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 PatteLouis XIV

Raymond JourdanJean Baptiste Colbert

SilvagniCardinal Mazarin

Katharina RennAnne d'Autriche

Dominique VincentMadame Du Plessis

Pierre BarratNicolas Fouquet

Fernand FabreMichel Le Tellier

Françoise PontyLouise de la Vallière

Joëlle LaugeoisMarie-Thérèse

Maurice BarrierD'Artagnan

André DumasLe Père Joly

François MiranteM. de Brienne

Roger GuilloL'apothicaire

Louis RaymondLe premier médecin

Maurice BourbonLe deuxième médecin