Abstract
At the apogee of Louis XIV's reign (1643-1715) in France, there was speculation that an unforeseen event, such as a conspiracy, could bring about the dissolution of the Grand Siècle. This possibility was the subject of several 17th-century writings reflecting the concern of historians and moralists over the unpredictability of historical events. Representative in this regard are the works of Eustache Le Noble (1643-1711). He and others emphasized the appropriateness of certain conspiracies and the importance of seizing the opportune moment for launching a revolt. The general tone of this discussion reflected a degree of fatalism regarding the existence of political regimes, the Roman Empire serving as an early and prominent example of their rise and fall in Europe.