In the late spring of 1683, electrifying news reached Besançon: Louis XIV was coming to visit the capital of Franche-Comté, his newest province. The Sun King was then at the zenith of his splendor, having achieved unprecedented stability at home and made France the dominant power abroad. At once, the mayor and échevins of the city hastened to the royal intendant and declared their intention “to make extraordinary sacrifices to display their veneration, their zeal, and their loyalty to a prince who is both the beloved of his people and the terror of his enemies.” Much to their surprise, the royal commissioner did his best to dampen their enthusiasm. He reminded them that Louis XIV had already entered Besançon nine years previously with his conquering army. There was therefore no need to stage the ornate and expensive ceremonies of an official royal entry. More importantly, the king expressly wished that his visit not burden the inhabitants of the city and had instructed the intendant to limit what the municipal government spent on it. The civic authorities brushed off the intendant's attempts to restrain them, however, and went ahead with lavish preparations. Furthermore, they dispatched emissaries to coordinate their efforts with the equally elaborate plans of Besançon's other elite corps: the archbishop and clergy; the noble judges of the Parlement; and even the municipality's detested rivals, the officers of the bailliage court.