Original subtitles

THE TAKING OF POWER BY LOUIS XIV

The sun's already high. You're late.

I was delayed.

I've had news of our daughter

from a can't driver leaving Vincennes with fodder for the Louvre.

- When is she coming back? - Not anytime soon.

The king won't leave Vincennes as long as Mazarin is sick.

They're sending our son-in-law to Bordeaux to buy wine.

They can't go without it at the palace.

That's what it's like to have a son-in-law in favor at court.

His Majesty's best cellarman.

Always traveling, following after the king.

The king!

In the end, he's just a man like the rest of us.

In England, they beheaded the king.

There weren't any earthquakes or eclipses.

Don't say that.

If there were no king, there'd be no palace.

And if there were no palace, we'd be out of a job.

One king dies and another will come along.

If the king were really powerful, he'd be in charge of his own house.

All right. Enough talk. We have work to do.

More doctors going to Mazarin at Vincennes.

When we get sick, we can't even find a barber to bleed us.

You're right.

We've been expecting you. His Eminence is most ill.

Take them to His Eminence's chamber.

Your Eminence.

I should wish, my dear colleague, to have your opinion.

Let us see the patient.

Your Eminence, here are the two colleagues I spoke of.

They will examine you.

Gentlemen.

What do you feel?

I have difficulty breathing.

I have

shooting pains.

I would like to examine -

Well, gentlemen?

Short of a miracle -

The withering has spread.

Diseases attack him all over: Gout, kidney stones.

Dropsy of the lungs.

He must be bled.

Again?

He was bled three times yesterday.

The more stagnant water you take out of a well,

the better it becomes.

The more a wet nurse suckles a child, the more milk she has.

The same is true of blood and bleeding.

The human body contains 24 liters of blood.

You can lose 20 without dying.

We remain within reasonable bounds

as long as we leave a little in the patient.

Shall we bleed him?

We shall.

We bleed three-year-old children and younger.

Eighty-year-old men tolerate it very well.

Now, His Eminence is not even 60, so we may try it.

Rest assured, Your Eminence.

With the Lord's assistance,

we will do everything in our power

to restore your health.

Thank you.

There's nothing to be done.

Perhaps he has not been sufficiently purged of his ill humors.

Last night I administered rhubarb.

Well?

These gentlemen have lost all hope.

Then you believe it's time?

Yes, I believe it is.

Perhaps we could feed His Eminence milk from a wet nurse,

as was done for His Catholic Majesty?

We could also try precious stones.

We could -

Do you think it's worth the trouble?

I've never tried them myself on a patient.

Then I must leave all of this?

Your Eminence, my son, do not be afraid.

Place your trust in the infinite mercy of our Lord.

I feel absolutely no fear.

And that's precisely what saddens me.

I know I am going to die.

I should be trembling

at the thought of appearing before my creator and judge.

Think of your sins.

I'm thinking of this country,

this kingdom of France,

this country that I chose myself.

Perhaps that's why you have served it better

than many who were born to it.

I believe I have served the peace.

By serving the peace,

I've served my king who is also my godson.

Perhaps it's because I'm Roman.

All nations are children of Rome.

Be calm, Your Eminence.

Think of your sins.

The gold,

to whom do you leave your money, your paintings and precious stones,

all of the treasures you have accumulated?

To my poor family.

Have all of these goods been acquired honestly?

Acquired with the profits from my dioceses, my abbeys.

It's only normal.

Indeed.

Yet I do not wish to speak of ecclesiastical profits -

even if there are 23 abbeys -

but of civil governments.

Not much.

Brouage, for example,

though it's a very active port,

it hardly brings in anything.

There's not merely Brouage,

but also the Compagnie du Nord

of which you are the principal shareholder.

Since when is whaling

a dishonest profession?

And the selling of office titles?

All office titles are sold.

Have you benefited from it?

Let's get to the point, Mr. Joly.

What must I do

to settle accounts with God?

You may bequeath to your family

all the goods which the king has given you.

But you must return to His Majesty

all the goods you have given to yourself.

As for my family, admittedly,

I don't have much to praise them for, in spite of my good deeds,

but I won't cheat God.

Don't worry, my son.

Would you like to confess?

Mr. Colbert, His Eminence would like to see you.

My good Colbert.

I must have given you a great deal of work.

It's difficult for an orderly man as yourself

to serve a spendthrift such as myself.

I content myself with managing His Eminence's affairs as well as I'm able.

I'm afraid it's a job

which won't keep you busy much longer.

But you have official duties.

Nothing prevents you from hoping.

I'm not hoping for anyone's place.

I've never shown impatience to climb any higher than my post.

Yet Superintendent Fouquet...

In his time, Mr. Fouquet also served me well.

There's some truth in the report

that you submitted

on the topic of his management.

Scandalous management.

Exorbitant commissions from the farmers-general,

financial expedients,

squandering of public funds.

I know, I know.

I've returned your report

with the order for you to reconcile with Mr. Fouquet.

The state owes to Mr. Fouquet personally the colossal sum of five million.

He may even feel entitled to set his sights on the succession to Your Eminence.

