The Taking of Power by Louis XIV

Cardinal Mazarin dies, leaving a power vacuum in which the young Louis asserts his intention to govern as well as rule. Mazarin's fiscal advisor, Colbert, warns against Fouquet, the Superintendant who has been systematically looting the treasury and wants to be prime minister. Fouquet believes Louis will soon tire of exercizing power and overplays his hand by offering a bribe to Louis' mistress to be his ally. She reports this to the king who arrests Fouquet. Louis and Colbert design a brilliant strategy to keep merchants making money, nobles in debt, the urban poor working and fed, and peasants untaxed.

Cast

Jean-Marie Patte

Jean-Marie Patte

as Louis XIV

Raymond Jourdan

Raymond Jourdan

as Jean Baptiste Colbert

Silvagni

Silvagni

as Cardinal Mazarin

Katharina Renn

Katharina Renn

as Anne d'Autriche

Dominique Vincent

Dominique Vincent

as Madame Du Plessis

Pierre Barrat

Pierre Barrat

as Nicolas Fouquet

Fernand Fabre

Fernand Fabre

as Michel Le Tellier

Françoise Ponty

Françoise Ponty

as Louise de la Vallière

Joëlle Laugeois

Joëlle Laugeois

as Marie-Thérèse

Maurice Barrier

Maurice Barrier

as D'Artagnan

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