Western Civilization II / Unit 1 WC2 0008 short lesson, about 20 seconds
What Versailles Cost: Sixty Percent of Revenue
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The idea
At the height of construction Versailles took sixty percent of royal revenue, the anchor's figure, against five percent under Louis XVI, remembered and resented. The palace was built for display, not comfort: cold food, frozen wine, hallways used as privies.
In practice
Louis hated Paris and ruled from the palace.
Where people slip
The share is a ratio of revenue, never a sum. No conversion is made.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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