Final answer:
Under Louis XIV's reign, the French government was an absolute monarchy, where power was centralized in the hands of the King who claimed to rule by divine right.
Step-by-step explanation:
Government Under Louis XIV
Under the reign of Louis XIV, the government was an absolute monarchy. This form of governance centralized power exclusively in the hands of the king. Louis XIV, also known as the "Sun King," reigned from 1661 to 1715 and established the Royal Academy of Fine Arts to influence art in support of the state. He adopted mercantilist policies through his chief minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to promote manufacturing and regulate trade. Additionally, French monarchs like Louis XIV claimed to rule by divine right, implying their power was ordained by God, which further solidified their absolute control.
During his reign, the King took measures to avoid convening the Estates General, ensuring there were no checks on his power by any legislative body. Instead, decisions of governance and economics were made through executive councils or by the King himself. This concentration of power in the monarchy allowed France to implement extensive economic controls and is indicative of France's political evolution toward stronger central governance, replacing local administrators with royal bureaucrats.