Vindication of the Fronde? The cost of Louis XIV's Versailles building programme

Abstract

In the years after 1661, Louis XIV went some way to meeting public criticism raised during the Fronde. Yet the king refused to concede the reduction of taxation. Instead, resources were appropriated for a large land army and a navy, as well as for the royal buildings programme. Though expensive, the Versailles project was affordable in years of peace. Expenditure on the château of Versailles never amounted to more than 6 per cent of annual total expenditure, while in most years the cost did not exceed 1 per cent. The ambitious exterior work for the project put up the overall costs of the project from 67 to 92 million livres.