France: The Bourbons 1589-1793

To great glory and to utter humiliation for the Royal House

Glory came in the reign of The Sun King, Louis XIV. This is exemplified in the construction of The Palace of Versailles. It is also exemplified in the political and military power exercised by France, which became the first country of Europe.

Humiliation came with the trial and guillotining of Louis XVI, in 1793, during The Revolution.

Of course, the Revolution had roots in the period long before 1789 and The Storming of The Bastille.

So the important question for many in this period of history is where and for what reasons did disenchantment with Bourbon rule eventually lead to bloody revolution, and the emergence of 'Modern France'?