Question

Versailles was the center of the French monarchy from the beginning of the Bourbon Dynasty.

Answer 1

Versailles indeed became the center of the French monarchy during the reign of Louis XIV, who moved the royal court there in 1682. It was not the initial capital of the early Bourbon Dynasty; prior to Versailles, the monarchy operated mainly from Paris.

Louis XIV transformed Versailles from a hunting lodge into a grand palace and a symbol of royal power and absolute monarchy. The palace was renowned for its opulence and intricate gardens, and it served as a center of political power and cultural life in France. By making Versailles the royal court, Louis XIV aimed to consolidate his power, control the nobility, and project an image of the monarchy's magnificence.

Therefore, while Versailles is closely associated with the height of Bourbon power, particularly during the reign of Louis XIV, it was not the center of the monarchy from the very beginning of the Bourbon Dynasty, which started in 1589 with Henry IV.