Versailles wasn’t just a palace — it was Louis XIV’s ego on display. In this episode, we break down how the Sun King’s insecurity complex shaped court life, from the bizarre rituals around his daily routine to the rules designed to keep everyone competing for his attention. We also trace how these traditions turned Versailles into the most theatrical (and exhausting) place on earth. We also may or may not try to freestyle rap, so stick around till the end.

Sources:

Heltzel, Virgil B. “The Rules of Civility (1671) and Its French Source.” Modern Language Notes, vol. 43, no. 1, 1928, pp. 17–22. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2914493. Accessed 15 Sept. 2025.

“Versailles and the Royal Court.” Palace of Versailles, en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/resources/versailles-and-royal-court. Accessed 15 Sept. 2025.

Château de Versailles. “History.” Palace of Versailles: Discover History. Accessed 16 Sept. 2025. https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/history

Château de Versailles. “Courtiers — Key Dates.” https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/history/key-dates/courtiers

Kronenberger, Louis. “Saint-Simon, Chronicler of Versailles.” The Kenyon Review, vol. 31, no. 2, 1969, pp. 237–54. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4334896. Accessed 16 Sept. 2025.

Kettering, Sharon. “Brokerage at the Court of Louis XIV.” The Historical Journal 36, no. 1 (1993): 69–87. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/2639516.

“Anne of Austria.” EBSCO Research Starters. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/anne-austria

(JSTOR) Stable ID: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3257484

“The Frustrations of Being the Spare: Second Sons in the French Monarchy.” (JSTOR Stable ID: jj.1640541.12) https://www.jstor.org/stable/jj.1640541.12

Jenner, Greg. “Versailles: A Guide to Its Historical Accuracy.” BBC Two, May 2016. Accessed 13 Sept. 2025. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5jPx75byxj2rptb50s5y5nC/versailles-a-guide-to-its-historical-accuracy

The Kings of France. “Versailles ‒ How to Behave at Versailles.” YouTube video, 11:23. Posted 18 Sept. 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lL8Dkvg-II

Weird History. “The Weirdest Rules of Royal French Etiquette.” YouTube video, 9:51. Posted 16 Apr. 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU-EdjjCSV4

ElleHistory. “French Historian Explains Versailles Season 1.” YouTube video, 29 Mar. 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeGwhKCjDJ0

ElleHistory. “French Historian Gives an Overview of Versailles Season 2.” YouTube video, 24 May 2024. https://youtu.be/VQLGmpO_exs?si=3BzioO8aTxBt4ghB

ElleHistory. “French Historian Reviews Versailles The TV Show.” YouTube video, 6 Oct. 2023. https://youtu.be/cIckIGV1veU?si=v8edyJ7mQBXm-V-h

Reddit, r/AskHistorians:

• “Was the French Ancien Régime an Absolutist, Centralized State or a Backwards, Feudal Patchwork?” (1 year ago).
  
  
• PMWeng, “Did They Poop in the Halls at Versailles?” (5 years ago).
  
  
• “Did People in Versailles Actually ‘Do Their Business’ in the Corners of the Palace? How Dirty Was It Really?” (2 years ago).
  
  
• BreaksFull, “How Filthy Was Versailles? Why Was It Allowed to Be So?” (12 years ago).
  
  
• SumpCrab, “I Am a Woman Attending a Party at the Palace of Versailles during the Reign of Louis XVI…” (11 years ago).
  
  
• “Is It True the Entire Court Would Watch Louis XIV Bathe, Dress, Eat, Have Sex, etc.?” (7 years ago).
  
  
• “Louis XIV Created in Versailles an Everyday Ceremony of Clothing of the King… Why Did He Do It? What Did the Nobility Think About It?” (7 years ago).

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