ACTUAL 2025 AQA A-LEVEL HISTORY Component 2F The Sun King: Louis XIV, France and Europe, 1643–
1715
Question Paper & Mark Scheme (Merged) Friday 6 June 2025 [VERIFIED]
IB/M/Jun25/G4007/V2 7042/2F
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From a letter to a trusted friend from Archbishop Fénelon, 1708. Fénelon was a former
tutor of the Dauphin. He had been exiled by Louis XIV since the 1690s.
The former finance minister, Monsieur Chamillart, told me that the country is experiencing
desperate times. The continuation of the war has led to famine and increased taxes across the
provinces. Monsieur Chamillart said that to sue for peace was impossible as the peace terms
would further ruin France. I was tempted to say: “either make war more successfully or don’t
make it at all!” In my opinion the peace terms will be only more shameful in a year and the 5
country will have starved by then. The army is currently in trouble because of a lack of money
and no sense of direction. There is no single person in control of affairs, nor anyone who dares
take on anything upon themselves. Gone are the days of Louvois, and I fear we will see unrest
among the soldiers if things do not improve. There is already a risk of rebellion in the provinces
10
due to lack of food. We are ruining and risking France to retain control of Spain.
Source B
From a speech by Louis XIV, June 1709. This speech was addressed to Louis’ subjects.
All parish priests in France had to read the speech to their parishioners.
After many years of war and continued sacrifice by the people of France, I owe it to my subjects
to inform them of the reasons why we are still at war. I share in all the evils which this war is
inflicting on my faithful subjects. Though I have demonstrated to the whole of Europe that I
want peace, I am certain that to agree peace now would only be a disaster for France. If it was
up to me alone, the people of France would now be enjoying peace. Our enemies continue to 5
plot against us and restrict our trade, and it is to our enemies that our combined anger should
be directed. For peace to be agreed I would have had to accept conditions that were highly
dangerous for the safety of my frontier provinces. I would have had to force my grandson, the
King of Spain, to quit his throne. My enemies offer such peace knowing that it would be
10
impossible for me to accept.
IB/M/Jun25/7042/2F
, 3
Source C
From the diary of a bourgeois resident of Caen, 1709. Caen is in the northwest of France.
Since the month of January, wheat has been very expensive. This has led to much famine,
particularly for the poor. This has given rise to a royal declaration which has commanded every
person in each parish to donate a sum of money in proportion to his wealth. This was not
enough to stop some riots by artisans who lacked bread, because there were job cuts in all the
trades. In Rouen, a crowd of nearly four thousand poor people formed, and went to the home
of the Intendant to demand bread. As the Intendant was in Paris, they sacked and looted his 5
house. They then went to the home of the Commissioner of Police and did the same to his
house. This disorder would have gone on had the business owners not decided to put a stop to
it. In order to do this they
closed the town gates and shops for two days. Whilst things seem quieter now we are all 10
doubtful that this tranquillity will last.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context,
assess the value of these three sources to an historian studying discontent in France
towards the end of Louis XIV’s reign.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/M/Jun25/7042/2F Turn over ►
1715
Question Paper & Mark Scheme (Merged) Friday 6 June 2025 [VERIFIED]
IB/M/Jun25/G4007/V2 7042/2F
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From a letter to a trusted friend from Archbishop Fénelon, 1708. Fénelon was a former
tutor of the Dauphin. He had been exiled by Louis XIV since the 1690s.
The former finance minister, Monsieur Chamillart, told me that the country is experiencing
desperate times. The continuation of the war has led to famine and increased taxes across the
provinces. Monsieur Chamillart said that to sue for peace was impossible as the peace terms
would further ruin France. I was tempted to say: “either make war more successfully or don’t
make it at all!” In my opinion the peace terms will be only more shameful in a year and the 5
country will have starved by then. The army is currently in trouble because of a lack of money
and no sense of direction. There is no single person in control of affairs, nor anyone who dares
take on anything upon themselves. Gone are the days of Louvois, and I fear we will see unrest
among the soldiers if things do not improve. There is already a risk of rebellion in the provinces
10
due to lack of food. We are ruining and risking France to retain control of Spain.
Source B
From a speech by Louis XIV, June 1709. This speech was addressed to Louis’ subjects.
All parish priests in France had to read the speech to their parishioners.
After many years of war and continued sacrifice by the people of France, I owe it to my subjects
to inform them of the reasons why we are still at war. I share in all the evils which this war is
inflicting on my faithful subjects. Though I have demonstrated to the whole of Europe that I
want peace, I am certain that to agree peace now would only be a disaster for France. If it was
up to me alone, the people of France would now be enjoying peace. Our enemies continue to 5
plot against us and restrict our trade, and it is to our enemies that our combined anger should
be directed. For peace to be agreed I would have had to accept conditions that were highly
dangerous for the safety of my frontier provinces. I would have had to force my grandson, the
King of Spain, to quit his throne. My enemies offer such peace knowing that it would be
10
impossible for me to accept.
IB/M/Jun25/7042/2F
, 3
Source C
From the diary of a bourgeois resident of Caen, 1709. Caen is in the northwest of France.
Since the month of January, wheat has been very expensive. This has led to much famine,
particularly for the poor. This has given rise to a royal declaration which has commanded every
person in each parish to donate a sum of money in proportion to his wealth. This was not
enough to stop some riots by artisans who lacked bread, because there were job cuts in all the
trades. In Rouen, a crowd of nearly four thousand poor people formed, and went to the home
of the Intendant to demand bread. As the Intendant was in Paris, they sacked and looted his 5
house. They then went to the home of the Commissioner of Police and did the same to his
house. This disorder would have gone on had the business owners not decided to put a stop to
it. In order to do this they
closed the town gates and shops for two days. Whilst things seem quieter now we are all 10
doubtful that this tranquillity will last.
0 1 With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context,
assess the value of these three sources to an historian studying discontent in France
towards the end of Louis XIV’s reign.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/M/Jun25/7042/2F Turn over ►
