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Which statement best describes Louis XIV?

a) He was financially conservative.
b) He made several alliances with surrounding countries by the time of his death.
c) He did not concern himself with building a military.
d) He believed that he was the source of light for all of his people.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The best statement regarding Louis XIV is 'd) He believed that he was the source of light for all of his people,' which is demonstrated by his lavish spending on the arts, the construction of the Palace of Versailles, and his famous assertion of absolute power.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the statements provided about Louis XIV, the one that best describes him is d) He believed that he was the source of light for all of his people. As the epitome of an absolute monarch, Louis XIV, known as the Sun King, centralized power around himself, stating famously 'Létat, c'est moi' (I am the state). He made extensive use of arts, particularly in the opulent construction of the Palace of Versailles, to assert his authority and glorify his reign, demonstrating his belief that he was the central source from which all power and light emanated for his people. Louis XIV was not financially conservative; his reign was marked by lavish spending on architecture and patronage of the arts, which eventually contributed to France's considerable debt. He also constructed a formidable military and was involved in several conflicts, dispelling the claim that he did not concern himself with building a military. The alliances he made varied over time, and by his death, France was not particularly known for a multitude of alliances but rather for its potent centralized monarchy.

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