Louis XIV of France

“After Westphalia brought peace to Europe, the second half of the seventeenth century saw a further spread of resident ambassadors, with Louis XIV’s France leading the way, and French replaced Latin as the lingua franca. There was, however, still scope for summitry, for instance during Peter the Great’s tour of Western Europe in 1697–8. His meetings with William III of England helped bring Russia belatedly into the European diplomatic orbit. In due course, the czar created a “Diplomatic Chancellery” and a network of foreign embassies on the European model.”

“No sovereign in the world was more a king than this prince. Obedience, under his reign, was a veritable cult, and never were the French more submissive and greater.”

“J'ai failli attendre.”

“L'État, c'est moi.”

“Je mettrais plutôt toute l'Europe d'accord que deux femmes.”

“Je m'en vais, mais l'État demeurera toujours.”

“Il n'y a plus de Pyrénées.”

“Toutes les fois que je donne une place vacante, je fais cent mécontents et un ingrat.”