
Two key events in the American Revolution happened at Versailles. Benjamin Franklin, acting on behalf of a newly independent United States, negotiated a treaty with Louis XVI, which led to America getting critical support from the French military. Spawforth notes that Louis XVI would have one of his inventions, a "Franklin chimney, " installed that produced less smoke than an ordinary fireplace.
Fittingly, the Treaty of Paris, which formally ended the Revolutionary War, was signed on Sept. 3, 1783, at Versailles, close to the palace in the nearby foreign affairs building. Several decades later, when King Louis Philippe (reign 1830 - 1848) was turning Versailles into a museum, he would include a painting that depicts the siege of Yorktown, a decisive victory in the Revolutionary War in which the Americans and French cooperated against the British.
America would reciprocate in the 1920s when oil millionaire John D. Rockefeller Jr. paid to have the palace's expansive roof restored, among other buildings.
As a symbol, Versailles can be understood as one of opposites, said Schmidt. It reflects both the beauty and culture of France and its tumultuous history. "When it was built, it was a marvel (and still is) and represented France's power. However, toward the end of the 18th century it became more of a symbol of the aristocracy's wealth, which stood in stark contrast to that of the common people. The entire mindset of society had changed with the Enlightenment, which caused the palace to be seen as a symbol of the old regime. "
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