He already has set his sights on it...

I've been told.

He has the support of the Queen Mother.

Never, since Your Eminence's illness,

has there ever been more intrigue and expectation in the court.

The young courtiers think they're restoring the reign of favorites

down to the beautiful women who flatter themselves

that they control a 22-year-old prince

who's known to be susceptible to love.

And at the heart of these intrigues,

the hand of Mr. Fouquet is always seen.

In a few weeks, Your Eminence's life work could be destroyed

for I don't believe the spirit of the Fronde has entirely vanished.

It may very well take hold of Mr. Fouquet and his friends,

even though he was at your side during those sad events.

At no moment have I seen the superintendent

even pretend to have the least concern for the public good.

In his circle, it's only an issue of posts to be taken,

influence to be purchased

and positions to be conquered.

If the king is not what we believe -

and we seem to be the only ones who think he is -

and if Mr. Fouquet becomes prime minister -

Well?

Anything could happen.

What time is it?

Not yet seven.

Send word to His Majesty

to come see me as soon as he rises.

Excuse me. Excuse me.

What's going on? Is the queen calling?

She's announcing that the king performed his conjugal duties last night.

What news of His Eminence?

His Eminence has expressed a desire to see Your Majesty.

Alcohol.

Alcohol.

- Good morning, brother. - Good morning, Sire.

The king!

The king!

I've come to see His Eminence.

Your Eminence, it's the king.

Tell His Majesty I'll receive him in a moment.

His Eminence's makeup.

Sire, His Eminence will receive you in a moment.

Sire.

Sire, I owe everything to Your Majesty.

I leave everything to you.

Everything? What do you mean?

My wealth, my fortune.

Yes, Sire. I have decided.

I'm perhaps the richest man in Europe,

but I've decided to die as if I had nothing.

I've had such pleasure contemplating this thought.

Only, I beg Your Majesty

to show benevolence

towards my unfortunate family.

I refuse.

I refuse, Cardinal.

The offer is touching as a sign of your attachment to my person

and to what it represents.

But it's in the name of what it represents,

in the name of the state and the crown, that I refuse.

I refuse not as Louis, your godson,

but as king.

Think, Sire, of the increased power

that the possession of a great fortune will confer upon you.

I also think of what will be said among the people

when it's known that this great wealth

has been bequeathed to me by one of my subjects.

Sire, you will be a great king.

I die content that you are now fit to rule.

You will understand the counsel of your ministers

and make use of it as you see fit.

And what's more, Sire,

I think I'm paying all my debts by leaving you Colbert.

Rest, Cardinal.

Be at peace.

We'll go to my mother.

Well, Mr. Fouquet, have you come for news of our friend's health?

Yes, Sire.

I learned with sadness that His Eminence was at the point of death.

The Cardinal endures terrible suffering

with admirable perseverance.

I shall see you shortly, Mr. Fouquet.

- Good morning, madame. - Good morning, Louis.

Good morning, Mr. Le Tellier.

Louis, what's wrong? You seem sad.

Yes, madame.

I've just had a conversation with the Cardinal.

It may have been our last.

You're moved?

I loved him and he loved me.

You detested him.

He was my godfather, my tutor, the savior of the crown.

Without him, the Fronde would have triumphed.

You called him "the great Turk."

I only knew of him what I'd been told. I was still young.

Have you no regrets at all on the death of this man?

You supported him against the whole of France.

Yes.

Even without fear of risking your throne.

But I deplore his ingratitude.

He has kept me far removed from government.

He has often shown a lack of consideration for me

and he has enriched himself with a fury that's always startled me.

He's insatiable.

Pardon me, madame. He was my only friend.

The only one besides you in whom I could confide.

I'm afraid his death will bring back the disorder of the Fronde.

Your throne is secure.

France is united behind its king. The nobles are appeased.

You think so?

You think that in such a short time so many absurd hatreds

have been forgotten?

I'm afraid the cardinal's death -

I'm certain you'll be able to find a worthy successor to Mr. Mazarin.

Talent is not lacking among the leaders.

For heavers sake, Mother. Don't you remember a thing?

The Fronde made you tremble as well.

I was still a child, but there are some things I'll never forget:

A prince of my blood at the head of my enemies.

The humiliations suffered in January of '49,

the night you and I were forced to flee

from the Louvre to Saint-Germain in a cheap coach.

We might have suffered the fate of my uncle in England.

No, the power was divided between too many hands

guided by contrary interests.

The cardinal was skillful at maintaining equilibrium between these forces:

The parliament, the nobility, the financiers,

the provincial governments.

I feel that even at court

there is little loyalty without ulterior motive

and that those who appear the most devoted subjects

are just as much to be feared and blamed as the most rebellious.

You'll make yourself sick if you keep brooding on such thoughts.

Let's speak no more of it.

To satisfy their taste for pomp,

the powerful sell themselves to France's enemies.

Even the Prince of Condé is begging for help from the Spanish.

The nobles, no longer living in their own lands, need money.

And only the merchants possess this money.

The nobility no longer supports the crown.

