The Sun King's Silver: How Colbert Bankrolled Louis XIV

In this episode, Lucas and Luna look past the palace and the wigs to examine the engine room of Louis XIV's ambition: Jean-Baptiste Colbert. As controller-general of finances, Colbert turned a kingdom on the brink of bankruptcy into the wealthiest state in Europe. They trace his rise, his war on corruption, his creation of the five great farms, and the mercantilist system that made French luxury goods the envy of the world. But they also uncover the costs: the brutal galleys, the revoking of the Edict of Nantes, and the wars that eventually undid it all. With a close look at the Gobelins manufactory, the Canal du Midi, and the tragic story of Fouquet's fall, this episode reveals the untold story behind the Sun King's brilliance. #Colbert #LouisXIV #FrenchHistory #Mercantilism #Gobelins #CanalduMidi #Fouquet #SunKing #17thCentury #EconomicHistory #Versailles #Finance #NavalHistory #EdictOfNantes #France #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo