Royal Affairs in Versailles (Si Versailles m'était conté)

They say that kings gave generously, but accepted no advice.

But by building such a marvel, they also preserved our wealth.

And now the actors, in alphabetical order, with eternal thanks.

We are lost.

A rugged place, but beautiful.

Where are we, Father?

I wonder that myself, my son.

That man over there will tell us.

Come closer.

Where are we?

- On the hill. - Yes, but which hill?

- It has no name. - Did it never have one?

I remember that my grandfather's father said

that this place once belonged to an old family.

What were they called?

They bore the name Versailles.

- Not a bad name. - You may have it.

He did not recognize you, Father.

- No. - Strange.

Chicken in the pot; that king does like a joke.

My father and I got lost during a hunting party.

Perhaps I will one day tell why that wild place has stayed with me.

So, Monsieur Leroy, build my dream hunting lodge here.

Do not follow my drawing too strictly, but observe the proportions.

I want only two rooms: mine...

- And the queen's. - No, mine and yours.

Thank you.

- What will Your Majesty call it? - My little house?

Versailles.

May I ask, Sire, why you chose such a rugged place?

Because no one there knows kings.

I want Versailles to be a secret place, mysterious and intimate.

His Majesty and his little majesty.

- The king wishes to come in. - Let him in.

Gentlemen, the king!

Magnificent. Very tasteful, perfect.

Monsieur Leroy started it, I was able to finish it.

If Your Majesty is satisfied, I am the happiest man on earth.

I am very satisfied. Thank you.

What do you think of it, my son?

I am not satisfied.

Not satisfied? Why not, if I may ask?

- I wish it were bigger. - Bigger?

Well, then you are going against my opinion.

- And who might you be? - I am Louis XIV.

Not yet.

And if you find it too small, you will later have the opportunity to expand it.

My father said I had to expand it.

I am merely obeying.

Then you are exempt from all reprimands.

I ask you, Monsieur Leveau, to base yourself on the proportions.

Do not forget that my father's little château

must be preserved and respected.

My intention is to give it wings.

This is only a sketch, but pay close attention to the content.

You may freely suggest changes to enhance the splendor of

this future, prestigious palace.

Have a pleasant day.

I need not explain anything to you, Monsieur Lenôtre.

You are a genius and have carte blanche.

People talk a lot about the gardens you designed for Fouquet.

Make sure people no longer talk about them.

Remember that it will be your fault if we have Fouquet imprisoned.

Good work, and good luck.

The poor cardinal

understands nothing of it.

The king is having a grand and magnificent castle built, a marvel.

The King of France is right: he must have the most beautiful palace in the world.

But he wants to marry Maria Mancini,

a poor girl without noble blood. And the cardinal understands nothing of it.

Let's see:

Versailles, Maria Mancini.

A choice will have to be made.

One or the other. Both is not possible.

On one hand, the greatness of France; on the other, the smallness of love.

It matters little that His Majesty hates me.

He has always hated me.

As a child, when we shared the same room, you would get up at night

and put your hand under my blankets to feel if I was cold.

That was normal.

He soon understood that I had no intention of following his whims.

So King Louis XIV cannot marry

Maria Mancini, the niece of poor Mazarin.

- Do you know how much I love her? - Yes.

But that does not matter.

And how much does she love me?

That does not matter either.

The king must marry Maria Theresa of Spain.

She is very small.

And not beautiful.

That is unimportant too.

- And what is important, then? - Whether there will be war or not.

What is my niece compared with a war?

And my sorrow?

Compared with a war?

What is a woman compared with peace?

What is love compared with France?

What if the king knew that six months after his marriage

with the Spanish infanta the poor cardinal would die?

Then I accept it.

Shortly afterwards Louis XIV married the infanta and Mazarin died at exactly the right time.

That day, before he went hunting, the

king's arrival caused a stir in parliament.

Gentlemen, from today onwards I wish to rule alone, without ministers.

You have been warned.

Good day.

Stunned, they whispered: „But how? Without a minister?”

What did he mean by that? He is still haunted by Mazarin.

He is driven by pride. Clearly he is the

state. He did not say it, but it was as if he proclaimed it.

He wants to rule alone, but for how long?

Two years, one, six months?