They're in other hands, governed by base interests.

During the Fronde, honor became a commodity,

like sugar or spices.

Since we've made the mistake of selling office titles during several reigns,

today we suffer for it.

The parliament,

which should order and define the rights and duties of magistrates,

no longer contents itself with this privilege

and now claims other powers.

In England, the parliament turns against its master

and delivers him to the executioner.

Our parliament would do the same

and the divine right would be profaned

by those who have no other power than money.

Each must remain in his place.

The state must be made a reality.

Yes. And?

Excuse me, madame.

Louis.

Excuse me, madame, for having disturbed you.

He's still a child.

Do you think the memory of Mlle. Mancini

will ever cease to occupy his mind?

His Eminence's niece is engaged. She'll soon leave France.

The king no longer speaks to her.

He spends all his nights at the side of the queen.

Would to God that he continue to.

Mr. Le Tellier, what are you thinking about?

The speech His Majesty has just delivered.

I must confess I didn't understand.

These words remind me of comments the king made to me several days ago.

As I was leaving a council presided over by His Eminence,

His Majesty turned towards me and said,

"Mr. Le Tellier, I want to govern, attend the council

and not miss a single day."

He also said that in many circumstances,

the choice of what to do was his and his alone,

and that this choice, lacking neither sense nor courage,

could be better executed by no other than the king.

Govern?

Have you ever seen a king of France govern?

Henry the Great, perhaps.

Queen Catherine de Médicis, yes.

But her children?

At 20, François the First only dreamed of battles.

It was his mother who held the reins of power.

His Majesty was not speaking seriously.

I assure you I've never seen him more serious.

What are we to make of it?

You know the king as well as I.

Hunting, dancing, balls and card games are his favorite pastimes.

He just wanted to play at being competent.

Pierrette, go to the cardinal's antechamber tonight

to learn of his condition.

Yes, Sire.

If his soul is delivered, you must come tell me, no matter the hour.

Madame.

The king is worried about the cardinal's health.

I've come to keep watch with you.

Sit here.

- Sit here. - Thank you.

Mr. Fouquet.

- How long since he died? - A few moments.

The king must be informed.

The king!

Marshal.

We have just lost a good friend.

But rest assured, you have found a good master.

Why is it that His Majesty does not enter the chamber?

It's custom.

It would be unseemly for the king to be seen in contact with death.

Mr. Le Tellier.

I will return to Paris after dinner.

Have all the ministers at the Louvre tomorrow at seven for the council.

I would also like to see Chancellor Séguier and the archbishop.

Yes, Sire.

Le Tellier.

I order the court to observe mourning in black.

But, Sire, that's an honor reserved for members of the royal family.

Mourning in black.

So the marshal was astonished to see the king come towards him and say,

"We have just lost a good friend.

But rest assured, you have found a good master."

The king!

The king!

The king!

Gentlemen, I've had you assembled to tell you that up to the present,

I've seen fit to leave the governance of my affairs to the late cardinal.

It's time that I governed myself.

You will aid me with your counsel when I ask for it.

Aside from the royal seal, which I do not intend to change,

I request and order, Mr. Chancellor,

that you affix it to nothing without my order.

As for the secretaries of state, I order you to sign nothing,

not so much as a safeguard or passport, without my consent.

Superintendent, I ask you to make use of Mr. Colbert

whom the late cardinal recommended to me.

As for Lionne, he is assured of my affection.

I am pleased with his service.

Your Majesty had ordered me to address the cardinal

concerning affairs of the church.

Whom should I address now?

Myself, Archbishop.

You know my wishes. It's now up to you to execute them.

Well, gentlemen, this should make your jobs easier.

Well, what do you think?

The king is too fond of pleasures.

He'll tire quickly of the job he intends to assume.

A month or two from now, things will be back in order.

Mr. Colbert, I appoint you to the post of finance bursar next to Mr. Fouquet.

Sire, I don't know how to express my gratitude. I humbly ask you -

I hope you'll be able to show me the same devotion in weighty matters

as you have in lesser ones.

Sire.

The cardinal placed 16 million at the Bastille as a precaution.

This money was not mentioned in his will.

He considered it as due to the king.

Sixteen million?

Then we are delivered from the supervision of the financiers.

Mr. Colbert, you will come every evening before I go to bed

to work alone with me.

But not a word to anyone. Secrecy is the first virtue I demand of my servants.

I believe you understand this already.

If I've placed you next to Mr. Fouquet,

it's in order to learn if he has understood as well.

Sire, might I inform you of a report and secret thought

that until present I had only revealed to the cardinal?

Here's the report.

And the secret thought?

It's this.

I don't think Mr. Fouquet will ever understand

what Your Majesty would like him to understand,

to know that it's high time to put his accounts in order.

Why would he?

Disorder and confusion are better conditions for him.

The mars vanity and ambition have no end.

In the castle he's built at Vaux with money stolen from the state,

his coat of arms and motto are everywhere -

a squirrel with these words: Quo non ascendet.

"Where couldn't I climb?"

In your opinion, what were these thefts?

Your Majesty will read the details in the report.