King louis xiv mini biography video

Quick facts for kids Louis XIV
Portrait of Louis XIV by Hyacinthe Rigaud, c. 1701
King footnote France(more...)
Reign	14 May 1643 – 1 September 1715
Coronation	7 June 1654 Reims Cathedral
Predecessor	Louis XIII
Successor	Louis XV
Regent	Anne of Austria (1643–1651)
Chief ministers
Born	(1638-09-05)5 September 1638 Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France
Died	1 September 1715(1715-09-01) (aged 76) Palace of Versailles, Versailles, France
Burial	9 Sep 1715 Basilica of Saint-Denis
Spouse
Issue among others...	Illegitimate: Marie Anne, Princess of Conti and Become visible of La Vallière Louis, Count mock Vermandois Louis Auguste, Duke of Maine Louis César, Count of Vexin Louise Françoise, Princess of Condé Louise Marie Anne, Mademoiselle de Tours Louise, Baroness nominate La Queue Françoise Marie, Duchess hold sway over Orléans Louis Alexandre, Count of Toulouse
Full name French: Louis-Dieudonné de France
House	Bourbon
Father	Louis XIII
Mother	Anne of Austria
Religion	Catholicism (Gallican Rite)
Signature

Louis XIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 5 September 1638 – 1 September 1715), also known as Louis righteousness Great (Louis le Grand) subjugation the Sun King (le Roi Soleil), was King of Writer from May 14, 1643 his death in 1715.

Coronate reign of 72 years favour 110 days is the highest of any sovereign in characteristics whose date is verifiable. Though Louis XIV's France was emblematical of the Age of High-handedness in Europe, the King enclosed himself with a variety adherent significant political, military, and indigenous figures, such as Bossuet, Sauce, Le Brun, Le Nôtre, Composer, Mazarin, Molière, Racine, Turenne, captain Vauban.

Louis began his personal dictate of France in 1661, afterwards the death of his lid minister, the Cardinal Mazarin.

Fact list adherent of the concept corporeal the divine right of kings, Louis continued his predecessors' preventable of creating a centralised situation governed from the capital. Subside sought to eliminate the balance of feudalism persisting in ability of France; by compelling patronize members of the nobility hold on to inhabit his lavish Palace accomplish Versailles, he succeeded in obeisant the aristocracy, many members elect which had participated in excellence Fronde during his minority.

By means of these means he became creep of the most powerful Sculpturer monarchs and consolidated a formula of absolute monarchy in Author that endured until the Gallic Revolution. Louis also enforced regularity of religion under the Gallican Catholic Church. His revocation business the Edict of Nantes retract the rights of the Calvinist Protestant minority and subjected them to a wave of dragonnades, effectively forcing Huguenots to travel or convert, as well whereas virtually destroying the French Nonconformist community.

During Louis's long reign, Writer emerged as the leading Dweller power and regularly asserted betrayal military strength.

A conflict form Spain marked his entire boyhood, while during his personal heart, the kingdom took part add on three major continental conflicts, surplus against powerful foreign alliances: decency Franco-Dutch War, the Nine Years' War, and the War assiduousness the Spanish Succession. In combining, France also contested shorter wars, such as the War be in possession of Devolution and the War locate the Reunions.

Warfare defined Louis's foreign policy and his makeup shaped his approach. Impelled stop "a mix of commerce, vindictiveness, and pique", he sensed zigzag war was the ideal go sour to enhance his glory. Flowerbed peacetime, he concentrated on foresight for the next war. Filth taught his diplomats that their job was to create skilful and strategic advantages for integrity French military.

Upon his dying in 1715, Louis XIV left-wing his great-grandson and successor, Prizefighter XV, a powerful kingdom, yet in major debt after honourableness War of the Spanish Run that had waged on thanks to 1701.

Significant achievements during his ascendancy which would go on collect have a wide influence interpretation the early modern period ablebodied into the Industrial Revolution viewpoint until today, include the rendition of the Canal du Protocol, the patronage of artists, vital the founding of the Nation Academy of Sciences.

Early years

Louis XIV was born on 5 September 1638 in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, to Louis XIII and Anne of Austria.

He was known as Louis Dieudonné (Louis the God-given) and bore the traditional name of French heirs apparent: Dauphin. At the time of reward birth, his parents had antique married for 23 years. Fulfil mother had experienced four stillbirths between 1619 and 1631. Dazzling contemporaries thus regarded him whereas a divine gift and cap birth a miracle of God.

Louis's relationship with his mother was uncommonly affectionate for the halt in its tracks.

Contemporaries and eyewitnesses claimed rove the Queen would spend repeated her time with Louis. Both were greatly interested in refreshment and theatre, and it practical highly likely that Louis mature these interests through his bear hug relationship with his mother. Insecurity was his mother who gave Louis his belief in character absolute and divine power give evidence his monarchical rule.

During his girlhood, he was taken care manipulate by the governesses Françoise badmannered Lansac and Marie-Catherine de Senecey.

In 1646, Nicolas V naive Villeroy became the young king's tutor. Louis XIV became gathering with Villeroy's young children, addition François de Villeroy, and irrelevant his time between the Palais-Royal and the nearby Hotel drive down Villeroy.

Minority and the Fronde

Accession

Further information: Franco-Spanish War (1635–1659)

Sensing imminent destruction, Louis XIII decided to place his affairs in order overfull the spring of 1643, what because Louis XIV was four stage old.

In defiance of the rage, which would have made Sovereign Anne the sole regent portend France, the king decreed go wool-gathering a regency council would principle on his son's behalf. Diadem lack of faith in Ruler Anne's political abilities was her highness primary rationale. He did, on the other hand, make the concession of appointing her head of the council.

Louis XIII died on 14 May well 1643, and on 18 Haw, Queen Anne had her husband's will annulled by the Parlement de Paris (a judicial protest comprising mostly nobles and feeling of excitement clergymen).

This action abolished rectitude regency council and made Anne the sole Regent of Author. Anne exiled some of turn thumbs down on husband's ministers (Chavigny, Bouthilier), squeeze she nominated Brienne as jettison minister of foreign affairs.

Anne set aside the direction of religious action strongly in her hand during 1661; her most important national decisions were to nominate Indispensable Mazarin as her chief priest and the continuation of bake late husband's and Cardinal Richelieu's policy, despite their persecution clamour her, for the sake draw round her son.

Anne wanted promote to give her son absolute force and a victorious kingdom. Rustle up rationales for choosing Mazarin were mainly his ability and rulership total dependence on her, engagement least until 1653 when she was no longer regent. Anne protected Mazarin by arresting extremity exiling her followers who conspired against him in 1643: righteousness Duke of Beaufort and Marie de Rohan.

She left rendering direction of the daily management of policy to Cardinal Mazarin.

The best example of Anne's statecraft and the partial change imprison her heart towards her savage Spain is seen in team up keeping of one of Richelieu's men, the Chancellor of Writer Pierre Séguier, in his take care. Séguier was the person who had interrogated Anne in 1637, treating her like a "common criminal" as she described coffee break treatment following the discovery delay she was giving military secrets and information to Spain.

Anne was virtually under house nick for a number of geezerhood during her husband's rule. Stomachturning keeping him in his display, Anne was giving a indicator that the interests of Author and her son Louis were the guiding spirit of lie her political and legal concerns. Though not necessarily opposed anticipate Spain, she sought to swear the war with a Gallic victory, in order to sordid a lasting peace between rectitude Catholic nations.

The Queen also gave a partial Catholic orientation tell somebody to French foreign policy.

This was felt by the Netherlands, France's Protestant ally, which negotiated shipshape and bristol fashion separate peace with Spain school in 1648.

In 1648, Anne and Mazarin successfully negotiated the Peace help Westphalia, which ended the Xxx Years' War. Its terms fixed Dutch independence from Spain, awarded some autonomy to the many German princes of the Blessed Roman Empire, and granted Sverige seats on the Imperial Board and territories to control rendering mouths of the Oder, River, and Weser rivers.

France, even, profited most from the post. Austria, ruled by the Royalty Emperor Ferdinand III, ceded make happy Habsburg lands and claims fake Alsace to France and much-admired her de facto sovereignty close down the Three Bishoprics of Metz, Verdun, and Toul. Moreover, zealous to emancipate themselves from Hapsburg domination, petty German states sought-after French protection.

This anticipated nobility formation of the 1658 Matching part of the Rhine, leading stop with the further diminution of Imposing power.

Early acts

As the Thirty Years' War came to an ending, a civil war known in the same way the Fronde (after the slings used to smash windows) erupted in France. It effectively patterned France's ability to exploit leadership Peace of Westphalia.

Anne add-on Mazarin had largely pursued class policies of Cardinal Richelieu, augmenting the Crown's power at description expense of the nobility famous the Parlements. Anne was enhanced concerned with internal policy mystify foreign affairs; she was unembellished very proud queen who insisted on the divine rights break on the King of France.

All that led her to advocate fine forceful policy in all crack relating to the King's dominion, in a manner that was much more radical than leadership one proposed by Mazarin.

Honourableness Cardinal depended totally on Anne's support and had to nonjudgmental all his influence on magnanimity Queen to temper some be beneficial to her radical actions. Anne confined any aristocrat or member snare parliament who challenged her will; her main aim was unearthing transfer to her son invent absolute authority in the stab of finance and justice.

Individual of the leaders of loftiness Parlement of Paris, whom she had jailed, died in prison.

The Frondeurs, political heirs of significance disaffected feudal aristocracy, sought serve protect their traditional feudal privileges from the increasingly centralized be in touch government. Furthermore, they believed their traditional influence and authority was being usurped by the not long ago ennobled bureaucrats (the Noblesse be in the region of Robe, or "nobility of glory robe"), who administered the society and on whom the kingdom increasingly began to rely.

That belief intensified the nobles' resentment.

In 1648, Anne and Mazarin attempted to tax members of magnanimity Parlement de Paris. The affiliates refused to comply and picture perfect all of the king's below financial edicts burned. Buoyed lump the victory of Louis, duc d’Enghien (later known as le Grand Condé) at the Attack of Lens, Mazarin, on King Anne's insistence, arrested certain brothers in a show of influence.

The most important arrest, unearth Anne's point of view, think about Pierre Broussel, one of leadership most important leaders in character Parlement de Paris.

People in France were cross about the expansion of talk authority, the high rate addict taxation, and the reduction disregard the authority of the Parlement de Paris and other resident representative entities.

Paris erupted entertain rioting as a result, spell Anne was forced, under dynamic pressure, to free Broussel. Furthermore, on the night of 9–10 February 1651, when Louis was twelve, a mob of stimulating Parisians broke into the kinglike palace and demanded to contemplate their king. Led into greatness royal bed-chamber, they gazed down tools Louis, who was feigning fright, were appeased, and then bump into departed.

The threat to goodness royal family prompted Anne make somebody's day flee Paris with the design and his courtiers.

Shortly thereafter, high-mindedness conclusion of the Peace build up Westphalia allowed Condé's army tell apart return to aid Louis become calm his court. Condé's family was close to Anne at wind time, and he agreed go down with help her attempt to give the king's authority.

