2024 AQA A-Level HISTORY 7042/2F Component 2F The Sun King:
Louis XIV, France and Europe, 1643–1715
Verified Question paper and Marking Scheme Attached
A-level
HISTORY
Component 2F The Sun King: Louis XIV, France and Europe, 1643–1715
Friday 7 June 2024 Afternoon Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7042/2F.
• Answer three questions.
In Section A answer Question 01. In
Section B answer two questions.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
Advice
• You are advised to spend about:
– 1 hour on Question 01 from Section A
– 45 minutes on each of the two questions answered from Section B.
IB/M/Jun24/G4006/E3 7042/2F
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From a memoir intended for publication to instruct his future heir, by Louis XIV, March 1661. Louis reflects on
the lessons he had learned from Cardinal Mazarin.
Regarding the nobility, the late Cardinal told me to value the nobles and treat them with confidence and
kindness during my reign. For members of the parlements, it is right to honour them, but it is very important to
make sure that they do not get out of hand. The parlements must stick within the limits of their duties and not
try to take power away from the Crown. A good king is obliged to relieve his people, not just from the taille,
but from other burdens. To do this a king needs to be able to see and hear his subjects in the provinces. To 5
do this, a king needs capable and loyal servants, and it is down to the king to decide what each one is best
suited to do and employ them according to their talents. The king must ensure that everyone is persuaded
that he is the master; that favours should be sought from him alone.
10
Source B
From a private diary entry of a Dutchman at the French court, March 1661. 1661 was a time of peace
between France and the Dutch Republic.
People here in Paris, since the death of the Cardinal, speak with admiration of the resolve of the King to
take charge of government. It is said that the King only makes use of three ministers for advice:
superintendent Fouquet, Le Tellier, and Lionne, the first on finance, the second on matters relating to war,
and the third on foreign affairs. The King has formed a private council which excludes everyone else, which
allows him to take control of the affairs of state. Everyone agrees that the young King conducts his 5
business with gentleness towards those he has dealings with and with much patience whilst listening to
what one has to say to him. All of this wins people’s hearts. He expresses himself with great strength which
surprises those who hear him talking about affairs of the council as, previously, it had been Cardinal
Mazarin who was the master of everything. It is clear that France is prospering at the hands of this young
King, despite years of war. 10
IB/M/Jun24/7042/2F
, 3
Source C
From a private letter written to marquis de Sourdis by a doctor in Blois, 1661. Marquis de Sourdis was
a frequent guest at the court of Louis XIV.
Monseigneur, I am quite sure that, in the 32 years that I have practised medicine in this province, I have
seen nothing to compare with the desolation we are currently experiencing. In the whole country, the
devastation is so great that as soon as a horse or some other animal dies, the peasants eat it. People are so
poor that there was even a little barley in a boat that was left unsold, for lack of money to buy it. The town
bourgeoisie are deeply troubled because, even though they try to help, the poverty is so great that Christian 5
charity does not go far enough. I have learnt that a child was found in Cheverny who had eaten one of his
own hands. A reduction by half in the taille, and a delay in paying the other half until after the harvest, has
been requested for Blois. At present, we feel desperate and abandoned by those in Paris.
10
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 the beginning of Louis XIV’s personal reign in 1661.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/M/Jun24/7042/2F Turn over ►
Louis XIV, France and Europe, 1643–1715
Verified Question paper and Marking Scheme Attached
A-level
HISTORY
Component 2F The Sun King: Louis XIV, France and Europe, 1643–1715
Friday 7 June 2024 Afternoon Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes
Materials
For this paper you must have:
• an AQA 16-page answer book.
Instructions
• Use black ink or black ball-point pen.
• Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7042/2F.
• Answer three questions.
In Section A answer Question 01. In
Section B answer two questions.
Information
• The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
• The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
• You will be marked on your ability to:
– use good English
– organise information clearly
– use specialist vocabulary where appropriate.
Advice
• You are advised to spend about:
– 1 hour on Question 01 from Section A
– 45 minutes on each of the two questions answered from Section B.
IB/M/Jun24/G4006/E3 7042/2F
, 2
Section A
Answer Question 01.
Source A
From a memoir intended for publication to instruct his future heir, by Louis XIV, March 1661. Louis reflects on
the lessons he had learned from Cardinal Mazarin.
Regarding the nobility, the late Cardinal told me to value the nobles and treat them with confidence and
kindness during my reign. For members of the parlements, it is right to honour them, but it is very important to
make sure that they do not get out of hand. The parlements must stick within the limits of their duties and not
try to take power away from the Crown. A good king is obliged to relieve his people, not just from the taille,
but from other burdens. To do this a king needs to be able to see and hear his subjects in the provinces. To 5
do this, a king needs capable and loyal servants, and it is down to the king to decide what each one is best
suited to do and employ them according to their talents. The king must ensure that everyone is persuaded
that he is the master; that favours should be sought from him alone.
10
Source B
From a private diary entry of a Dutchman at the French court, March 1661. 1661 was a time of peace
between France and the Dutch Republic.
People here in Paris, since the death of the Cardinal, speak with admiration of the resolve of the King to
take charge of government. It is said that the King only makes use of three ministers for advice:
superintendent Fouquet, Le Tellier, and Lionne, the first on finance, the second on matters relating to war,
and the third on foreign affairs. The King has formed a private council which excludes everyone else, which
allows him to take control of the affairs of state. Everyone agrees that the young King conducts his 5
business with gentleness towards those he has dealings with and with much patience whilst listening to
what one has to say to him. All of this wins people’s hearts. He expresses himself with great strength which
surprises those who hear him talking about affairs of the council as, previously, it had been Cardinal
Mazarin who was the master of everything. It is clear that France is prospering at the hands of this young
King, despite years of war. 10
IB/M/Jun24/7042/2F
, 3
Source C
From a private letter written to marquis de Sourdis by a doctor in Blois, 1661. Marquis de Sourdis was
a frequent guest at the court of Louis XIV.
Monseigneur, I am quite sure that, in the 32 years that I have practised medicine in this province, I have
seen nothing to compare with the desolation we are currently experiencing. In the whole country, the
devastation is so great that as soon as a horse or some other animal dies, the peasants eat it. People are so
poor that there was even a little barley in a boat that was left unsold, for lack of money to buy it. The town
bourgeoisie are deeply troubled because, even though they try to help, the poverty is so great that Christian 5
charity does not go far enough. I have learnt that a child was found in Cheverny who had eaten one of his
own hands. A reduction by half in the taille, and a delay in paying the other half until after the harvest, has
been requested for Blois. At present, we feel desperate and abandoned by those in Paris.
10
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 the beginning of Louis XIV’s personal reign in 1661.
[30 marks]
Turn over for Section B
IB/M/Jun24/7042/2F Turn over ►
