The Sun King, Louis XIV

Also known as the Sun King, Louis XIV ruled France in a time of great turmoil and conflict. Born in 1638, Louis was the son of Louis XIII and his Habsburg wife, Anne of Austria. Louis succeeded his father to the throne at age four, but the country was ruled by his mother as regent until Louis could actually take over as king. Because of her negligence, Louis was mostly raised by servants and experienced a tumultuous and difficult childhood. The royal family was more than once driven out of Paris and lived imprisoned and in fear and poverty. These experiences of cold, hunger and humiliation would shape Louis' reign when he ascended the throne.

In 1660, at age 22, Louis married the daughter of King Philip IV of Spain. His marriage to Marie-Therese was purely political, in order that the peace treaty of the Thirty Years War be sealed. Louis was preparing the political foundation for his personal rule of France and was not known for his devotion to his wife. He would go on to establish the longest reign as a monarch in European history, ruling France from 1643 to 1715.

Tradition had held that kings often allowed their ministers to actually rule their countries. Cardinal Mazarin had been the primary minister under Louis' father and continued to administrate the country while Louis' mother was regent. However, when Mazarin died in 1661, Louis took personal control of the monarchy and astounded the court by becoming his own chief minister. Louis believed in the divine right of kings, broke with tradition and established an absolute monarchy, ruling with innovation and establishing many new laws and policies. Reforms were made to the judicial structure, law enforcement, taxes, tariffs, fiscal policies, commerce, trade, imports, manufacturing, military administration and legal codes.

Louis was a patron of the arts and established academies for painting, sculpture, architecture, science, philosophy and music. Artisans were invited to France from all over Europe. In Paris, the Louvre museum of art was built at great expense. In Versailles, Louis transformed his hunting property into the remarkable palace, park and gardens that remain a tourist attraction today. Court etiquette was established and culture grew and flourished.

Five wars were fought during the reign of King Louis XIV. France grew in size as territories were conquered on the borders of the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Italy and Austria. Although France was often engaged in battles during his rule, Louis managed to establish stability in a time of great conflict and France was the leading power in Europe during his time.

King Louis XIV died just before his 77th birthday and was succeeded by his 5-year-old great-grandson, who became Louis XV. All his other heirs, including his son, grandson and an elder great-grandson had died before the king's passing. King Louis XIV is remembered for his long 72-year reign of France, for his establishment of an absolute monarchy, for his extensive reforms of laws and administration, for his glittering court at Versailles, for the growth of arts and culture and for his personal innovations as a king.

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