Versailles: The Quintessential European Palace

Prior to 1662, the French royal family used Versailles merely as a hunting retreat. Louis XIII built a simple chateau able to accommodate himself and a small entourage. The surrounding area of Versailles was nothing more than a small country village. It was not until the reign of Louis XIV that Versailles became the quintessential European palace that other monarchs longed for.  Louis XIV disliked and distrusted Paris. Louis XIV desired to create a lavish residential community for himself and the French government. With the government housed in one area, the Sun King could exert complete control over a centralized government.Therefore, he moved the French government from Paris to Versailles in 1682. The Sun King needed a residence befitting his grandeur. The chateau de Versailles still stands today, as a reflection of the grand empire of Lois XIV.

                                             

The symbol of the Louis XIV, the Sun King

Most of the construction of the gardens and the grounds occurred between 1668 and 1684. Louis XIV constructed Versailles through four building campaigns. Besides the Sun King, three men were mostly responsible for the design of the palace. Louis Le Vau served as the main architect on the project. Charles Le Brun designed the interior of the seven hundred-room palace. Andre Le Notre designed the lavish landscaping around the palace.

                                        

A timeline from the literature given to visitors of Versailles.

Louis Le Vau designed the palace of Versailles using French Baroque style of architecture. French Baroque architecture inserts grand details upon orderly, symmetrical buildings. Large curved forms, twisted columns, high domes, and other complicated shapes characterize this type of architecture.  The exterior is reminiscent of classical Greek and Roman designs.

                                  

The interior of the palace of Versailles equals the grandeur of the architecture. Charles Le Brun created the Louis XIV style, which includes red and gold brocaded fabrics, marbling and many other lavish interior details.  The best example of this style and Brun’s most famous room is the Hall of Mirrors. This main gallery of the palace features seventeen mirrored arches reflecting seventeen arcaded windows, each looking out to the gardens. To emphasize the power of the French monarch, Louis the XIV commissioned Brun to paint the splendors of French government on the ceiling. Louis the XIV is depicted as a Roman Emperor, a great ruler over many foreign kingdoms.

                                         

The Hall of Mirrors

The gardens surrounding the palace are some of the most famous pieces of landscaping in history. The garden at the Versailles palace is Europe’s largest palace garden covering 250 acres of land. Andre Le Notre designed a series of geometric paths, bushes, trees, and flowerbeds with many statues adorning the gardens. Louis XIV insisted on created impressive water displays throughout the gardens. Andre Le Norte executed this vision through the construction of several fountains. The Fountain of Apollo and the Latonia Basin were not only artistic masterpieces but for their time were technological advanced hydraulic masterpieces. These fountains could not be supplied with enough water to run for more than special occasions. 

                                                           

                                 

The highlight of the garden is the Grande Canal. It measures 1500 meters long by 62 meters wide. Louis XIV sought to recreate the canals of Venice by bringing in gondolas and gondoliers. The “little Venice” housed these imports and yachts. The Grande canal also served as a holding tank for the water drained from the fountains to later be used to water the gardens.

                                

Unfortunately, during the revolution the temporary government auctioned off many of the pieces of artwork and furniture. The French government did not seriously seek to regain these pieces until World War II.  The palace of Versailles is not only famous for its architectural and artistic beauty.  Versailles witnessed several key historic events, including the Treaty of Paris - ending the American Revolution, proclamation of Kaiser Wilhelm I as Emperor of Germany, and the Treaty of Versailles - ending WWI.

For More Information

“1682 Versailles, capital of the kingdom.” Chateau De Versailles. http://en.chateauversailles.fr/history/the-great-days/most-important-dates/1682-versailles-capital-of-the-kingdom (accessed on March 14, 2014).

“Architecture, Sculpture, and Decoration at Versailles.” Boundless. https://www.boundless.com/art-history/europe-in-the-1600s-56eae394-9a18-46de-abfa-883be84660c0/france--3/architecture-sculpture-and-decoration-at-versailles/ (accessed on March 15, 2014).

“Château de Versailles, France.” World Site Guides.com. http://www.worldsiteguides.com/europe/france/chateau-de-versailles/ (accessed on March 14, 2014).

Jarus, Owen. “Palace of Versailles: Facts and History.” Live Science. http://www.livescience.com/38903-palace-of-versailles-facts-history.html (accessed on March 14, 2014).

“Palace of Versailles and its Gardens.” Irvine Valley College. http://www.ivc.edu/academics/schoolFA/arthistory/Documents/VERSAILLES_Fall_05/architecture.html (accessed on March 13, 2014).

“Versailles.” Historylines. http://www.historylines.net/history/17th_cent/versailles.html (accessed on March 14, 2014).

“Versailles Palace: Chateau de Versailles.” A View on Cities.  http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/versailles.htm (accessed on March 14, 2014).

Adolf Hitler: Rise to Power

Can one man really start an entire world war? It is fair to argue that Adolf Hitler’s pursuit of land for his ethnically clean Aryan race caused World War II.  There are many more factors to consider besides the ambitions of Hitler. Would Hitler have been able to rise to power if Germany was not suffering under the crushing weight of WWI reparations and the Depression? Hitler may not have been the sole cause of WWII. And Hitler may have been as successful if conditions in Germany had not been so dismal. What is certain is that Hitler was a major player in WWII and will be remembered forever.

Early Life

On April 20, 1889, Klara Polzl bore Alois Hitler his fourth of sixth children, Adolf; in Branau am Inn, Austria.  When Adolf was three, his family moved from Austria to Germany. Hitler experienced tragedy early in life when his younger brother Edmund died in 1900.  Three years later, his father died suddenly. While his father, a customs official, maintained a cold and strict relationship with Hitler, his death undoubtedly affected the thirteen year old. Hitler found formal education boring. He only enjoyed his history studies, which focused on instilling a strong sense of German nationalism in students. Hitler’s caring and loving mother allowed the sixteen-year-old Hitler to drop out of school to pursue an art career in Vienna.  Like his education, Hitler’s art career was unsuccessful. In 1907, Hitler failed the entrance exam for the Vienna Academy of Art. Tragedy struck the young man’s life once again, as breast cancer overcame his dear mother. A few months later, Hitler attempted to reapply for the Vienna art school but was rejected again. While earning a pittance from selling postcards and architectural drawings, Hitler lived in homeless shelters and men’s hostels. While in Vienna, Hitler actively participated in the local political environment. His struggle in Vienna shaped many of his now memorable political ideas.

                                              

Hitler as a child: top middle

Military Career

Hitler’s military career experienced far greater success than his educational or art career. In 1913, Hitler left Vienna to avoid military service under the Hapsburg Empire. While living in Munich, Europe erupted into World War. Hitler quickly volunteered to serve in a Bavarian regiment. By December of 1914, Hitler became a decorated soldier, earning the Iron Cross for bravery. In October 1916, a grenade splinter temporarily wounded him. In August of 1918, Hitler won the Iron Cross again, but this time with the first class designation. While recovering from a gas attack that caused him temporary blindness, Hitler heard the devastating news that Germany had been defeated.

                                                    

Rise to Power

Hitler believed that Marxist leaders had betrayed Germany. The treaty of Versailles called for the demilitarization of Germany and the reparations assigning blame to Germany. These stipulations enraged Hitler. In 1919, he joined the German’s Workers’ Party (DAP). While with this organization Hitler became known for his vitriolic speeches, in which he spread his anti Socialist and anti- Semitic views. Hitler used his leadership position to lead a failed coup against the German government in November 1923. While serving time in prison for his crime, Hitler wrote the now famous Mein Kampf. The Great Depression gave Hitler the advantage he needed to further his political career. In 1932, he lost the race for German presidency to Paul von Hindenburg. Hindenburg, however, appointed Hitler to chancellor. Following the death of Hindenburg, Hitler assumed the role of both president and chancellor. He used his political status to spread his ideas and build up an army. In August of 1939, Hitler and the German forces invaded Poland and began World War II.

For More Information:

"Adolf Hitler." The Biography Channel website. http://www.biography.com/people/adolf-hitler-9340144 (accessed February 24, 2014).

“Adolf Hitler.” The History Channel website. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/adolf-hitler (accessed on February 22, 2014).

“More Information about Adolf Hitler.” History: BBC.com. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/adolf_hitler#p00bhf0v (accessed on February 23, 2014).

Noakes, Jeremy. “The Rise of Adolf Hitler. “ History: BBC.com. Updated on March 30, 2012. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/hitler_01.shtml (accessed on February 23, 2014). 

Rosenburg, Jennifer. “Adolf Hitler.” 20^th Century History: About.com. http://history1900s.about.com/cs/hitleradolf/p/hitler.htm (accessed February 22, 2014).