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About this quote

What does it mean?
Louis XIV announced the Pyrenees mountains no longer exist as a boundary, implying France's borders now extend into Spain.
In plain terms
The mountains between France and Spain are gone.
What can you take from it?
Political borders can be declared changed by force or decree.

Where it applies

  • war history
  • treaty negotiations
  • nationalism

Putting it to work

  • study French expansion
  • analyze border changes
  • research treaties

Questions to consider

  • How do borders define nations?
  • Can natural barriers be erased by will?

Another view

Geography does not actually change with royal proclamation.

More from Louis XIV of France

  1. L'Etat, c'est moi.

    Permalink to quote #2

  2. J'ai failli attendre.

    Permalink to quote #3

  3. Je m'en vais, mais l'Etat demeurera toujours...

    Permalink to quote #4

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