Released:
1966-10-08

Overview:
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.

Director:
Roberto Rossellini

Runtime:
1h 35min

Genre:
Drama, History

• Cast:
• 
  Jean-Marie Patte
  as
  Louis XIV
• 
  Raymond Jourdan
  as
  Jean Baptiste Colbert
• 
  Silvagni
  as
  Cardinal Mazarin
• 
  Katharina Renn
  as
  Anne d'Autriche
• 
  Dominique Vincent
  as
  Madame Du Plessis