Louis XIV Comes Clean About His Unwashed 🍑

[@AbbyCox]

Thank you Birch Living for sponsoring! Click here birchliving.com/abbycox to get 25% off your Birch mattress (plus two free Eco-Rest pillows!) during their Extended Labor Day Sale. Offers are subject to change. #birchliving

[@crow-jane]

Psuedohistory debunks? Drag? Cute puppers? I’m sold.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Louis XIV you would’ve loved portable hand sanitizers and anti-bacterial wipes.

[@alexandrakennedy2000]

Him and a dissolvable soap tab? Unstoppable duo! He couldve had a Lume sponsorship. ✨

[@BYoungStudios]

The dogs reacting to “outside” is the realest part of dog ownership! 😂😂

[@AbbyCox]

The shaking camera as the ran by was so funny lol

[@BYoungStudios]

@@AbbyCox I’m literally filming a Timelapse of my current art piece and one of my Dals just NEEDS attention 😂😂 it’s not gonna be edited out 😂😂😂

[@KiroKiroHeart]

Hello, I'm the french Guy in the audience. I'm just here to say that everytime Abby mimics french peoples, I wish inside that we speak like that. Life would definitly be funnier ! Also love your work Abby !

[@AbbyCox]

thank you for not being mad at me lol

[@user-em1qm3ut2y]

French audience too, and this video made me laugh hard. :) You manage to make it extremely funny without mocking french people in general, and that's great :)

[@sianthesheep]

Any video that starts with Abby in drag with a dodgy accent you know it’s gonna be a good ‘un!

[@cypriennezed5640]

LOL the conspracy board with "VINGT" in all caps 😆 What does Twenty know and when did it know it?!

[@AbbyCox]

lol just wait lol

[@cypriennezed5640]

​@@AbbyCoxIT'S RIGHT THERE! 🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I thought I was up too late but then this video so my circadian rhythms can wait. Mama needs a video essay.

[@yesterdaydream]

LOL I swear you're on every video right before me. Our algorithms are kindred. Always enjoy your pleasant presence

[@marmotarchivist]

As a historian, I especially love your debunking videos and insistence on proper sources. If you have ever read about the life of his surgeon Charles-François Félix de Tassy and his delicate operation on the king, now these would be some things worth sharing on the internet I believe.

[@fakehistoryhunter]

I've been debunking this myth on social media for a while now, so thank you for making this. I have to deal with Ward's book so often, he just copy pasted old myths & misconceptions.

[@heatherhammerquist6239]

We don’t generally bathe either; we shower, we wash, but submersing our whole body into water for the purpose of hygiene? Not often.

[@dexaria]

Tbh if you picked any random historical figure and looked at what primary evidence says about their bathing habits you’d probably conclude that no one in history washed ever. It’s just not something that gets written about often!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

0:36 Ok ‘80s Perm Drag King on VHS loving this look 👏🏽

[@margaretschaufele6502]

The minute I heard the Louis XIV only had 2 baths in his entire life at the beginning, I was like, do you know how many mistresses he had???? That alone told me it was BS. Dude was horny! Do you think that many women would want to be around him that much if he smelled? Also, I read that he enjoyed sex till the end of his life. You know he had to be taking care of himself. And yeah, if he was that sick and going through all that and spending 2 hours twice a day in the tub, he probably didn't want to have a repeat of ANY of that experience. No one would. But, like you pointed out in your earlier video about historic washing practices, not having a bath doesn't mean he wasn't WASHING!!!

[@SewingandCaring]

Drag King Abby immediately got me hooked.

[@VictorianWaistcoat]

9:46 The sheer amount of barely leashed hatred and disgust in her voice when Abby says polyester basically summarizes the fashion history community and I love that

[@annagibson6466]

Thank you for making this video! I have been working on a written debunking of the "Versailles had no bathrooms/toilets, people simply defecated and peed everywhere, and no one bathed" myth for a while because it's so prevalent in "pop history" on social media nowadays and I'm glad you tackled this Louis XIV clunker!

[@NoDecaf7]

These deep dive debunks are my favorite videos of yours. Fantastic work ❤

[@lisacolledge7624]

OMG! I love, love, love your videos, Abby. This one included. You sat in a bath full of water, dressed in that NOT off the rack outfit (gorgeous, BTW), and made a hilarious, um, 'map' of relevant points. (There's a more apt term, but for the life of me, i can't recall it). You're the funniest, slickest, most informative, intelligent, articulate, effort intensive woman on YT I've had the good fortune to come across. ❤

[@PokhrajRoy.]

13:35 Me when I was 12 thinking I spoke French like a native speaker:

[@Michellerosecusack]

Nice reference to the "it's all that" French guy in the tub gag. 😂 Too me back

[@lindsay6518]

Having just done a rewatch of the series Versailles with Athelstan as Louis I am loving these details!! Edited to say your Louis costume would make an excellent Monsieur Marshall cosplay...

[@angryhistoryguy5657]

Only vaguely related, but how much do we think George Blagden was channeling Ragnar Lothbrok in his portrayal of Louis?

[@raetetemanza6660]

Louis XIV, the OG "get ready with me" influencer! 👑

[@vainpiers]

Also we're talking about deeply religious periods of time where hygiene was seen as godly behaviour. Being clean was a sign of respectability being dirty was the sign of deep poverty and untrustworthiness (classism)

[@amymay2097]

Too much fun with the chamber pot - love the squeak of a laugh at the end. Love seeing the pups!!! And as always wonder what object was going to be used for the Mike - spatula is now off the board! 😂❤

[@sockgoblin2942]

The thumbnail gave me whiplash 😂 also Abby dressed as Louis XIV really cracks me up 😂

[@pauladavitt7554]

When you should be going to sleep because you have an early start and a double shift tomorrow, but an Abby video pops up.

[@mahtra.2372]

i really start to loath history tiktok. Just earlier I saw one, where they claimed that Louis XIV. lived in the 14th century... Totally random, but I appreciate the tighter curls of your wig and that you didn't go for the looser curl pattern of Bernini's bust.

[@yesterdaydream]

Don't ever let anyone tell you thumbnails aren't an art.

[@AbbyCox]

Why are thumbnails so hard 🫠 - i did have a lot of fun with these though lol

[@yesterdaydream]

@@AbbyCox I do get nostalgia for the historic period during which we had three screenshots for thumbnail options😅

[@stacybrewer3812]

I didn’t know I needed a Louis XIIII x Pierre Escargot mashup, but I’m so tickled it’s happened!!!

[@alejandrocorrea8243]

The ending with the chamber pot 😂😂

[@lindaraterink6451]

I love how you smack that flowchart on the curtains to pieces! Also how do you find all these information?

[@AbbyCox]

Sources are in the description ❤️

[@kikidevine694]

The Abby Cox video I didn't know I needed. And daaaamn girl, you rocked the Brian May peruke

[@marymugge1523]

The cackles I let out at the Louis costume XD. This is all fabulous!

[@AbbyCox]

the fact that I did this cosplay from my closet is one of my proudest moments, tbh.

[@RoseFire6]

That is wonderful!!

[@marymugge1523]

​@@AbbyCoxyou must have the greatest last minute cosplay closet ever! 😂

[@DawnBurn]

I like that I knew the answer before I started but I stayed for 20 min of myth busting.

[@hopeofdawn]

As a pin collector, I almost pulled the trigger on that pin - it is so cute and sassy! But sadly I just can't justify paying almost $9 shipping for a single pin - sorry Abby!

[@peter_bazinet]

The pee outro ruled!

[@hoo7797]

You know, if we consider "bathing" exclusively as cleaning yourself by submerging yourself in water (given that they had scrubbing as another method), I've actually never taken a bath in my life. Louis XIV from the myth would've been more "hygienic" than me, and the real one was tenfold.

[@BlackNightSkiesSoar]

Abby does God's work. And by God's work I mean uncovering all the bologna that people have peddled for ages 😂

[@moda78z]

But I quinze? Lmao 😂🤣 You’re such a nerd, Abby! 😂🤣😘❤️

[@cbw900]

Love your videos. Especially the very sensible empathetic theory about medical PTSD. My own personal historical figure hyperfixation, James VI/I, gets reported in various histories as being "distrustful of medicine" and "uncooperative with his doctors", but if you look at the sort of stuff those doctors were putting these guys through, not trusting the doctors makes a lot of sense. Do you have any knowledge of a quote I've oft seen reported and NEVER sourced, that a Russian ambassador said that Louis XIV "stunk like a wild animal"? I've never seen a name or year given, an original language quote...

[@kaitlynjoyce9571]

I love sober drunk history with Abby Cox!

[@SueK2001]

I live for debunking videos. Add in Abby in drag, an “outrageous” (cue Monty Python Holy Grail) accent and I’m all over this!❤ lastly, I really love your haircut Abby. It’s so cute.

[@BladeRedwind]

You had me at bad Louis the 14th French accent and impersonation with bath time.

[@pierre-jeromebergeron2211]

I guess there is indirect mention of my favorite French wikipedia article (yet to be translated to English)... starts with "fistule".

[@roxannlegg750]

I am a child of the 70's and I dunno how common this is in the rural US, but we grew up on a small dairy farm where we lived on tanked rain water only. We also had an outback dunny - no flush loo's for us (until 1993). Anyway, we were only allowed a shallow bath once a week, that was shared, on Saturday nights ready for church on Sundays. Being the only girl, I got it first to wash my long hair, and I wasnt allowed to put my hair back in the water (which would in theory "dirty" it again), only bucketed water over our hair. The boys in the family got it last. But every other day we had a "flannel bath", and strictly clean clothes every day. So fast forward to adulthood, I still shower once a week in winter, twice in summer (or whenever my hair is sweaty or yukky) and a flannel bath each day, as froughts are a normal everyday thing, and water conservation is just SO ingrained into so many of us, we cant shake it off. But if/when I ever tell ppl, the responses range from "yewww-urgh," to thats sensible. But no one would know otherwise. More ppl in the world do this anyway and we overwash our bodies - JIMHO. Fabulous video essay!!!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

5:25 So was Henry VIII. You could smell him from a few doors away. And he had a designated posterior wiper.

[@camilledion-dundas4116]

As a French Canadian, I can confidently say your accent is still better than the québécois accent.

[@AbbyCox]

😂😭🙏🏻

[@jillbravo5252]

The amount of times I guffawed during this 😂 And now I know what my Halloween costume is - thanks Abby 💛

[@ThornAmidstRoses]

I had no idea how bad I missed Everyday French with Pierre Escargot until I watched this 😂

[@SarahGreen523]

Whoever is using that chamber pot needs to drink more water.

[@AbbyCox]

Thank you for witnessing that super subtle joke LOOLLLLL

[@nlkeyser]

Pierre Escargot lol that brings me back!

[@MadamoftheCatHouse]

I looove Abby's beautiful rainbow dress!

[@AbbyCox]

www.bodenusa.com/en-us/kate-midi-shirt-dress-rainbow-stripe/sty-d0733-mil?cat=C1_S2_G4 🌈❤️

[@Ago2904]

Me too❤

[@Peachcreekmedia]

I cited the Clean Body in a paper!!!😮 Abby brought the paper and the citations!!

[@namewithay]

I appreciate the Everyday French with Pierre Escargot reference.

[@vainpiers]

I think the main issue is people for whatever reason want to believe people of the past were disgusting. I've never corrected someones misinformation of historic cleanliness and had them not go "nuh-uh"

[@annabeinglazy5580]

Lol based on that logic i am extremely inhygienic for only bathing a couple times a year.... Because i prefer showers

[@helengreenbacker1036]

I love a good bath, but the idea of spending FOUR HOURS in the tub daily would also make me sick of it pretty quick. Doing so while ill would not help at all.

[@KatjaViebahn]

If I had to spend four hours a day in a bathtub while shitting myself I'd also be scared of baths

[@MegMarchSews61]

The lipstick with the drawn on facial hair 😂😂

[@SamUndomiel]

Love this video! The outfit! The red string board! The merch I hope is still in stock for my next paycheck!

[@makeminemonsters]

PIERRE ESCARGOT !!! (Also thank you for this. Another fake internet history thing I recently debunked for myself was the Aaron Burr coconut quote. I can't find it anywhere other than Tumblr nor is it in the versions of his diaries I have easy access to online.)

[@soggyfroggy22]

I love how you get into character for your videos. 😄

[@dagnolia6004]

what did i learn? crocs float!!!! (luv ya Abby)

[@VictorianWaistcoat]

I am trying _so hard_ to girl math myself into buying that pin . . . . . . Edit: okay I bought the pin

[@stefanied3219]

You've outdone yourself, again... Bravo 👏 🙌 ❤

[@yesterdaydream]

She really did Pierre Escargot🛀

[@valedan1075]

Say it louder for the would be "historians" in the back! Love you Abby!

[@tristambre632]

As a native French speaker it was very funny to hear your charming accent. Ahaha mon amie :P

[@catherinejustcatherine1778]

Hooray for Debunking outrageous lies🎉

[@TheoTheTimeTravelingMagician]

Awesome video! Abbey, you are the best. Like I have said before, the massive amount of work you put into your videos really shows, and is appreciated. Thank you for setting the record straight on Louis the 14th’s probably not THAT stanky 🍑. Best, Theo

[@RoseFire6]

Excellent mustache and hair 👌!!

[@Emthe30something]

Great vid!

[@YsabelGamache]

Abby, I have not laughed like that in a while. Thank you.

[@aimeecentaine]

Yessssssss red string debunking Abby returns! ❤

[@sunitinelson5564]

Love the inclusion of the rooster in the bath tub

[@TheGabygael]

The guy got ptsd from a young age and suffered from a lot of dirty looking illnesses his entire life and yet he managed to be the longest reigning monarch in french history

[@Sunsetluver1]

His nurses never bathed him as a baby?

[@pinkbunny6272]

Louis XIV liked having adult fun time, with his lovers, in the bath. He did bathe a lot.

[@CrystalFier]

Given the baths were part of a course of medical treatment, they may have had treatments to the water that he hated, especially if he was sensitive to scents.

[@farangarris2598]

Love this ideo😅. Well done!😊

[@agent57]

"fear of bathing" y'all he just didn't want to poop in the tub.

[@Authentistic-ism]

Yas king (literally drag king of a king)

[@Redhead_Knitting]

I wonder if he was taking a sitz bath. IYKYK

[@yensid4294]

There are so many rumors about Louise & the court at Versaille. Makes me think it was political propaganda & rumors that stuck & keep getting repeated by those Weird History Facts channels.

[@auntietara]

You’re a total hoot, and if you’d taught history when I was in school, I wouldn’t have so many issues! (That would be a great trick, since I’m legit old enough to be your mother, but hey … it would have been wonderful!)

[@annacatherinesendgikoski1965]

Abbs...you need to start looking into very cold cases for the FBI.Mmmmkay? Please start now!

[@cynhanrahan4012]

Just when I'm wondering when Abby's next video will be out, voila' ! She appears. Seems my witchy part knows and puts the thought in a day or two before you upload. Voila'! You aren't the only one who's French has deteriorated. The nuns would be appalled.

[@Lekili-md9cq]

Apropos of nothing...your outfit is 🔥🔥🔥! (Both of them, actually.)

[@isabelleblanchet3694]

Your French pronunciation is quite okay for an English speaker. Quite easy to understand.

[@yensid4294]

I enjoy a relaxing bath as much as anyone but TWO HOURS twice a day? No thank you. How pruney he must have been. Especially if bowel problems are an issue, I certainly wouldn't want to potentially be submerged in my own waste. Yikes. Before we had indoor plumbing & heating,fully immersive baths were just too much effort in northern/western Europe for most people. Doesn't mean they didn't "bathe" or wash themselves. No way would I have gone near a communal, public bath house. Ew. No thank you.

[@17thcentury_girl]

You should definitely make a mid 17th century dress.... there is only like 5 videos on KZbin

[@Sunsetluver1]

Did you make your Louie costume?

[@wendyflores1092]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@Heothbremel]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@dianetheone4059]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@vincnz08]

Haha I'm early 🤗

[@nartyteek]

You coped beautifully without access to a color printer 14:00

[@knittingmoose]

i saw a video recently that the creator used a book written by a PHD, that said that medieval people thought the pure white of their linen shirts magically protected them from dirt, and that's why they had so many of these pure, white garments....🥲