When we are younger, we dream of becoming a King or Queen. We watch fairytales where there are fearless leaders, perched on a velvet throne, with long furs draped around their shoulders and crowns of jewels adorning their heads. It was easy to fantasize about the lavish life they led, and of power and respect of people everywhere. The world as you see it would be yours. However, as we grow older, most of us come to see Monarchy in a more realistic light. We watch royal weddings on TV, take bets on the designer the Duchess will be wearing, and enjoy and revere royalty as much as we do a movie star; they have no real power, but they are here for our entertainment. With so many examples of successful democracy, and with many systems put in place to protect it, the idea of the true kings and queens we saw in movies is nothing but a distant daydream, a myth, a fairytale. It is easy to forget that characters such as these we once inspired by reality. This reality, however, is much more sinister than the fables that we read as children. There was a time on Earth, not so long ago, where Monarchy was law, and what a King said was final. There was no checks and balances, no distribution of power. No, the power was left solely to one man or woman, and it was not uncommon for them to take advantage of it. This was Absolutism. With a string of power drunk rulers, there was perhaps none greater than Louis XIV, who embodied every characteristic of an absolute monarch. Louis XIV was the epitome of Absolute Rulers, and the Ultimate Absolute Ruler. .
Louis XIV was born Louis XIV was born on September 5th, 1638 in the Chteau de Saint-Germain-en-Laye to Louis XIII and Anne of Austria. Louis' Father died shortly after his birth, and although he never had the chance for a relationship with his father, his relationship with his mother was extremely close. Maurice Ashley, author of Louis XIV and the Greatness of France noted that Louis was often doted on and spoiled by his mother.
It is mentioned in Irish History that St. Patrick banished all the snakes from Ireland. This seems an impressive feat and we seem to be able to confirm it as fact as Ireland is indeed a country without snakes. However, the more realistic, and more mundane reason why there are no snakes in Ireland is...