Louis XIV

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

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

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

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.

Nine Years' War

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.

Death

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

Maria Theresa of Spain

  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

  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)
  • Louis XIV in 1670
  • Louis XIV's sliver coin

References

  1. ↑ The Reign of Louis XIV (1643-1715): An Overview. College of Arts and Sciences.
  2. ↑ La Provence mystique au XVIIe siècle
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