Louis XIV

Louis XIV was king of France from 1643 until his death in 1715, a reign of more than seventy-two years and one of the longest known. Born in 1638, he became king at four after the death of his father, Louis XIII. During his childhood, his mother Anne of Austria and Cardinal Mazarin governed on his behalf.

The Fronde, a series of rebellions from 1648 to 1653, affected the young king and strengthened his determination to control the government. After Mazarin died in 1661, Louis XIV chose to govern without a chief minister of similar authority. He strengthened royal power, relied on councils and officials, and supported the development of the army and public administration.

Louis XIV is closely associated with the Palace of Versailles, which became the main royal residence in 1682 and a center of court and political life. He supported artists, writers and scholars while waging costly wars to strengthen French influence in Europe. His reign brought advances in the arts and sciences, but also heavy taxation, military losses and hardship.

In 1685, he revoked the Edict of Nantes, ending legal protections for French Protestants and causing many to leave the country. Known as the “Sun King,” he presented himself as the center of royal authority. He died in 1715 and was succeeded by his great-grandson, Louis XV. His reign shaped French government, culture and European politics.