The Power of Versailles

It is remarkably obvious that Versailles was built to impress. Even in today’s society where gluttony rules, and where buildings seem to be getting bigger at an alarming rate, Versailles Palace and its gardens are still amazingly impressive. This palace was built for King Louis XIII, but was drastically expanded under the reign of Louis XIV. The palace, at the king’s orders, became the center of power, and all members of the nobility were required to live in the palace. All politically powerful people were lived and worked at the palace, making the government more efficient, but also allowing the king to carefully watch and control the nobles.

Top: the Orangerie garden of Versailles; orange trees are extremely expensive and require much care and dedication, and were used as a sign of power at the Palace.

Bottom: An interior room at Versailles, showing the sheer grandeur of the palace

These nobles, however, were not particularly excited to be forced to move to this countryside palace; naturally, Louis softened the blow by providing them with beautiful accommodations and an excess of entertainment options. Perhaps unsurprisingly, entertainment was provided in the form of parties, which were usually held in the gardens of the palace and often featured military elements. For example, military games were enormously popular among the nobles, who often formed teams and fought against each other. These competitions, which included jousting and sword fighting, were designed to showcase the physical strength and mental stamina of the nobleman, and the winners frequently gained favor with the king himself. These mock military battles were an attempt to show France’s constant obsession for control and power, as well as the history of the country’s military conquests; many of the nobles frequently formed teams and wore costumes, and re-enacted particularly significant French battles. The Grand Canal also frequently featured models of French warships, as a reminder of the maritime dominance of the French during the reign of Louis XIV. Thus, a playful garden atmosphere, which frequently included fireworks over the Canal, also reminded observers of the military might of France.

A depiction of the Grand Canal, including what the model
ships may have looked like during the reign of Louis XIV

But the gardens were also a more obvious exercise of military power. For example, the fountains in the garden are made of solid metals, like lead or bronze, which were also used to make cannons and ammunition for the military. Interestingly, some of the artists that designed these statues were also involved with creating and designing military equipment. Thus, many of the tools and skills that the artists learned while making statues could be used to create better and more efficient military weaponry, resulting in artillery with a more accurate and streamlined design. 

Versailles quickly became the center of power for all of France. Ginormous fountains and elaborate displays of art showed the true power, and unlimited spending potential, of the French during this time. But the palace and the gardens were more than just a show of military and monetary power; the gardens themselves also became a sign of “soft power” for the French. The garden at Versailles more fully developed the elements seen in other formal French gardens, and created a more cohesive cultural identity for the French. Many French gardens, including Versailles, contained numerous statues and other artwork that were taken or copied directly from the Italian baroque period. Yet, over time, Louis XIV began to desire artwork that was distinctively French. These new pieces showed the mastery of local artists, and that the French could dominate and surpass other countries in all facets of hard and soft power.  Thus, much of the artwork now seen in the parks of Versailles was made by French artists, and depicts prominent political figures, stunning gods and goddesses, and beautiful scenes from the French countryside. This created a more uniquely French atmosphere that was to be copied (on a smaller scale) throughout the country, leading to a more cohesive identity for the country as a whole. Thus, the palace’s garden, with a unique geometric design and decorative and artistic flourishes invented by the French, was a unique way to show French military might and cultural superiority.  

Sources:

http://books.google.dk/books?id=TpJvLySgrDwC&lpg=PR11&ots=yMBYEIu350&dq=gardens%20of%20versailles&lr&pg=PA94#v=onepage&q=versailles&f=false