historically waged local wars and plotted resistance to royal authority. Louis thus compelled and seduced the old military
aristocracy (the "nobility of the sword") into becoming his ceremonial courtiers, further weakening their power. In their place, he
raised commoners or the more recently ennobled bureaucratic aristocracy (the "nobility of the robe"). He judged that royal
authority thrived more surely by filling high executive and administrative positions with these men because they could be more
easily dismissed than nobles of ancient lineage and entrenched influence. It is believed that Louis's policies were rooted in his
Height of power
Centralisation of power