History of Europe, ancient and medieval: Earliest man, the Orient, Greece and Rome . is encouraged Art and Literature 863. The Kings Palace at Versailles. Louis XIV was care-ful that his surroundings should suit the grandeur of his court was magnificent beyond anything that had been dreamedof in the West. He had an enormous palace constructed at Ver-sailles, just outside of Paris, with interminable halls and apart-ments and a vast garden stretching away behind it. About thisa town was laid out, where those lived who were privileged to be 590 History of Europe near his Majesty or sup
History of Europe, ancient and medieval: Earliest man, the Orient, Greece and Rome . is encouraged Art and Literature 863. The Kings Palace at Versailles. Louis XIV was care-ful that his surroundings should suit the grandeur of his court was magnificent beyond anything that had been dreamedof in the West. He had an enormous palace constructed at Ver-sailles, just outside of Paris, with interminable halls and apart-ments and a vast garden stretching away behind it. About thisa town was laid out, where those lived who were privileged to be 590 History of Europe near his Majesty or supply the wants of the royal court. Thispalace and its outlying buildings, including two or three lessgorgeous residences for the king when he occasionally tired of theceremony of Versailles, probably cost the nation about a hundredmillion dollars, in spite of the fact that thousands of peasantsand soldiers were forced to turn to and work without pay. Thefurnishings and decorations were as rich and costly as the palacewas splendid, and still fill the visitor with wonder. For over a. Fig. 155. One OF the Vast Halls of Versailles century this magnificent chateau at Versailles continued to bethe home of the French kings and the seat of their Life at Louis XIVs Court. This splendor and luxuryhelped to attract the nobility, who no longer lived on their estatesin well-fortified castles, planning how they might escape theroyal control. They now dwelt in the effulgence of the kingscountenance. They saw him to bed at night and in stately pro-cession they greeted him in the morning. It was deemed a highhonor to hand him his shirt as he was being dressed or, at dinner,to provide him with a fresh napkin. Only by living close to theking could the courtiers hope to gain favors, pensions, and lu-crative offices for themselves and their friends, and perhaps France under Louis XIV 591 occasionally to exercise some little influence upon the policy ofthe government. For they were no
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