Versailles and Louis XIV – Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key people, places, styles, and symbols associated with Versailles and Louis XIV based on the notes.

Versailles

The royal palace that became the center of France’s government and culture under Louis XIV, expanded from a hunting lodge into a grand Baroque palace.

Louis XIV

The Sun King who centralized power, expanded Versailles, and ruled France as an absolute monarch from 1643 to 1715.

Sun King

Louis XIV’s epithet symbolizing life, warmth, and leadership; associated with the sun and Apollo in Versailles’ imagery.

Apollo (god of the sun)

Greek sun god used in Versailles symbolism to elevate Louis XIV and reinforce the divine-right monarchy.

Baroque

The lavish, dramatic artistic style of Versailles, characterized by exuberant figures and propagandistic decoration.

L'état, c'est moi!

Louis XIV’s phrase meaning 'The state, that’s me,' signaling absolute centralized power.

Domestication of the aristocracy

Louis XIV’s tactic of keeping nobles at Versailles, distracted with games and luxury to prevent political opposition.

Hall of Mirrors

The famous long gallery lined with mirrors and candles, symbolizing opulence and state spectacle.

War Room

Versailles room representing Louis XIV’s military power and his many costly wars.

Peace Room

Room illustrating peace and diplomacy, shown by an olive branch and the spread of tranquility after wars.

Venus Room

Room celebrating love, decorated with Venus and celestial motifs, reflecting the palace’s erotic and romantic themes.

Gardens of Versailles

The extensive, meticulously designed gardens surrounding the palace, part of Versailles’ grandeur and spectacle.

French lingua franca

French as the common diplomatic and cultural language across Europe in Louis XIV’s era.

Centralized government

Louis XIV’s creation of the first modern, centralized state by consolidating authority at Versailles.

Hunting lodge origin

The initial hunting lodge that became the Palace of Versailles, starting as a modest residence before expansion.