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Louis XIV

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Louis XIV of France

Louis XIV (5 September 1638 - 1 September 1715), also known as Louis The Great or the Sun King, was King of France from 14 May 1643 to 1 September 1715. It one of the longest reigning king in history.[1]

He was the son of the King Louis XIII. His successor was his great-grandson Louis XV. He suffered from various ailments including diabetes symptoms, dental issues, recurring boils, fainting, gout, dizziness, hot flushes, headaches, and died from gangrene in 1715.

Early life and reign[edit | edit source]

Louis XIV as a child

He was born on 5 September 1638, in Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, to Louis XIII and Anne of Austria. He has elder brother named "Philippe I", born in 1640. He was called Louis Dieudonné, which means "Louis the God-given.".[2] He was also given the title "Dauphin" which was a traditional title for French heirs.

In 1643, before his fifth birthday, his father died from Crohn's disease. Louis XIV ascended the throne in 1643. He is only five years old at the time. Based on the will of his father in accordance with Osho, the regent was handed over to Anne Austrian. At the age of 5, Louis XIV almost drowned from swimming pools.

Marriage and children[edit | edit source]

Louis, a eldest son of Louis XIV

Louis XIV married Maria Theresa of Spain in 1660 and had six children, as part of the Treaty of the Pyrenees, which ended Franco-Spanish War. His eldest son, Louis, Grand Dauphin was born on 1 November 1661, and died in 1711. Their second child is a daughter named Anne Élisabeth born in 1662, but died in infancy. Maria Theresa passed away in 1683.

Later, Louis XIV was more faithful to Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon. In 1683 or 1684, Louis secretly married Françoise d'Aubigné in Versailles.

Absolute monarch[edit | edit source]

After Mazarin's death in 1661, Louis XIV took direct control of the government and declared his intention to rule without a chief minister. He created an informal cabinet, which was eventually led by Jean-Baptiste Colbert. He saw his duty as ruling for the good of his people. While he made decisions, he also understood the importance of following the laws and customs of his kingdom.

Louis regularly consulted with his nobles and ministers, meeting with his high council every week. He also formed an informal cabinet, led by Jean-Baptiste Colbert, who was in charge of finances.

Overall, Louis XIV was highly successful in portraying the image of an all-powerful monarch. He adopted the sun as his symbol and associated himself with its radiant image.

Nine Years' War[edit | edit source]

Louis XIV with horse

It started in the Rhineland. First, in 1685, Charles II, who ruled the Elector Palatine, died. Louis thought the Emperor might turn against him, so he was cautious. Another threat was the Glorious Revolution in England in 1688. Then later, The Nine Years' War starts in 1688 until 1697.

When James II of England had a son, he was become king, Louis XIV thought William moving to England, but it didn't. Then Louis XIV sent troops to the Rhineland to protect it. During the war, the French armies won most of the battles. France took over much of Savoy after battles in 1693.

The Peace of Ryswick marked ended Nine Years' War in 1697.

Later years[edit | edit source]

In the mid-1680s, Louis XIV began to lose his vitality. He had been taught to work hard by Mazarin and kept up a demanding schedule despite minor illnesses and ignoring his doctors' advice. Eventually, a broken arm prevented him from riding horses vigorously, and gout stopped him from taking long walks around Versailles. He had to be carried to his throne room or his carriage.

In 1683, his first wife passed away, and he secretly married his longtime mistress, Françoise d’Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon. In 1711, he suffered the tragic loss of his oldest son, followed by the death of his oldest grandson the next year.

Death[edit | edit source]

Louis XIV's sliver coin

Louis XIV died on 1 September 1715, due to Gangrene with 4 days before his 77th birthday and and his body was buried in the Saint-Denis Basilica near Paris. Then Louis XV became King of France until 1774, after Louis XIV's death.

Children[edit | edit source]

Maria Theresa of Spain[edit | edit source]

  1. Louis of France, Dauphin of France (1661 – 1711)
  2. Anne Élisabeth of France (1662 – 1662)
  3. Marie Anne of France (1664 – 1664)
  4. Marie Thérèse of France (1667 – 1672)
  5. Philippe Charles of France (1668 – 1671)
  6. Louis François of France (1672 – 1672)

Madame de Montespan[edit | edit source]

  1. Louise Françoise de Bourbon (1669 – 1672)
  2. Louis Auguste de Bourbon, Duke of Maine (1670 – 1736)
  3. Louis César de Bourbon, Count of Vexin (1672 – 1683)
  4. Louise Françoise de Bourbon, Mademoiselle de Nantes (1673 – 1743)
  5. Louise Marie Anne de Bourbon, Mademoiselle de Tours (1674 – 1681)
  6. Françoise Marie de Bourbon, Mademoiselle de Blois (1677 – 1749)
  7. Louis Alexandre de Bourbon, Count of Toulouse (1678 – 1737)

References[edit | edit source]

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