1The puissance of the French monarchy was at its peak during the reign of Louis XIV.
2In medieval times, the puissance of a lord was measured by the number of vassals he could command.
3The concept of puissance is central to Machiavelli's 'The Prince', where he discusses the means by which a ruler can maintain power.
4The puissance of the British Empire was gradually eroded by the rise of nationalist movements in its colonies.
5In modern usage, the term puissance is largely confined to historical or literary contexts, where it serves to evoke a sense of grandeur or majesty.