From that day on Louis XIV ruled alone for 54 years.

54 years to build Versailles, half a century of work and effort.

He refined this unparalleled splendour to display his power

and embody the greatness and elegance of France.

If we look at the meaning of 'majesty',

no monarch has ever been as worthy of it as this young man.

That day he felt happy. He took Colbert with him to his future palace.

Colbert remained silent all day. The king, who knew and respected him,

showed himself patient. He knew that waiting would cost him nothing

and that he had to endure the criticism of this merchant's son,

one of the greatest statesmen France has ever known.

A thousand workers saw him and admired his bearing, charm and courtesy,

which he never lost. He could win battles,

but also knew how to impose morals.

When they were alone in the carriage, Colbert said:

Everything I saw was magnificent.

But, Majesty, may I speak about costly pleasures and amusements?

Sire, we waste nothing on useless things, but spend millions on your glory.

I admit, Majesty, that a useless meal of a thousand ducats troubles me.

But for the greatness of the country I would sell my possessions,

put my wife and children to work, and go on foot all my life

to contribute my share if necessary.

Louis XIV was silent and asked Colbert to follow him to the Louvre.

Colbert, do not think that I am insensitive to your advice. I often follow it.

But on this we differ: Versailles. Versailles will be as I want it.

It costs enormous sums, but I think it only seems so,

and I do not feel it is waste.

The more it costs, the more it yields.

I believe that in one hundred, two hundred or

three hundred years whoever rules in France,

will see that it has withstood the test of time

as proof of the greatness of the country.

The imperishable pages tell of

immortal heroes and the most beautiful country in the world.

It is actually a book, made by me, although I am not a writer.

I want it to be built like a sentence, with future, past and additions.

And I want it modern.

No old, boring furniture.

My father had good taste, but his furniture lacks charm and shine.

And I will say nothing about my grandfather's bad taste.

I must go back to Henry II to find a style.

Beautiful, yes, but also dark, let us be honest.

Do you find those chests and dark cupboards beautiful? I do not, for several reasons.

They seem full of spelling mistakes and lack elegance.

On 23 July 1666 gardener Lenôtre awaited Louis XIV,

or rather, made himself be waited for.

With the authority of his age, he had said to the king:

Majesty remains in the castle and may not

enter the gardens without my permission,

and Louis XIV obeyed smiling. Lenôtre gave orders,

When everything was ready, he said: „Let him come.”

And when Louis XIV appeared, magnificent fountains sprang from the ground.

They were the fountains of Versailles. The king was moved.

He walked to Lenôtre and kissed him. „It is not over here,” said Lenôtre.

Follow me, Majesty.

When the man with a disability pointed to the valet to push him forward.

The young monarch made a gesture that enchanted everyone.

Versailles opened its doors. The king received Queen Maria Theresa, whom we hardly see.

From that moment on, celebrations of incomparable splendour followed.

Tartuffe premiered in the marble hall, with Du Croisy as the lead actor.

Depending on your decision I will be happy

if you wish it, unhappy if you wish it.

No more gallant or surprising declaration exists.

I think you would do better to think for a moment and consider this statement.

Devoted as you are, your name is on everyone's lips.

Being devoted does not make me less of a man.

And at your heavenly encouragements the heart gives way for no reason.

Another time it was the famous Venice festival on a smaller scale.

Beloved, my love, my love.

- I love you. - And I adore you.

I want to spend my life at your feet.

How handsome you are, sir.

Let my eyes devour you.

May I, Majesty, confess my dream?

I am here to make it come true.

I know a house, hidden in the forest, covered with ivy.

Small and modest, made to shelter a great love.

We would be there alone, you and I.

Why are you smiling?

He smiled because he was Louis XIV and had a palace like Versailles

and was astonished that a 20-year-old suggested to him living

in a remote, modest, quiet and hidden place.

But Louise de Lavallière, pure and sincere, believed that she could love a king

as a man and believed in it so strongly that she ended up in a convent.

But someone was already lurking: intriguing, beautiful, wicked to the core.

Seductive, sensual and extraordinarily witty. That was this woman.

Madame Athenaïs de Tonnay-Charente, Françoise de Rochechouart, Marquise de Montespan,

All these gentlemen who believed they were admired would have turned around, surprised,