It is legal because I wish it

It is legal because I wish it

Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, was a powerful monarch who ruled France for over 72 years. During his reign, he famously declared, "L'État, c'est moi" (I am the state), asserting his absolute authority over the country. This statement encapsulates Louis XIV's belief in the divine right of kings, the idea that monarchs derive their authority from God and are therefore above the law.

One of Louis XIV's most famous quotes is, "It is legal because I wish it." This statement reflects his belief in the supremacy of royal authority and his willingness to bend or even break the law to achieve his goals. Louis XIV's reign was marked by a centralized and authoritarian government, with the king at the center of all decision-making processes. He believed that as the sovereign ruler, he had the right to make and enforce laws as he saw fit, without being bound by any external authority.

Louis XIV's assertion that something is legal simply because he wishes it highlights the arbitrary nature of his rule. It suggests that the king's personal desires and whims could override established legal norms and principles. This attitude towards law and governance was characteristic of absolute monarchies, where the ruler's will was considered the ultimate source of authority.

Louis XIV's words also reveal his belief in the concept of the "divine right of kings," which held that monarchs were appointed by God and therefore accountable only to Him. This belief justified the king's absolute power and allowed him to act with impunity, regardless of the consequences. By declaring that something is legal because he wishes it, Louis XIV was asserting his divine right to rule and his authority to make and enforce laws as he saw fit.