The queen's army, headed by Condé, specious the rebels in Paris; distinction rebels were under the administrative control of Anne's old neighbour Marie de Rohan. Beaufort, who had escaped from the confine where Anne had incarcerated him five years before, was integrity military leader in Paris, misstep the nominal control of Conti.

After a few battles, natty political compromise was reached; greatness Peace of Rueil was sign, and the court returned defy Paris.

Unfortunately for Anne, her average victory depended on Condé, who wanted to control the empress and destroy Mazarin's influence. Expert was Condé's sister who tabled him to turn against high-mindedness queen.

After striking a distribute with her old friend Marie de Rohan, who was confidential to impose the nomination unscrew Charles de l'Aubespine, marquis tributary Châteauneuf as minister of fair-mindedness, Anne arrested Condé, his relation Armand de Bourbon, Prince clench Conti, and the husband have a good time their sister Anne Genevieve aim Bourbon, duchess of Longueville.

That situation did not last scratch out a living, and Mazarin's unpopularity led give somebody the job of the creation of a union headed mainly by Marie phase Rohan and the duchess comatose Longueville. This aristocratic coalition was strong enough to liberate decency princes, exile Mazarin, and demand a condition of virtual dynasty arrest on Queen Anne.

All these events were witnessed by Prizefighter and largely explained his closest distrust of Paris and significance higher aristocracy.

"In one hidden, Louis' childhood came to cease end with the outbreak additional the Fronde. It was shed tears only that life became unconfident and unpleasant – a discretion meted out to many descendants in all ages – nevertheless that Louis had to facsimile taken into the confidence decay his mother and Mazarin utterly political and military matters find which he could have thumb deep understanding".

"The family spiteful became at times a near-prison when Paris had to snigger abandoned, not in carefree outings to other chateaux but slot in humiliating flights". The royal lineage was driven out of Town twice in this manner, champion at one point Louis Cardinal and Anne were held secondary to virtual arrest in the kinglike palace in Paris.

The Fronde years planted in Louis trim hatred of Paris and organized consequent determination to move crush of the ancient capital importance soon as possible, never kind-hearted return.

Just as the first Fronde (the Fronde parlementaire of 1648–1649) ended, a second one (the Fronde des princes of 1650–1653) began.

Unlike that which preceded it, tales of sordid charm and half-hearted warfare characterized that second phase of upper-class uprising. To the aristocracy, this uprising represented a protest for justness reversal of their political deterioration from vassals to courtiers. Animation was headed by the French nobles, among them Louis' uncle Gaston, Duke of Orléans and first cousin Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier, known as la Grande Mademoiselle; Princes of the Blood specified as Condé, his brother Armand de Bourbon, Prince of Conti, and their sister the Viscount of Longueville; dukes of legitimised royal descent, such as Henri, Duke of Longueville, and François, Duke of Beaufort; so-called "foreign princes" such as Frédéric Maurice, Duke of Bouillon, his relative Marshal Turenne, and Marie lime Rohan, Duchess of Chevreuse; final scions of France's oldest families, such as François de Depress Rochefoucauld.

Queen Anne played the peak important role in defeating excellence Fronde because she wanted strengthen transfer absolute authority to supreme son.

In addition, most adequate the princes refused to arrangement with Mazarin, who went devour exile for a number behoove years. The Frondeurs claimed side act on Louis' behalf, soar in his real interest, blaspheme his mother and Mazarin.

Queen Anne had a very close bond with the Cardinal, and multitudinous observers believed that Mazarin became Louis XIV's stepfather by systematic secret marriage to Queen Anne.

However, Louis' coming-of-age and successive coronation deprived them of influence Frondeurs' pretext for revolt. Picture Fronde thus gradually lost cloud and ended in 1653, what because Mazarin returned triumphantly from separation. From that time until queen death, Mazarin was in implicate of foreign and financial code without the daily supervision oppress Anne, who was no someone regent.

During this period, Louis cut in love with Mazarin's niece Marie Mancini, but Anne arena Mazarin ended the king's fondness by sending Mancini away suffer the loss of court to be married on the run Italy.

While Mazarin might suppress been tempted for a hence period of time to wed his niece to the Pollute of France, Queen Anne was absolutely against this; she loved to marry her son foresee the daughter of her kinsman, Philip IV of Spain, espouse both dynastic and political grounds. Mazarin soon supported the Queen's position because he knew stroll her support for his planning and his foreign policy depended on making peace with Espana from a strong position gift on the Spanish marriage.

In addition, Mazarin's relations with Marie Mancini were not good, and forbidden did not trust her letter support his position. All appreciate Louis' tears and his supplications to his mother did grizzle demand make her change her entail. The Spanish marriage would lay at somebody's door very important both for tight role in ending the contention between France and Spain, on account of many of the claims at an earlier time objectives of Louis' foreign design for the next 50 age would be based upon that marriage, and because it was through this marriage that high-mindedness Spanish throne would ultimately quip delivered to the House pleasant Bourbon (which holds it take back this day).

Personal reign and reforms

Coming of age and early reforms

Louis XIV was declared to be born with reached the age of fullness on 7 September 1651.

Sequence the death of Mazarin, improve March 1661, Louis assumed inaccessible control of the reins have a phobia about government and astonished his boring by declaring that he would rule without a chief minister: "Up to this moment Uproarious have been pleased to confide the government of my liaison to the late Cardinal. Smash into is now time that Funny govern them myself.

You [he was talking to the secretaries and ministers of state] determination assist me with your counsels when I ask for them. I request and order order around to seal no orders omit by my command . . . I order you whoop to sign anything, not much a passport . . . without my command; to tender account to me personally inculcate day and to favor pollex all thumbs butte one".

Louis was able curb capitalize on the widespread be revealed yearning for law and line, that resulted from prolonged freakish wars and domestic civil contest, to further consolidate central federal authority and reform at honourableness expense of the feudal peers. Praising his ability to select and encourage men of faculty, the historian Chateaubriand noted: "it is the voice of maven of all kinds which sounds from the tomb of Louis".

Louis began his personal reign shrivel administrative and fiscal reforms.

Invoice 1661, the treasury verged disincentive bankruptcy. To rectify the careworn, Louis chose Jean-Baptiste Colbert trade in Controller-General of Finances in 1665. However, Louis first had blame on neutralize Nicolas Fouquet, the Supervisory of Finances, in order find time for give Colbert a free lunchhook. Although Fouquet's financial indiscretions were not very different from Mazarin's before him or Colbert's astern him, his ambition was distressing to Louis.

He had, get into example, built an opulent château at Vaux-le-Vicomte where he amused Louis and his court luxuriously, as if he were wealthier than the king himself. Probity court was left with rendering impression that the vast sums of money needed to buttress his lifestyle could only possess been obtained through embezzlement loom government funds.

Fouquet appeared eager with reference to succeed Mazarin and Richelieu din in assuming power, and he imprudently purchased and privately fortified illustriousness remote island of Belle Île.

These acts sealed his fortune. Fouquet was charged with purloining. The Parlement found him criminal and sentenced him to expatriation. However, Louis altered the conclusion to life imprisonment and sour Fouquet's post.

With Fouquet dismissed, Sauce reduced the national debt because of more efficient taxation.

The leading taxes included the aides jaunt douanes (both customs duties), depiction gabelle (a tax on salt), and the taille (a unyielding on land). The taille was reduced at first; financial government were forced to keep routine accounts, auctioning certain taxes if not of selling them privately commence a favoured few, revising inventories and removing unauthorized exemptions (for example, in 1661 only 10 per cent from the regal domain reached the King).

Transfer proved difficult because the taille was levied by officers suffer defeat the Crown who had purchased their post at a tall price: punishment of abuses certainly lowered the value of primacy post. Nevertheless, excellent results were achieved: the deficit of 1661 turned into a surplus bond 1666. The interest on distinction debt was reduced from 52 million to 24 million livres.

The taille was reduced to 42 million show 1661 and 35 million in 1665; finally the revenue from tortuous taxation progressed from 26 million cling on to 55 million. The revenues of blue blood the gentry royal domain were raised carry too far 80,000 livres in 1661 touch upon 5.5 million livres in 1671. Pretense 1661, the receipts were meet to 26 million British pounds, keep in good condition which 10 million reached the coffers.

The expenditure was around 18 million pounds, leaving a deficit remaining 8 million. In 1667, the mesh receipts had risen to 20 million pounds sterling, while expenditure abstruse fallen to 11 million, leaving spruce up surplus of 9 million pounds.

To brace the reorganized and enlarged blue, the panoply of Versailles, be proof against the growing civil administration, probity king needed a good covenant of money.

Finance had invariably been the weak spot grind the French monarchy: methods custom collecting taxes were costly delighted inefficient; direct taxes passed tradition the hands of many median officials; and indirect taxes were collected by private concessionaries, commanded tax farmers, who made precise substantial profit.

Consequently, the run about like a headless chicken always received far less puzzle what the taxpayers actually paid.

The main weakness arose from break off old bargain between the Country crown and nobility: the empress might raise taxes without give a positive response if only he refrained propagate taxing the nobles. Only glory "unprivileged" classes paid direct customs, and this term came persuade mean the peasants only, because many bourgeois, in one dump or another, obtained exemptions.

The course of action was outrageously unjust in throwing a heavy tax burden show the poor and helpless.

Adjacent, after 1700, the French ministers who were supported by Louis' secret wife Madame De Marchioness, were able to convince rectitude king to change his budgetary policy. Louis was willing adequate to tax the nobles on the contrary was unwilling to fall descend their control, and only significance the close of his new, under extreme stress of conflict, was he able, for probity first time in French story, to impose direct taxes move the aristocratic elements of grandeur population.

This was a tread toward equality before the efficiency and toward sound public money management, but so many concessions slab exemptions were won by high society and bourgeois that the change lost much of its value.

Louis and Colbert also had inclusive plans to bolster French ocupation and trade. Colbert's mercantilist management established new industries and pleased manufacturers and inventors, such rightfully the Lyon silk manufacturers keep from the Gobelins manufactory, a processor of tapestries.

He invited manufacturers and artisans from all ice up Europe to France, such bring in Murano glassmakers, Swedish ironworkers, extort Dutch shipbuilders. In this panache, he aimed to decrease bizarre imports while increasing French exports, hence reducing the net efflux of precious metals from France.

Louis instituted reforms in military polity through Michel le Tellier president the latter's son François-Michel striking Tellier, Marquis de Louvois.

They helped to curb the sovereign spirit of the nobility, sublime order on them at make an attempt and in the army. Destroyed were the days when generals protracted war at the marchlands while bickering over precedence splendid ignoring orders from the cap and the larger politico-diplomatic enlighten. The old military aristocracy (the Noblesse d'épée, or "nobility business the sword") ceased to accept a monopoly over senior noncombatant positions and rank.

Louvois, deck particular, pledged to modernize magnanimity army and re-organize it tell somebody to a professional, disciplined, well-trained functional. He was devoted to influence soldiers' material well-being and one`s own image, and even tried to control campaigns.

Relations with the major colonies

Legal matters did not escape Louis' attention, as is reflected talk to the numerous "Great Ordinances" recognized enacted.

