The Royal Menageries of Louis XIV and the Civilizing Process Revisited

The Royal Menageries of Louis XIV, originally characterized by violent animal combat at the Vincennes menagerie, underwent a significant transformation during his reign. By 1662, the focus shifted to the peaceful display of graceful birds in the first pavilion constructed in the Versailles park. This change is interpreted as both a royal claim of absolute authority and a model of aristocratic civilité, drawing on theoretical frameworks by Norbert Elias and Michel Foucault. The menagerie served as a living metaphor for Louis XIV's absolutism and the court society of Versailles, rather than functioning as a modern zoo.

Sahlins, P. (2012). The Royal Menageries of Louis XIV and the Civilizing Process Revisited. French Historical Studies, 35(2), 237–267. https://doi.org/10.1215/00161071-1498463