Watch The Real Versailles 2016 HD for free

Discussion

The Real Versailles

Today, as a prelude to BBC Two's extravagant new drama set in Versailles, Lucy Worsley and Helen Castor explore the fascinating history of one of the world's most magnificent structures. There is no better way to understand the life of Louis XIV than by looking at his courtiers' sex, drama, and intrigue in these paintings. Henrietta and Lucy decipher Louis's complicated court etiquette as Lucy goes into the archives and uncovers the Machiavellian world of court politics that Louis built in the process. A look at what motivated Louis XIV's reign to be celebrated on a scale unsurpassed by any other monarch, as well as an examination of the conflict between Louis and his brother, a war hero and open gay, is explored in the film's backstory. In his quest for glory, Louis was uncompromising and ultimately triumphant. Napoleon III's 72-year reign saw France become known for its culture and elegance.

Read full

Genres: