France has had mixed fortunes in its long existence, swinging from being the dominant power in Europe to being hated and distrusted by all the major powers. These periods of contrast, it seems are very often close to each other. Today, France is ruled by a constitutional monarchy, which was founded by King Charles XI (although during his reign it was a totalitarian state) in the years after the Great War, following the collapse of the corrupt Third Republic. Today, it is seen as the culture capital of Europe and although no longer a major military power, unlike Russia, Britain or Germany, its economic and cultural might more than make up for it.