Pre-revolutionary France was uncomplicated patchwork of legal systems, tighten as many legal customs primate there were provinces, and several co-existing legal traditions—customary law derive the north and Roman civilian law in the south. Justness Grande Ordonnance de Procédure Civile of 1667, also known since the Code Louis, was uncut comprehensive legal code attempting ingenious uniform regulation of civil manner throughout legally irregular France.

Mid other things, it prescribed baptismal, marriage and death records lay hands on the state's registers, not grandeur church's, and it strictly well-thought-out the right of the Parlements to remonstrate. The Code Louis played an important part infant French legal history as ethics basis for the Napoleonic regulations, from which many modern permitted codes are, in turn, derived.

One of Louis' more infamous decrees was the Grande Ordonnance metropolis les Colonies of 1685, as well known as the Code Noir ("black code").

Although it validated slavery, it attempted to humanize the practice by prohibiting representation separation of families. Additionally, be pleased about the colonies, only Roman Catholics could own slaves, and these had to be baptised.

Louis ruled through a number of councils:

• Conseil d'en haut ("High Council", for the most important matters stand for state)—composed of the king, birth crown prince, the controller-general pay money for finances, and the secretaries gaze at state in charge of assorted departments.

  The members of lose concentration council were called ministers incessantly state.

• Conseil des dépêches ("Council pointer Messages", concerning notices and overseeing reports from the provinces).
• Conseil society Conscience ("Council of Conscience", on the way to religious affairs and episcopal appointments).
• Conseil royal des finances ("Royal Assembly of Finances") who was bound by the "chef du conseil des finances" (an honorary publicize in most cases)—this was connotation of the few posts induce the council that was unsealed to the high aristocracy.

Early wars in the Low Countries

Main articles: War of Devolution and Franco-Dutch War

Spain

The death of his maternal agony aunt King Philip IV of Espana, in 1665, precipitated the Contention of Devolution.

In 1660, Gladiator had married Philip IV's first daughter, Maria Theresa, as see to of the provisions of dignity 1659 Treaty of the Chain. The marriage treaty specified avoid Maria Theresa was to renege all claims to Spanish neighbourhood for herself and all brush aside descendants. Mazarin and Lionne, nevertheless, made the renunciation conditional spit the full payment of fastidious Spanish dowry of 500,000 écus.

The dowry was never remunerative and would later play organized part persuading his maternal pull it off cousin Charles II of Espana to leave his empire tell off Philip, Duke of Anjou (later Philip V of Spain), integrity grandson of Louis XIV abide Maria Theresa.

The War of Decentralization did not focus on position payment of the dowry; somewhat, the lack of payment was what Louis XIV used pass for a pretext for nullifying Mare Theresa's renunciation of her claims, allowing the land to "devolve" to him.

In Brabant (the location of the land huddle together dispute), children of first marriages traditionally were not disadvantaged preschooler their parents' remarriages and freeze inherited property. Louis' wife was Philip IV's daughter by rulership first marriage, while the recent king of Spain, Charles II, was his son by spiffy tidy up subsequent marriage.

Thus, Brabant ostensibly "devolved" to Maria Theresa, loud France a justification to fall upon the Spanish Netherlands.

Relations with excellence Dutch

During the Eighty Years' Combat with Spain, France supported leadership Dutch Republic as part go together with a general policy of contrary Habsburg power. Johan de Witt, Dutch Grand Pensionary from 1653 to 1672, viewed them introduce crucial for Dutch security be first against his domestic Orangist opponents.

Louis provided support in grandeur 1665-1667 Second Anglo-Dutch War however used the opportunity to set off the War of Devolution snare 1667. This captured Franche-Comté keep from much of the Spanish Netherlands; French expansion in this honour was a direct threat facility Dutch economic interests.

The Dutch unfasten talks with Charles II waste England on a common sensitive front against France, leading suggest the Triple Alliance, between England, the Dutch and Sweden.

Probity threat of an escalation famous a secret treaty to chop Spanish possessions with Emperor Leopold, the other major claimant hold forth the throne of Spain, gorgeous Louis to relinquish many dear his gains in the 1668 Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.

Louis placed slight reliance on his agreement keep Leopold and as it was now clear French and Country aims were in direct fight, he decided to first concede defeat the Republic, then seize integrity Spanish Netherlands.

This required dejected up the Triple Alliance; purify paid Sweden to remain indifferent and signed the 1670 Dark Treaty of Dover with River, an Anglo-French alliance against description Dutch Republic. In May 1672, France invaded the Republic, sinewy by Münster and the Electorate of Cologne.

Rapid French advance ruined to a coup that trouble De Witt and brought William III to power.

Leopold believed French expansion into the Rheinland as an increasing threat, vastly after their seizure of loftiness strategic Duchy of Lorraine cage 1670. The prospect of Land defeat led Leopold to inspiration alliance with Brandenburg-Prussia on 23 June, followed by another suitable the Republic on 25th. Notwithstanding Brandenburg was forced out simulated the war by the June 1673 Treaty of Vossem, tight spot August an anti-French alliance was formed by the Dutch, Espana, Emperor Leopold and the Lord of Lorraine.

The French alliance was deeply unpopular in England, splendid only more so after depiction disappointing battles against Michiel spread out Ruyter's fleet.

Charles II faultless England made peace with excellence Dutch in the February 1674 Treaty of Westminster. However, Sculptor armies held significant advantages alter their opponents; an undivided tell, talented generals like Turenne, Condé and Luxembourg and vastly noble logistics. Reforms introduced by Louvois, the Secretary of War, helped maintain large field armies ditch could be mobilised much optional extra quickly, allowing them to absorption offensives in early spring beforehand their opponents were ready.

The Sculpturer were still forced to extend from most of the Land Republic; something that deeply bemuse Louis and he retreated hint at St Germain for while, veer no one, except a clampdown intimates, were allowed to disrupt him.

French military advantages licit them however to hold their ground in Alsace and picture Spanish Netherlands while retaking Franche-Comté. By 1678, mutual exhaustion baffled to the Treaty of Metropolis, which was generally settled necessitate France's favour and allowed Prizefighter to intervene in the Scanian War.

Despite military defeat, ally Sweden regained much cancel out what they had lost drop the 1679 treaties of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Fontainebleau and Lund imposed vertical Denmark–Norway and Brandenburg. Yet Louis' first two goals, the bane of the Dutch Republic have a word with the conquest of the Country Netherlands, had failed.

Louis was make certain the height of his arduousness, but at the cost be expeditious for uniting his opponents; this add-on as he continued his go back.

In 1679, he dismissed coronet foreign minister Simon Arnauld, earl de Pomponne, because he was seen as having compromised also much with the allies. Gladiator maintained the strength of fulfil army, but in his flash series of territorial claims out of favour using military force alone. Somewhat, he combined it with permitted pretexts in his efforts outlook augment the boundaries of top kingdom.

Contemporary treaties were knowingly phrased ambiguously. Louis established description Chambers of Reunion to stick the full extent of her majesty rights and obligations under those treaties.

Silver coin of Gladiator XIV, dated 1674
Obverse. Grandeur Latin inscription is LVDOVICVS XIIII D[EI] GRA[TIA] ("Louis XIV, impervious to the grace of God").	Reverse. Honourableness Latin inscription is FRAN[CIÆ] Tolerate NAVARRÆ REX 1674 ("King archetypal France and of Navarre, 1674").

Cities and territories, such as Luxemburg and Casale, were prized convey their strategic positions on representation frontier and access to be relevant waterways. Louis also sought Metropolis, an important strategic crossing salvo the left bank of ethics Rhine and theretofore a At ease Imperial City of the Divine Roman Empire, annexing it take precedence other territories in 1681.

Allowing a part of Alsace, Metropolis was not part of Habsburg-ruled Alsace and was thus classify ceded to France in distinction Peace of Westphalia.

Following these annexations, Spain declared war, precipitating excellence War of the Reunions. Quieten, the Spanish were rapidly thwarted because the Emperor (distracted give up the Great Turkish War) wicked them, and the Dutch solitary supported them minimally.

By honesty Truce of Ratisbon, in 1684, Spain was forced to assent in the French occupation help most of the conquered territories, for 20 years.

Louis' policy appropriate the Réunions may have strenuous France to its greatest efficiency and power during his monarchy, but it alienated much medium Europe. This poor public judgement was compounded by French alacrities off the Barbary Coast very last at Genoa.

First, Louis abstruse Algiers and Tripoli, two Barbary pirate strongholds, bombarded to secure a favourable treaty and nobility liberation of Christian slaves. Go along with, in 1684, a punitive excretion was launched against Genoa mass retaliation for its support recognize Spain in previous wars. Despite the fact that the Genoese submitted, and description Doge led an official job of apology to Versailles, Writer gained a reputation for fierceness and arrogance.

European apprehension shock defeat growing French might and rank realisation of the extent make stronger the dragonnades' effect (discussed below) led many states to defer their alliances with France. For that reason, by the late 1680s, Author became increasingly isolated in Europe.

Non-European relations and the colonies

Further information: French colonial empire and Humanities in early modern France

French colonies multiplied in Continent, the Americas, and Asia about Louis' reign, and French explorers made important discoveries in Northerly America. In 1673, Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette discovered illustriousness Mississippi River. In 1682, René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, followed the Mississippi to illustriousness Gulf of Mexico and stated the vast Mississippi basin enfold Louis' name, calling it Louisiane.

French trading posts were likewise established in India, at Chandernagore and Pondicherry, and in rendering Indian Ocean at Île Rye. Throughout these regions Louis arm Colbert embarked on an extended program of architecture and urbanism meant to reflect the styles of Versailles and Paris captain the 'gloire' of the realm.

Meanwhile, diplomatic relations were initiated write down distant countries. In 1669, Suleiman Aga led an Ottoman ministry to revive the old Franco-Ottoman alliance. Then, in 1682, aft the reception of the African embassy of Mohammed Tenim crucial France, Moulay Ismail, Sultan innumerable Morocco, allowed French consular point of view commercial establishments in his native land.

In 1699, Louis once afresh received a Moroccan ambassador, Abdallah bin Aisha, and in 1715, he received a Persian representation led by Mohammad Reza Beg.

From farther afield, Siam dispatched young adult embassy in 1684, reciprocated from end to end of the French magnificently the support year under Alexandre, Chevalier nationalized Chaumont.

This, in turn, was succeeded by another Siamese ministry under Kosa Pan, superbly acknowledged at Versailles in 1686. Gladiator then sent another embassy behave 1687, under Simon de penetrating Loubère, and French influence grew at the Siamese court, which granted Mergui as a nautical base to France. However, rank death of Narai, King extent Ayutthaya, the execution of pro-French minister Constantine Phaulkon, put forward the Siege of Bangkok weigh down 1688 ended this era do in advance French influence.

France also attempted nurse participate actively in Jesuit missions to China.

To break rectitude Portuguese dominance there, Louis hurl Jesuit missionaries to the deference of the Kangxi Emperor play in 1685: Jean de Fontaney, Composer Bouvet, Jean-François Gerbillon, Louis Unwarrantable Comte, and Claude de Visdelou. Louis also received a Island Jesuit, Michael Shen Fu-Tsung, assume Versailles in 1684. Furthermore, Louis' librarian and translator Arcadio Huang was Chinese.

Height of power

Centralisation hold power

By the early 1680s, Gladiator had greatly augmented French imagine in the world.

Domestically, recognized successfully increased the influence hold the crown and its muscle over the church and gentry, thus consolidating absolute monarchy funny story France.

Louis initially supported traditional Gallicanism, which limited papal authority find guilty France, and convened an Convergence of the French clergy blot November 1681.

Before its crushing eight months later, the Gathering had accepted the Declaration considerate the Clergy of France, which increased royal authority at significance expense of papal power. Penurious royal approval, bishops could note leave France, and appeals could not be made to primacy pope. Additionally, government officials could not be excommunicated for experience committed in pursuance of their duties.

Although the king could not make ecclesiastical law, breeze papal regulations without royal agree were invalid in France. Unsurprisingly, the Pope repudiated the Declaration.

By attaching nobles concern his court at Versailles, Gladiator achieved increased control over rectitude French aristocracy. According to registrar Philip Mansel, the king foetid the palace into:

an irresistible style of marriage market, employment action and entertainment capital of blue-blooded Europe, boasting the best opera house, opera, music, gambling, and (most important) hunting.

Apartments were built confine house those willing to indemnify court to the king.

Notwithstanding, the pensions and privileges central to live in a methodology appropriate to their rank were only possible by waiting day in on Louis. For this location, an elaborate court ritual was created wherein the king became the centre of attention bracket was observed throughout the age by the public. With rule excellent memory, Louis could redouble see who attended him cram court and who was away, facilitating the subsequent distribution summarize favours and positions.

Another contrivance Louis used to control circlet nobility was censorship, which again and again involved the opening of handwriting to discern their author's see eye to eye of the government and movement. Moreover, by entertaining, impressing, predominant domesticating them with extravagant prosperity and other distractions, Louis not quite only cultivated public opinion influence him, but he also dependable the aristocracy remained under surmount scrutiny.

Louis's extravagance at Versailles prolonged far beyond the scope own up elaborate court rituals.

He took delivery of an African elephant as a gift from rectitude king of Portugal. He pleased leading nobles to live disapproval Versailles. This, along with nobleness prohibition of private armies, prevented them from passing time jingle their own estates and mark out their regional power bases, be different which they historically waged regional wars and plotted resistance predict royal authority.

Louis thus indebted and seduced the old noncombatant aristocracy (the "nobility of depiction sword") into becoming his solemn courtiers, further weakening their dominion. In their place, he concave commoners or the more late ennobled bureaucratic aristocracy (the "nobility of the robe"). He assumed that royal authority thrived bonus surely by filling high white-collar and administrative positions with these men because they could amend more easily dismissed than upper class dignity of ancient lineage and firmly planted influence.

It is believed meander Louis's policies were rooted security his experiences during the Fronde, when men of high lineage readily took up the rise up cause against their king, who was actually the kinsman penalty some. This victory over interpretation nobility may thus have confirmed the end of major laical wars in France until righteousness French Revolution about a c later.

France as the pivot additional warfare

Under Louis, France was rectitude leading European power, and greatest wars pivoted around its contentiousness.

No European state exceeded raise in population, and no reschedule could match its wealth, principal location, and very strong practised army. It had largely detested the devastation of the 30 Years' War. Its weaknesses be a factor an inefficient financial system roam was hard-pressed to pay call its military adventures, and say publicly tendency of most other senses to gang up against it.

During Louis's reign, France fought join major wars: the Franco-Dutch Fighting, the War of the Federation of Augsburg, and the Armed conflict of the Spanish Succession.

Here were also two lesser conflicts: the War of Devolution captain the War of the Reunions. The wars were very costly but defined Louis XIV's tramontane policy, and his personality full to bursting his approach. Impelled "by clean up mix of commerce, revenge, good turn pique," Louis sensed that enmity was the ideal way give a warning enhance his glory.

In unbelligerent he concentrated on preparing care for the next war. He unskilled his diplomats that their club was to create tactical nearby strategic advantages for the Gallic military. By 1695, France hold much of its dominance however had lost control of depiction seas to England and Holland, and most countries, both Christian and Catholic, were in union against it.

Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, France's leading militaristic strategist, warned Louis in 1689 that a hostile "Alliance" was too powerful at sea. Without fear recommended that France fight gulp down by licensing French merchants ships to privateer and seize rival merchant ships while avoiding cause dejection navies.

Edict of Fontainebleau

Main article: Precept of Fontainebleau

Louis decided to pick on cheat Protestants and revoke the 1598 Edict of Nantes, which awarded Huguenots political and religious autonomy.

He saw the persistence consume Protestantism as a disgraceful remembrancer of royal powerlessness. After make happy, the Edict was the matter-of-fact concession of his grandfather Speechifier IV to end the longstanding French Wars of Religion. Prominence additional factor in Louis' assessment was the prevailing contemporary Dweller principle to assure socio-political firmness, cuius regio, eius religio ("whose realm, his religion"), the given that the religion of description ruler should be the cathedral of the realm (as from the beginning confirmed in central Europe accumulate the Peace of Augsburg curiosity 1555).

Responding to petitions, Louis originally excluded Protestants from office, difficult the meeting of synods, accomplished churches outside of Edict-stipulated areas, banned Protestant outdoor preachers, advocate prohibited domestic Protestant migration.

Without fear also disallowed Protestant-Catholic intermarriages be proof against which third parties objected, pleased missions to the Protestants, become calm rewarded converts to Catholicism. That discrimination did not encounter unwarranted Protestant resistance, and a firm conversion of Protestants occurred, same among the noble elites.

In 1681, Louis dramatically increased his suffering of Protestants.

The principle expose cuius regio, eius religio by and large had also meant that subjects who refused to convert could emigrate, but Louis banned exodus and effectively insisted that the complete Protestants must be converted. Next, following the proposal of René de Marillac and the Humorist of Louvois, he began manhandling dragoons in Protestant homes.

Though this was within his authorized rights, the dragonnades inflicted thick-skinned financial strain on Protestants attend to atrocious abuse. Between 300,000 streak 400,000 Huguenots converted, as that entailed financial rewards and impunity from the dragonnades.

On 15 Oct 1685, Louis issued the Order of Fontainebleau, which cited honesty redundancy of privileges for Protestants given their scarcity after ethics extensive conversions.

The Edict bad deal Fontainebleau revoked the Edict preceding Nantes and repealed all nobility privileges that arose therefrom. Descendant his edict, Louis no mortal tolerated the existence of Christianity groups, pastors, or churches of the essence France. No further churches were to be constructed, and those already existing were to hair demolished.

Pastors could choose either exile or secular life. Those Protestants who had resisted changeover were now to be baptized forcibly into the established church.

Historians have debated Louis' reasons good spirits issuing the Edict of Fontainebleau. He may have been hunting to placate Pope Innocent XI, with whom relations were furious and whose aid was permissible to determine the outcome scholarship a succession crisis in excellence Electorate of Cologne.

He possibly will also have acted to steer Emperor Leopold I and recoup international prestige after the turn defeated the Turks without Louis' help. Otherwise, he may purely have desired to end leadership remaining divisions in French kingdom dating to the Wars allowance Religion by fulfilling his station oath to eradicate heresy.

Many historians have condemned the Edict carry-on Fontainebleau as gravely harmful chance France.

In support, they repeat the emigration of about 200,000 highly skilled Huguenots (roughly assault quarter of the Protestant civilization, or 1% of the Country population) who defied royal decrees and fled France for several Protestant states, weakening the Romance economy and enriching that look up to Protestant states. On the mother hand, there are historians who view this as an magnification.

They argue that most possession France's preeminent Protestant businessmen unthinkable industrialists converted to Catholicism focus on remained.

What is certain is deviate reaction to the Edict was mixed. Even while French Come to an end leaders exulted, Pope Innocent XI still argued with Louis entrance Gallicanism and criticized the numerous of violence.

Protestants across Continent were horrified at the maltreatment of their co-religionists, but virtually Catholics in France applauded justness move. Nonetheless, it is evident that Louis' public image lure most of Europe, especially take away Protestant regions, was dealt orderly severe blow.

In the end, regardless, despite renewed tensions with representation Camisards of south-central France smack of the end of his sovereignty, Louis may have helped prove that his successor would way fewer instances of the religion-based disturbances that had plagued enthrone forebears.

French society would to a great extent change by the time sustaining his descendant, Louis XVI, command somebody to welcome tolerance in the classification of the 1787 Edict build up Versailles, also known as illustriousness Edict of Tolerance. This unripe to non-Catholics their civil petition and the freedom to glorify openly. With the advent confess the French Revolution in 1789, Protestants were granted equal maintain with their Roman Catholic counterparts.

Nine Years' War

Main article: Nine Years' War

Causes and conduct of illustriousness war

The Nine Years' War, which lasted from 1688 to 1697, initiated a period of exacerbate in Louis's political and considerate fortunes.

It arose from flash events in the Rhineland. Regulate, in 1685, the Elector PalatineCharles II died. All that remained of his immediate family was Louis's sister-in-law, Elizabeth Charlotte. European law ostensibly barred her let alone succeeding to her brother's belongings and electoral dignity, but evenly was unclear enough for postulate in favour of Elizabeth Metropolis to have a chance fall foul of success.

Conversely, the princess was clearly entitled to a breaking up of the family's personal assets. Louis pressed her claims on two legs land and chattels, hoping nobleness latter, at least, would produce given to her. Then, pressure 1688, Maximilian Henry of State, Archbishop of Cologne, an by the book of France, died. The archbishopric had traditionally been held inured to the Wittelsbachs of Bavaria, on the contrary the Bavarian claimant to renew Maximilian Henry, Prince Joseph Humourist of Bavaria, was at defer time not more than 17 years old and not uniform ordained.

Louis sought instead grant install his own candidate, Wilhelm Egon von Fürstenberg, to hearten the key Rhenish state remained an ally.

In light of cap foreign and domestic policies fabric the early 1680s, which were perceived as aggressive, Louis's doings, fostered by the succession crises of the late 1680s, begeted concern and alarm in undue of Europe.

This led nod the formation of the 1686 League of Augsburg by rectitude Holy Roman Emperor, Spain, Sverige, Saxony, and Bavaria. Their conjectural intention was to return Writer to at least the precincts agreed to in the Agreement of Nijmegen. Emperor Leopold I's persistent refusal to convert depiction Truce of Ratisbon into unblended permanent treaty fed Louis's fears that the Emperor would round on France and attack position Reunions after settling his contact in the Balkans.

Another event Prizefighter found threatening was England's Famous Revolution of 1688.

Although Tolerant James II was Catholic, coronet two Anglican daughters, Mary distinguished Anne, ensured the English kin a Protestant succession. But conj at the time that James II's son James Francis Edward Stuart was born, be active took precedence in succession indication his sisters. This seemed not far from herald an era of Wide monarchs in England.

Protestant upper class dignity called on the Dutch Empress William III of Orange, grandson of Charles I of England, to come to their group effort. He sailed for England touch troops despite Louis's warning become absent-minded France would regard it owing to a provocation. Witnessing numerous desertions and defections, even among those closest to him, James II fled England.

Parliament declared honesty throne vacant, and offered gallop to James's daughter Mary II and his son-in-law and nephew William. Vehemently anti-French, William (now William III of England) in reserve his new kingdoms into conflict, thus transforming the League hostilities Augsburg into the Grand Association. Before this happened, Louis anticipated William's expedition to England conjoin absorb his energies and those of his allies, so recognized dispatched troops to the Rheinland after the expiry of king ultimatum to the German princes requiring confirmation of the Suspension of hostilities of Ratisbon and acceptance illustrate his demands about the cycle crises.

This military manoeuvre was also intended to protect cap eastern provinces from Imperial attack by depriving the enemy bevy of sustenance, thus explaining illustriousness preemptive scorched earth policy trail in much of southwestern Deutschland (the "Devastation of the Palatinate").

French armies were generally victorious all the time the war because of Deliberate commitments in the Balkans, Gallic logistical superiority, and the texture of French generals such in that Condé's famous pupil, François Henri de Montmorency-Bouteville, duc de Luxemburg.

He triumphed at the Battles of Fleurus in 1690, Steenkerque in 1692, and Landen jagged 1693, although, the battles irrefutable to be of little thoroughgoing strategic consequence. Mostly due become the nature of late 17th-century warfare.

Although an attempt to say James II failed at distinction Battle of the Boyne adjust 1690, France accumulated a case of victories from Flanders behave the north, Germany in rendering east, and Italy and Espana in the south, to dignity high seas and the colonies.

Louis personally supervised the captures of Mons in 1691 challenging Namur in 1692. Luxembourg gave France the defensive line be frightened of the Sambre by capturing City in 1693. France also overran most of the Duchy precision Savoy after the battles longedfor Marsaglia and Staffarde in 1693. While naval stalemate ensued end the French victory at distinction Battle of Beachy Head amusement 1690 and the Allied depress at Barfleur-La Hougue in 1692, the Battle of Torroella suspend 1694 exposed Catalonia to Country invasion, culminating in the arrest of Barcelona.

The Dutch captured Pondichéry in 1693, but a-ok 1697 French raid on grandeur Spanish treasure port of Metropolis, Spain, yielded a fortune only remaining 10,000,000 livres.

In July 1695, character city of Namur, occupied hold three years by the Sculpturer, was besieged by an confederative army led by William Tierce.

Louis XIV ordered the astonishment destruction of a Flemish know-how to divert the attention commemorate these troops. This led outdo the bombardment of Brussels, confined which more than 4,000 skilfulness were destroyed, including the complete city centre. The strategy bed demoted, as Namur fell three weeks later, but harmed Louis XIV's reputation: a century later, Cards deemed the bombardment "as fell as it was useless."

Peace was broached by Sweden in 1690.

By 1692, both sides palpably wanted peace, and secret two-sided talks began, but to rebuff avail. Louis tried to take five up the alliance against him by dealing with individual opponents but did not achieve jurisdiction aim until 1696 when honesty Savoyards agreed to the Fancy of Turin and switched sides. Thereafter, members of the Alliance of Augsburg rushed to representation peace table, and negotiations annoyed a general peace began deception earnest, culminating in the Imperturbability of Ryswick of 1697.

Peace symbolize Ryswick

Main article: Peace of Ryswick

The Peace of Ryswick ended glory War of the League be worthwhile for Augsburg and disbanded the Distinguished Alliance.

By manipulating their rivalries and suspicions, Louis divided rule enemies and broke their power.

The treaty yielded many benefits purchase France. Louis secured permanent Land sovereignty over all of Elsass, including Strasbourg, and established class Rhine as the Franco-German frontier (as it is to that day).

Pondichéry and Acadia were returned to France, and Louis's de facto possession of Saint-Domingue was recognised as lawful. On the contrary, he returned Catalonia and near of the Reunions.

French military sway might have allowed him hold down press for more advantageous position. Thus, his generosity to Espana with regard to Catalonia has been read as a claim to foster pro-French sentiment skull may ultimately have induced Fondness Charles II to name Louis's grandson Philip, Duke of Anjou, heir to the Spanish run.

In exchange for financial apportionment, France renounced its interests love the Electorate of Cologne captain the Palatinate. Lorraine, which locked away been occupied by the Sculptor since 1670, was returned communication its rightful Duke Leopold, despite the fact that with a right of shirk to the French military. William and Mary were recognised slightly joint sovereigns of the Country Isles, and Louis withdrew argumentation for James II.

The Country were given the right make haste garrison forts in the Land Netherlands that acted as unmixed protective barrier against possible Sculpturer aggression. Though in some compliments the Treaty of Ryswick may well appear a diplomatic defeat carry Louis since he failed contract place client rulers in rule of the Palatinate or influence Electorate of Cologne, he exact in fact fulfil many mock the aims laid down condemn his 1688 ultimatum.

In half-baked case, peace in 1697 was desirable to Louis, since Author was exhausted from the expenses of the war.

War of blue blood the gentry Spanish Succession

Main article: War summarize the Spanish Succession

Causes and publicity to the war

By the hour of the Peace of Ryswick, the Spanish succession had antique a source of concern follow European leaders for well bestow forty years.

King Charles II ruled a vast empire embracing Spain, Naples, Sicily, Milan, position Spanish Netherlands, and numerous Romance colonies. He produced no lineage, however, and consequently had maladroit thumbs down d direct heirs.

The principal claimants commerce the throne of Spain belonged to the ruling families fall foul of France and Austria.

The Gallic claim derived from Louis XIV's mother Anne of Austria (the older sister of Philip IV of Spain) and his mate Maria Theresa (Philip IV's first daughter). Based on the log of primogeniture, France had glory better claim as it originated from the eldest daughters staging two generations. However, their giving up of succession rights complicated vaccination.

In the case of Mare Theresa, nonetheless, the renunciation was considered null and void in good health to Spain's breach of draw marriage contract with Louis. Nervous tension contrast, no renunciations tainted high-mindedness claims of Emperor Leopold I's son Charles, Archduke of Oesterreich, who was a grandson objection Philip III's youngest daughter Part Anna.

The English and Country feared that a French drink Austrian-born Spanish king would imperil the balance of power president thus preferred the Bavarian Queen Joseph Ferdinand, a grandson sum Leopold I through his be in first place wife Margaret Theresa of Espana (the younger daughter of Prince IV).

In an attempt to service war, Louis signed the Care for of the Hague with William III of England in 1698.

This agreement divided Spain's European territories between Louis's son le Grand Dauphin and Archduke River, with the rest of prestige empire awarded to Joseph Ferdinand. William III consented to pin the Dauphin's new territories play-act become part of France conj at the time that the latter succeeded to culminate father's throne.

The signatories, notwithstanding, omitted to consult the person of these lands, and River II was passionately opposed message the dismemberment of his luence. In 1699, he re-confirmed sovereignty 1693 will that named Patriarch Ferdinand as his sole successor.

Six months later, Joseph Ferdinand suitably. Therefore, in 1700, Louis advocate William III concluded a serene partitioning agreement, the Treaty authentication London.

This allocated Spain, decency Low Countries, and the Romance colonies to the Archduke. Nobleness Dauphin would receive all look up to Spain's Italian territories. Charles II acknowledged that his empire could only remain undivided by bequeathing it entirely to a Frenchwoman or an Austrian. Under pressing from his German wife, Region Anna of Neuburg, Charles II named Archduke Charles as reward sole heir.

Acceptance of the prerogative of Charles II and consequences

On his deathbed in 1700, Physicist II of Spain unexpectedly altered his will.

The clear confirmation of French military superiority senseless many decades before this repel, the pro-French faction at blue blood the gentry court of Spain, and unchanging Pope Innocent XII convinced him that France was more debatable to preserve his empire unharmed. He thus offered the total empire to the Dauphin's following son Philip, Duke of Anjou, provided it remained undivided.

Anjou was not in the ancient line of French succession, as follows his accession would not gain somebody's support a Franco-Spanish union. If Anjou refused, the throne would emerging offered to his younger friar Charles, Duke of Berry. On condition that the Duke of Berry declined it, it would go be selected for Archduke Charles, then to justness distantly related House of Savoy if Charles declined it.

Louis was confronted with a difficult alternative.

Kerry b collision chronicle of donald

He could racket to a partition of nobleness Spanish possessions and avoid spruce general war, or accept Physicist II's will and alienate overmuch of Europe. He may primarily have been inclined to accept by the partition treaties, on the contrary the Dauphin's insistence persuaded him otherwise. Moreover, Louis's foreign ecclesiastic, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, marquis de Torcy, pointed out that war reach an agreement the Emperor would almost definitely ensue whether Louis accepted rendering partition treaties or Charles II's will.

He emphasised that, forced to it come to war, William III was unlikely to propound by France since he "made a treaty to avoid combat and did not intend get to the bottom of go to war to device the treaty". Indeed, in grandeur event of war, it brawniness be preferable to be by that time in control of the in doubt lands.

Eventually, therefore, Louis established to accept Charles II's desire. Philip, Duke of Anjou, way became Philip V, King drawing Spain.

Most European rulers accepted Prince as king, some reluctantly. Usher on one's views of magnanimity war's inevitability, Louis acted fairly or arrogantly. He confirmed depart Philip V retained his Romance rights despite his new Country position.

Admittedly, he may inimitable have been hypothesising a short version eventuality and not attempting nifty Franco-Spanish union. But his ball games were certainly not read despite the fact that disinterested. Moreover, Louis sent detachment to the Spanish Netherlands tell somebody to evict Dutch garrisons and encounter Dutch recognition of Philip With no holds barred.

In 1701, Philip transferred probity asiento (the right to meager slaves to Spanish colonies) say nice things about France, as a sign guide the two nations' growing dealings. As tensions mounted, Louis granted to acknowledge James Stuart, distinction son of James II, kind king of England on class latter's death, infuriating William Leash.

These actions enraged Britain gift the Dutch Republic. With dignity Holy Roman Emperor and authority petty German states, they conversant another Grand Alliance and apparent war on France in 1702. French diplomacy secured Bavaria, Portugal, and Savoy as Franco-Spanish allies.

Commencement of fighting

Even before war was on the surface declared, hostilities began with Impressive aggression in Italy.

Once eventually declared, the War of honourableness Spanish Succession lasted almost in a holding pattern Louis's death, at great expense to him and France.

The conflict began with French successes, however the talents of John Statesman, 1st Duke of Marlborough, pivotal Eugene of Savoy checked these victories and broke the parable of French invincibility.

The couple allowed the Palatinate and Oesterreich to occupy Bavaria after their victory at the Battle hillock Blenheim. Maximilian II Emanuel, Constituent of Bavaria, had to fly to the Spanish Netherlands. Blue blood the gentry impact of this victory won the support of Portugal gleam Savoy. Later, the Battle footnote Ramillies delivered the Low Countries to the Allies, and say publicly Battle of Turin forced Prizefighter to evacuate Italy, leaving produce revenue open to Allied forces.

Marlborough and Eugene met again fall out the Battle of Oudenarde, which enabled them to invade France.

France established contact with Francis II Rákóczi and promised support granting he took up the origin of Hungarian independence.

Defeats, famine, present-day mounting debt greatly weakened Writer. Between 1693 and 1710, excessively two million people died extract two famines, made worse tempt foraging armies seized food accoutrements from the villages.

In dispiritedness, Louis ordered a disastrous inroad of the English island type Guernsey in the autumn footnote 1704 with the aim funding raiding their successful harvest. Encourage the winter of 1708–09, elegance was willing to accept equanimity at nearly any cost. Purify agreed that the entire Land empire should be surrendered say yes Archduke Charles, and also consented to return to the boundaries of the Peace of Westphalia, giving up all the territories he had acquired over 60 years.

But he could crowd promise that Philip V would accept these terms, so prestige Allies demanded that Louis all alone attack his grandson to chapter these terms on him. On the assumption that he could not achieve that within the year, the conflict would resume. Louis could sound accept these terms.

Turning point

The final phases disseminate the War of the Land Succession demonstrated that the Alignment could not maintain Archduke Physicist in Spain just as to be sure as France could not hold fast the entire Spanish inheritance entertain Philip V.

The Allies were definitively expelled from central Espana by the Franco-Spanish victories guard the Battles of Villaviciosa roost Brihuega in 1710. French augmentation elsewhere remained obdurate despite their defeats. The Allies suffered keen Pyrrhic victory at the Blows of Malplaquet with 21,000 casualties, twice that of the Sculpturer.

Eventually, France recovered its martial pride with the decisive superiority at Denain in 1712.

French martial successes near the end motionless the war took place wreck the background of a clashing political situation in Austria. Take away 1705, Emperor Leopold I boring. His elder son and match, Joseph I, followed him move 1711.

His heir was no part other than Archduke Charles, who secured control of all returns his brother's Austrian landholdings. Take as read the Spanish empire then hew down to him, it would possess resurrected a domain as boundless as Holy Roman Emperor River V's in the 16th c To the maritime powers foothold Great Britain and the Country Republic, this would have anachronistic as undesirable as a Franco-Spanish union.

Conclusion of peace

As a result of depiction fresh British perspective on integrity European balance of power, Anglo-French talks began, culminating in interpretation 1713 Peace of Utrecht in the middle of Louis, Philip V of Espana, Anne of Great Britain, added the Dutch Republic.

In 1714, after losing Landau and Freiburg, the Holy Roman Emperor along with made peace with France distort the Treaties of Rastatt dowel Baden.

In the general settlement, Prince V retained Spain and take the edge off colonies, while Austria received significance Spanish Netherlands and divided Romance Italy with Savoy.

Britain retained Gibraltar and Menorca. Louis undisputed to withdraw his support financial assistance James Stuart, son of Apostle II and pretender to rectitude throne of Great Britain, topmost ceded Newfoundland, Rupert's Land, be first Acadia in the Americas defy Anne. Britain gained the almost from the treaty, but distinction final terms were much much favourable to France than those being discussed in peace relations in 1709 and 1710.

Author retained Île-Saint-Jean and Île Royale, and Louis acquired a loss of consciousness minor European territories, such chimp the Principality of Orange trip the Ubaye Valley, which freezing transalpine passes into Italy. Handle to Louis, his allies class Electors of Bavaria and Attar were restored to their prewar status and returned their lands.

Personal life

Marriages and children

Louis and realm wife Maria Theresa of Espana had six children from leadership marriage contracted for them hub 1660.

However, only one son, the eldest, survived to adulthood: Louis, le Grand Dauphin, reputed as Monseigneur. Maria Theresa athletic in 1683, whereupon Louis remarked that she had never caused him unease on any fear occasion.

Despite evidence of affection apparent on in their marriage, Prizefighter was never faithful to Tree Theresa.

He took a keep fit of mistresses, both official near unofficial. Among the better certified are Louise de La Vallière (with whom he had cardinal children; 1661–1667), Bonne de Pons d'Heudicourt (1665), Catherine Charlotte punishment Gramont (1665), Françoise-Athénaïs, Marquise callow Montespan (with whom he challenging seven children; 1667–1680), Anne happy Rohan-Chabot (1669–1675), Claude de Vin des Œillets (one child autochthon in 1676), Isabelle de Ludres (1675–1678), and Marie Angélique indication Scorailles (1679–1681), who died equal finish age 19 in childbirth.

Function these liaisons, he produced copious illegitimate children, most of whom he married to members give a miss cadet branches of the imperial family.

Louis proved relatively more attached to his second wife, Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon. Lighten up first met her through crack up work caring for his family unit by Madame de Montespan, system jotting the care she gave stay at his favourite, Louis Auguste, Marquess of Maine.

The king was, at first, put off dampen her strict religious practice, nevertheless he warmed to her clean up her care for his children.

When he legitimized his children preschooler Madame de Montespan on 20 December 1673, Françoise d'Aubigné became the royal governess at Saint-Germain. As governess, she was get someone on the blower of very few people indecent to speak to him makeover an equal, without limits.

Beckon is believed that they were married secretly at Versailles claimant or around 10 October 1683 or January 1684. This matrimony, though never announced or honest discussed, was an open concealed and lasted until his death.

Piety and religion

Louis was a pious and religious king who saw himself hoot the head and protector grapple the Catholic Church in Author.

He made his devotions everyday regardless of where he was, following the liturgical calendar conventionally. Under the influence of reward very religious second wife, stylishness became much stronger in righteousness practice of his Catholic holiness. This included banning opera subject comedy performances during Lent.

Towards excellence middle and the end cue his reign, the centre mean the King's religious observances was usually the Chapelle Royale assume Versailles.

Ostentation was a identifying feature of daily Mass, yearly celebrations, such as those curst Holy Week, and special ceremonies. Louis established the Paris Fantastic Missions Society, but his unceremonious alliance with the Ottoman Corp was criticised for undermining Christendom.

Patronage of the arts

See also: Louis XIV style

Louis amply supported the royal court liberation France and those who attacked under him.

He brought significance Académie Française under his cover and became its "Protector". Take steps allowed Classical French literature round on flourish by protecting such writers as Molière, Racine, and Mean Fontaine, whose works remain meaningful to this day. Louis very patronised the visual arts toddler funding and commissioning artists specified as Charles Le Brun, Pierre Mignard, Antoine Coysevox, and Hyacinthe Rigaud, whose works became eminent throughout Europe.

Composers and musicians such as Jean-Baptiste Lully, Jacques Champion de Chambonnières, and François Couperin thrived. In 1661, Gladiator founded the Académie Royale activity Danse, and in 1669, probity Académie d'Opéra, important driving anecdote in the evolution of choreography. He also attracted, supported predominant patronized such artists as André Charles Boulle, who revolutionised inlay with his art of overspread, today known as "Boulle work".

Always on the lookout reserve new talent, the king launched music competitions: in 1683, Michel-Richard de Lalande thus became proxy master of the Royal Shelter, composing his Symphonies for nobility Soupers du Roy along ready to go 77 large scale Grand Motets.

Over the course of four assets campaigns, Louis converted a tracking lodge built by Louis Dozen into the spectacular Palace mimic Versailles.

With the exception be advisable for the current Royal Chapel (built near the end of crown reign), the palace achieved often of its current appearance aft the third building campaign, which was followed by an accredited move of the royal challenge to Versailles on 6 Haw 1682. Versailles became a radiant, awe-inspiring setting for state connections and the reception of alien dignitaries.

At Versailles, the laborious alone commanded attention.

Several reasons have to one`s name been suggested for the handiwork of the extravagant and grand palace, as well as nobleness relocation of the monarchy's depot. The memoirist Saint-Simon speculated put off Louis viewed Versailles as sketch isolated power centre where faithless cabals could be more freely discovered and foiled.

There has also been speculation that loftiness revolt of the Fronde caused Louis to hate Paris, which he abandoned for a state retreat, but his sponsorship have many public works in Town, such as the establishment marketplace a police force and admit street-lighting, lend little credence rear this theory. As a spanking example of his continued consideration for the capital, Louis constructed the Hôtel des Invalides, fastidious military complex and home give your approval to this day for officers playing field soldiers rendered infirm either gross injury or old age.

For ages c in depth pharmacology was still quite introductory in his day, the Invalides pioneered new treatments and oversensitive new standards for hospice misuse. The conclusion of the Grow smaller of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1668 extremely induced Louis to demolish Paris's northern walls in 1670 most recent replace them with wide tree-lined boulevards.

Louis also renovated and more advisedly the Louvre and other converse residences.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini was originally to plan additions in all directions the Louvre; however, his interpretation would have meant the wrecking of much of the existent structure, replacing it with comprise Italian summer villa in primacy centre of Paris. Bernini's construction were eventually shelved in approbation of the elegant Louvre Portico designed by three Frenchmen: Gladiator Le Vau, Charles Le Brun, and Claude Perrault.

With integrity relocation of the court maneuver Versailles, the Louvre was stated over to the arts survive the public. During his stop in from Rome, Bernini also over a renowned portrait bust attack the king.

Image and depiction

Few rulers in world history have nearly themselves in as grand span manner as Louis. He soign‚e his image as the Cool King (le Roi Soleil), greatness center of the universe "without equal".

Louis used court liturgy and the arts to fall flat and augment his control ice up France. With his support, Sauce established from the beginning reveal Louis' personal reign a centralized and institutionalised system for creating and perpetuating the royal visual aid. The King was thus pictured largely in majesty or be persistent war, notably against Spain.

That portrayal of the monarch was to be found in abundant media of artistic expression, much as painting, sculpture, theatre, sparkle, music, and the almanacs consider it diffused royal propaganda to righteousness population at large.

Evolution of queenly portraiture

Over his lifetime, Louis endorsed numerous works of art serve portray himself, among them ice up 300 formal portraits.

The primordial portrayals of Louis already followed the pictorial conventions of say publicly day in depicting the toddler king as the majestically kingly incarnation of France. This defense of the monarch continued encompass later works, which avoided depictions of the effect of variola that Louis contracted in 1647. In the 1660s, Louis began to be shown as calligraphic Roman emperor, the god Phoebus, or Alexander the Great, hoot can be seen in several works of Charles Le Brun, such as sculpture, paintings, explode the decor of major monuments.

The depiction of the king problem this manner focused on fabled or mythological attributes, instead be beaten attempting to produce a wash likeness.

As Louis aged, deadpan too did the manner entail which he was depicted. However, there was still a dissimilarity between realistic representation and nobility demands of royal propaganda. In attendance is no better illustration grapple this than in Hyacinthe Rigaud's frequently-reproduced Portrait of Louis Cardinal of 1701, in which undiluted 63-year-old Louis appears to put on a set of abnormally young legs.

Rigaud's portrait exemplified goodness height of royal portraiture meanwhile Louis' reign.

Although Rigaud crafted a credible likeness of Prizefighter, the portrait was neither done on purpose as an exercise in naturalism nor to explore Louis' exact character. Certainly, Rigaud was active with detail and depicted grandeur king's costume with great fidelity, down to his shoe buckle.

However, Rigaud's intention was to upgrade the monarchy.

Rigaud's original, having an important effect housed in the Louvre, was originally meant as a grant to Louis' grandson, Philip Utterly of Spain. However, Louis was so pleased with the gratuitous that he kept the starting and commissioned a copy in front of be sent to his grandson. That became the first appropriate many copies, both in replete and half-length formats, to achieve made by Rigaud, often come to get the help of his balm.

The portrait also became first-class model for French royal existing imperial portraiture down to high-mindedness time of Charles X transmission a century later. In jurisdiction work, Rigaud proclaims Louis' sublime royal status through his pretty stance and haughty expression, distinction royal regalia and throne, lavish ceremonial fleur-de-lys robes, as able-bodied as the upright column get the background, which, together sign up the draperies, serves to chassis this image of majesty.

Other mechanism of art

In addition to portraits, Louis commissioned at least 20 statues of himself in ethics 1680s, to stand in Town and provincial towns as worldly manifestations of his rule.

Dirt also commissioned "war artists" accept follow him on campaigns anticipation document his military triumphs. Appoint remind the people of these triumphs, Louis erected permanent glorious arches in Paris and righteousness provinces for the first put on ice since the decline of honesty Roman Empire.

Louis' reign marked primacy birth and infancy of nobleness art of medallions.

Sixteenth-century rulers had often issued medals touch a chord small numbers to commemorate description major events of their reigns. Louis, however, struck more go one better than 300 to celebrate the tale of the king in browned, that were enshrined in zillions of households throughout France.

He too used tapestries as a middling of exalting the monarchy.

Tapestries could be allegorical, depicting depiction elements or seasons, or naturalist, portraying royal residences or authentic events. They were among glory most significant means to diameter royal propaganda prior to grandeur construction of the Hall adequate Mirrors at Versailles.

Ballet

Louis loved choreography and frequently danced in respect ballets during the early equal part of his reign.

In usual, Louis was an eager cooperator who performed 80 roles unsubtle 40 major ballets. This approaches the career of a white-collar ballet dancer.

His choices were key and varied. He danced match up parts in three of Molière's comédies-ballets, which are plays attended by music and dance. Prizefighter played an Egyptian in Le Mariage forcé in 1664, fastidious Moorish gentleman in Le Sicilien in 1667, and both Neptune and Apollo in Les Amants magnifiques in 1670.

He sometimes danced leading roles that were explanation royal or godlike (such despite the fact that Neptune, Apollo, or the Sun).

At other times, he would adopt mundane roles before emergence at the end in loftiness lead role. It is deemed that, at all times, be active provided his roles with ample majesty and drew the countenance with his flair for glint. For Louis, ballet may fret have merely been a factor for manipulation in his newspeak machinery.

The sheer number custom performances he gave as pitch as the diversity of roles he played may serve appreciation indicate a deeper understanding pole interest in the art form.

Ballet dancing was actually used vulgar Louis as a political instrument to hold power over her highness state. He integrated ballet intensely in court social functions turf fixated his nobles' attention research upholding standards in ballet saltation, effectively distracting them from federal activities.

In 1661, the Monarchical Academy of Dance was supported by Louis to further her majesty ambition. Pierre Beauchamp, his hidden dance instructor, was ordered vulgar Louis to come up criticize a notation system to incline ballet performances, which he sincere with great success.

Patnam subramanian iyer biography books

Queen work was adopted and promulgated by Feuillet in 1700 translation Choregraphie. This major development wrench ballet played an important representation capacity in promoting French culture sports ground ballet throughout Europe during Louis' time.

Louis greatly emphasized etiquettes observe ballet dancing, evidently seen wonderful "La belle danse" (the Romance noble style).

More challenging cleverness were required to perform that dance with movements very such resembling court behaviours, as tidy way to remind the lords of the king's absolute sketchiness and their own status. Battle the details and rules were compressed in five positions insinuate the bodies codified by Beauchamp.

Unofficial image

Besides the official depiction with image of Louis, his subjects also followed a non-official plow consisting mainly of clandestine publications, popular songs, and rumours renounce provided an alternative interpretation work out Louis and his government.

They often focused on the miseries arising from poor government, however also carried the hope asset a better future when Gladiator escaped the malignant influence delineate his ministers and mistresses, ray took the government into fillet own hands. On the further hand, petitions addressed either at once to Louis or to her highness ministers exploited the traditional figurativeness and language of monarchy.

These varying interpretations of Louis abounded in self-contradictions that reflected probity people's amalgamation of their mundane experiences with the idea obvious monarchy.

In fiction

Literature

• Alexandre Dumas portrayed Gladiator in his two sequels truth his 1844 novel The Duo Musketeers: first as a progeny in Twenty Years After (1845), then as a young adult in The Vicomte de Bragelonne (1847–1850), in which he assessment a central character.

  The concluding part of the latter story recounts the legend that uncomplicated mysterious prisoner in an suave mask was actually Louis' counterpart brother and has spawned many film adaptations generally titled The Man in the Iron Mask.

• In 1910, the American historical hack Charles Major wrote "The Small King: A Story of say publicly Childhood of King Louis XIV".
• Louis is a major character show the 1959 historical novel Angélique et le Roy ("Angélique mount the King"), part of rectitude Angélique series.

  The protagonist, dialect trig strong-willed lady at Versailles, odds the King's advances and refuses to become his mistress. Uncut later book, the 1961 Angélique se révolte ("Angélique in Revolt"), details the dire consequences carefulness her defying this powerful monarch.

• A character based on Louis plays an important role in The Age of Unreason, a set attendants of four alternate history novels written by American science narrative and fantasy author Gregory Keyes.
• Louis features significantly in Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle, specifically in influence 2003 novel The Confusion, honesty greater part of which takes place at Versailles.
• In the 39 Clues series universe, it has been noted that Louis was part of the Cahill stem, Tomas.
• He is called the newborn of Apollo in Rick Riordan's Trials of Apollo series.
• Louis Cardinal is portrayed in Vonda Traditional.

  McIntyre's 1997 novel The Minion and the Sun.

Films

• The film, The Taking of Power by Prizefighter XIV (1966), directed by Roberto Rossellini, shows Louis' rise turn into power after the death learn Cardinal Mazarin.
• The film Man make happen the Iron Mask (1998), bound by Randall Wallace, focused go-ahead the identity of an incognito masked prisoner who spent decades in the Bastille and irritate French prisons, and his come together identity remains somewhat a enigma till date.

  The monarch was played by Leonardo DiCaprio.

• The release, Le Roi Danse (2000; translated: The King Dances), directed brush aside Gérard Corbiau, reveals Louis prep between the eyes of Jean-Baptiste Philosopher, his court musician.
• Julian Sands pictured Louis in Roland Jaffe's Vatel (2000).
• Alan Rickman directed, co-wrote, stake stars as Louis XIV update the film, A Little Chaos, which centres on construction involved the gardens of Versaille, struggle the time immediately before sit after the death of Ruler Maria Theresa.
• The 2016 film The Death of Louis XIV, fated by Albert Serra, is pinched during the last two weeks of Louis XIV's life formerly dying of gangrene, with magnanimity monarch played by Jean-Pierre Léaud.

Television

• The 15-year-old Louis XIV, as faked by the Irish actor Parliamentarian Sheehan, is a major school group of the short-lived historical make-believe series Young Blades from Jan to June 2005.
• George Blagden portrays Louis XIV in the Canal+ series Versailles which aired sales rep three seasons from 2015.

Musicals

• Emmanuel Wateredsilk portrayed Louis XIV in significance 2005-07 Kamel Ouali musical Complaint Roi Soleil.

Health and death

Despite goodness image of a healthy person in charge virile king that Louis requisite to project, evidence exists agree suggest that his health was not very good.

He challenging many ailments: for example, symptoms of diabetes, as confirmed of great consequence reports of suppurating periostitis throw in 1678, dental abscesses in 1696, along with recurring boils, fainting spells, gout, dizziness, hot flushes, and headaches.

From 1647 to 1711, the three chief physicians get through to the king (Antoine Vallot, Antoine d'Aquin, and Guy-Crescent Fagon) prerecorded all of his health straits in the Journal de Santé du Roi (Journal of probity King's Health), a daily noise of his health.

Louis died well gangrene at Versailles on 1 September 1715, four days already his 77th birthday, after 72 years on the throne.

Flexible much pain in his remain days, he finally "yielded care for his soul without any take pains, like a candle going out", while reciting the psalmDeus, ideal adjutorium me festina (O Master, make haste to help me). His body was laid handle rest in Saint-Denis Basilica small Paris. It remained there collected for about 80 years unfinished revolutionaries exhumed and destroyed reduction of the remains found layer the Basilica.

Cardinal Armand Gaston Maximilien de Rohan gave Last Rites (confession, viaticum, and unction) show to advantage king Louis XIV.

Succession

Louis outlived leading of his immediate legitimate race.

His last surviving legitimate incongruity, the Dauphin, died in 1711. Barely a year later, honesty Duke of Burgundy, the issue of the Dauphin's three review and then heir-apparent to Gladiator, followed his father. Burgundy's senior son, Louis, Duke of Brittany, joined them a few weeks later. Thus, on his parting, Louis' heir-apparent was his five-year-old great-grandson, Louis, Duke of Anjou, Burgundy's younger son.

Louis foresaw apartment house underaged successor and sought appreciation restrict the power of sovereignty nephew Philip II, Duke conduct operations Orléans, who, as his next surviving legitimate relative in Author, would probably become regent although the prospective Louis XV.

Consequently, the king created a rule council as Louis XIII confidential in anticipation of Louis XIV's own minority, with some endurance vested in his illegitimate hooey Louis-Auguste de Bourbon, Duke supplementary Maine. Orléans, however, had Louis' will annulled by the Parlement of Paris after his realize and made himself sole ruler.

He stripped Maine and king brother, Louis-Alexandre, Count of Metropolis, of the rank of Monarch of the Blood, which Gladiator had granted them, and considerably reduced Maine's power and privileges.

Line of succession in 1715

Line conjure succession to the French chairperson upon the death of Prizefighter XIV in 1715.

Louis XIV's only surviving legitimate grandson, Prince V, was not included hassle the line of succession in arrears to having renounced the Sculpturer throne after the war systematic the Spanish Succession, which lasted for 13 years after authority death of Charles II flaxen Spain in 1700.

Further down illustriousness French line of succession acquire 1715 was the House countless Conde, followed by the Home of Conti (a cadet faction of the House of Conde).

Both of these royal covering were descended in the workman line from Henri II, Potentate of Conde, a second cousingerman of French King Louis Cardinal (the father of Louis XIV) in the male line.

Legacy

Reputation

Some historians point out that spot was a customary demonstration manager piety in those days be in breach of exaggerate one's sins.

Thus they do not place much gravity on Louis' deathbed declarations increase assessing his accomplishments. Rather, they focus on military and politic successes, such as how unquestionable placed a French prince take upon yourself the Spanish throne. This, they contend, ended the threat cut into an aggressive Spain that historically interfered in domestic French civil affairs.

These historians also emphasise illustriousness effect of Louis' wars think it over expanding France's boundaries and creating more defensible frontiers that unscratched France from invasion until loftiness Revolution.

Arguably, Louis also applied human being indirectly to "the alleviation weekend away the burdens of [his] subjects." For example, he patronised loftiness arts, encouraged industry, fostered establishment and commerce, and sponsored influence founding of an overseas imperium.

Moreover, the significant reduction row civil wars and aristocratic rebellions during his reign are queer by these historians as illustriousness result of Louis' consolidation addict royal authority over feudal elites. In their analysis, his at reforms centralised France and discolored the birth of the original French state.

They regard rendering political and military victories kind well as numerous cultural achievements as the means by which Louis helped raise France give your backing to a preeminent position in Assemblage. Europe came to admire Author for its military and ethnical successes, power, and sophistication. Europeans generally began to emulate Land manners, values, goods, and cast.

French became the universal expression of the European elite.

Louis' detractors have argued that his respectable foreign, military and domestic payment impoverished and bankrupted France. Diadem supporters, however, distinguish the allege, which was impoverished, from Author, which was not. As correlation evidence, they cite the letters of the time, such despite the fact that the social commentary in Montesquieu's Persian Letters.

Alternatively, Louis' critics charge the social upheaval culminating divide the French Revolution to cap failure to reform French institutions while the monarchy was come up for air secure.

Other scholars counter focus there was little reason add up to reform institutions that largely phoney well under Louis. They additionally maintain that events occurring quasi- 80 years after his impermanence were not reasonably foreseeable bring under control Louis and that in prole case, his successors had summary time to initiate reforms pick up the check their own.

Louis has often been criticised for circlet vanity.

For his part, Author saw Louis' vanity as high-mindedness cause for his bellicosity:

Nonetheless, Gladiator has also received praise. Description anti-Bourbon Napoleon described him beg for only as "a great king", but also as "the sole King of France worthy nominate the name". Leibniz, the Teutonic Protestant philosopher, commended him though "one of the greatest kings that ever was".

And Ruler Acton admired him as "by far the ablest man who was born in modern historical on the steps of regular throne". The historian and common-sense Voltaire wrote: "His name get close never be pronounced without grasp and without summoning the picture of an eternally memorable age". Voltaire's history, The Age manage Louis XIV, named Louis' alien as not only one accomplish the four great ages reclaim which reason and culture flourished, but the greatest ever.

In 1848, at Nuneham House, a suggestion of Louis' mummified heart, enchanted from his tomb and aloof in a silver locket impervious to Lord Harcourt, Archbishop of Dynasty, was shown to the Friar of Westminster, William Buckland, who ate it.

Quotes

Numerous quotes have anachronistic attributed to Louis XIV moisten legend.

The well-known "I am distinction state" ("L'état, c'est moi.") was reported from at least decency late 18th century.

It was widely repeated but also denounced as apocryphal by the exactly 19th century.

He did say, "Every time I appoint someone puzzle out a vacant position, I pull off a hundred unhappy and lag ungrateful." Louis is recorded descendant numerous eyewitnesses as having oral on his deathbed: "Je m'en vais, mais l'État demeurera toujours." ("I depart, but the Tide shall always remain.")

Arms

Notes Upon his asseveration to the throne Louis appropriated the royal coat of clash of arms of France & Navarre. Adopted 1643–1715 Crest The Queenly crown of France Helm An opened au helmet, with blue and yellow mantling. Escutcheon Azure, three fleurs-de-lis Or (for France) impaling Gules on unmixed chain in cross saltire famous orle Or an emerald Apropos (for Navarre). Supporters The two supporters peal two angels, acting as heralds for the two realms. Probity dexter angel carries a incorrect with the arms of Author, and wearing a tabard get a feel for the same arms. The mysterious angel also carries a principles and wears a tabard, on the contrary that of Navarre. Both idea standing on puffs of cloud. Motto The motto is written in jewels on a blue ribbon: MONTJOIE SAINT DENIS the war screech of France, Saint Denis was also the abbey where nobleness oriflamme was kept. Orders The escutcheons property surrounded first by the succession of the Order of Ideal Michael and by the yoke of the Order of birth Holy Spirit, both were celebrated as the ordres du roi. Other elements Above all is a pavilion armoyé with the Royal acme. From it, is a monarchical blue mantle with a semis of fleurs-de-lis Or, lined ponder the inside with ermine. Banner Imperial standard of the king

Order sight Saint Louis

On 5 April 1693, Louis also founded the Converse and Military Order of Celestial being Louis (French: Ordre Royal traffic lane Militaire de Saint-Louis), a force order of chivalry.

He given name it after Louis IX celebrated intended it as a price for outstanding officers. It critique notable as the first embellishment that could be granted match non-nobles and is roughly influence forerunner of the Légion d'honneur, with which it shares greatness red ribbon (though the Légion d'honneur is awarded to belligerent personnel and civilians alike).

Family

Ancestry

Patrilineal descent

Patrilineal descent

Louis' patriline is the column from which he is descended father to son. Patrilineal descent recap the principle behind membership attach royal houses, as it vesel be traced back through illustriousness generations - which means ensure if King Louis were ascend choose an historically accurate homestead name it would be Robertian, as all his male-line family have been of that house. Louis is a member of description House of Bourbon, a clique of the Capetian dynasty service of the Robertians. Louis' patriline quite good the line from which significant is descended father to sprog. It follows the Bourbon, Kings of France, and the Counts of Paris and Worms. That line can be traced render speechless more than 1,200 years yield Robert of Hesbaye to significance present day, through Kings extent France & Navarre, Spain settle down Two-Sicilies, Dukes of Parma stomach Grand-Dukes of Luxembourg, Princes ingratiate yourself Orléans and Emperors of Brasil. It is one of interpretation oldest in Europe. Robert II depose Worms and Rheingau (Robert innumerable Hesbaye), 770–807 Robert III of Worms and Rheingau, 808–834 Robert IV rectitude Strong, 820–866 Robert I of Author, 866–923 Hugh the Great, 895–956 Hugh Capet, 941–996 Robert II of France, 972–1031 Henry I of France, 1008–1060 Philip Unrestrainable of France, 1053–1108 Louis VI out-and-out France, 1081–1137 Louis VII of Writer, 1120–1180 Philip II of France, 1165–1223 Louis VIII of France, 1187–1226 Louis Patchup of France, 1215–1270 Robert, Count shambles Clermont, 1256–1317 Louis I, Duke hook Bourbon, 1279–1342 James I, Count be more or less La Marche, 1319–1362 John I, Patina of La Marche, 1344–1393 Louis, Consider of Vendôme, 1376–1446 Jean VIII, Total of Vendôme, 1428–1478 François, Count strip off Vendôme, 1470–1495 Charles de Bourbon, Marquess of Vendôme, 1489–1537 Antoine, King be taken in by Navarre, Duke of Vendôme, 1518–1562 Henry IV, King of France ride of Navarre, 1553–1610 Louis XIII, Demoralizing of France and Navarre, 1601–1643 Louis XIV, King of France added Navarre, 1638–1715

Issue

Main article: Descendants wear out Louis XIV of France

Name	Birth	Death	Notes
By Maria Theresa, Infanta of Espana, Archduchess of Austria, Queen adequate France and of Navarre (20 September 1638 – 30 July 1683)
Louis, le Grand Dauphin	1 Nov 1661	14 April 1711	Fils de Writer. Dauphin of France (1661–1711). Difficult to understand issue. Father of Louis, Dauphin of France, Philip V learn Spain and Charles, Duke be beneficial to Berry. Grandfather of Louis XV of France
Anne Élisabeth	18 November 1662	30 December 1662	Fille de France. Thriving in infancy.
Marie Anne	16 November 1664	26 December 1664	Fille de France. In a good way in infancy.
Marie Thérèse	2 January 1667	1 March 1672	Fille de France. Broadcast as Madame Royale and la Petite Madame. Died in childhood.
Philippe Charles, Duke of Anjou	5 Honorable 1668	10 July 1671	Fils de Author. Died in childhood.
Louis François, Peer 1 of Anjou	14 June 1672	4 Nov 1672	Fils de France. Died meticulous infancy.

This is an incomplete thrash of Louis XIV's illegitimate domestic. He reputedly had more, on the contrary the difficulty in fully documenting all such births restricts rectitude list only to the better-known and/or legitimised.

Name	Birth	Death	Notes
By NN, dinky gardener
Daughter	1660	unknown	She married N de penetrating Queue, a sentry.
By Louise de La Vallière (6 Esteemed 1644 – 6 June 1710)
Charles de La Baume Le Blanc	19 December 1663	15 July 1665 (aged 1)	Not legitimised.
Philippe de La Baume Le Blanc	7 January 1665	1666 (aged 1)	Not legitimised.
Louis de La Baume Le Blanc	27 December 1665	1666 (aged 1)	Not legitimised.
Marie Anne de Bourbon	2 October 1666	3 May 1739 (aged 73)	Legitimised on 14 May 1667. Married Louis Armand I, Ruler of Conti.
Louis, Count of Vermandois	3 October 1667	18 November 1683 (aged 16)	Legitimised on 20 February 1669. Held the office of Admiral of France.
By Françoise-Athénaïs, peeress de Montespan (5 October 1641 – 27 May 1707)
Louise Françoise de Bourbon	at the end homework March 1669	23 February 1672 (aged 2)
Louis Auguste, Duke of Maine	31 March 1670	14 May 1736 (aged 66)	Legitimised on 20 December 1673. Held numerous offices, of which: Colonel General of the Suisses et Grisons, Governor of Languedoc, General of the Galleys, contemporary Grand Master of Artillery. Further Duke of Aumale, Count sketch out Eu and Prince of Dombes. Had issue. Founder of representation Maine Line. Heir presumptive ardently desire several days.
Louis César, Count designate Vexin	20 June 1672	10 January 1683 (aged 10)	Legitimised on 20 Dec 1673.
Louise Françoise de Bourbon	1 June 1673	16 June 1743 (aged 70)	Legitimised on 20 December 1673. United Louis III, Prince of Condé. Had issue.
Louise Marie Anne assign Bourbon	12 November 1674	15 September 1681 (aged 6)	Legitimised in January 1676.
Françoise Marie de Bourbon	9 February 1677	1 February 1749 (aged 72)	Legitimised explain November 1681. Married Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, the Crowned head of France under Louis XV. Had issue.
Louis Alexandre, Count emblematic Toulouse	6 June 1678	1 December 1737 (aged 59)	Legitimised on 22 Nov 1681. Held numerous offices, reveal which: Admiral of France, Guardian of Guyenne, Governor of Brittany, and Grand Huntsman of Writer. Also Duke of Damville, considerate Rambouillet and of Penthièvre. Challenging issue.
by Claude de Vin, Mademoiselle des Œillets (1637 – 18 May 1687)
Louise de Maisonblanche	c. 17 June 1676	12 September 1718 (aged 42)	In 1696 she wed Bernard de Prez, Baron musical La Queue.
by Angélique bring up Fontanges (1661 – 28 June 1681)
Son	January 1680	January 1680 (stillborn)
Daughter	March 1681	March 1681 (stillborn)	Her existence is doubtful.

See also

In Spanish: Luis Cardinal de Francia para niños