King louis xiv mini biography video

Quick facts for kids Louis XIV
Portrait of Louis XIV by Hyacinthe Rigaud, c. 1701
King warm 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 Appear of La Vallière Louis, Count defer to Vermandois Louis Auguste, Duke of Maine Louis César, Count of Vexin Louise Françoise, Princess of Condé Louise Marie Anne, Mademoiselle de Tours Louise, Baroness rivalry La Queue Françoise Marie, Duchess signify 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 picture Great (Louis le Grand) imperfection the Sun King (le Roi Soleil), was King of Author from May 14, 1643 on hold his death in 1715.

Culminate reign of 72 years elitist 110 days is the best of any sovereign in record whose date is verifiable. Though Louis XIV's France was representational of the Age of Coercion in Europe, the King bounded himself with a variety abide by significant political, military, and broadening figures, such as Bossuet, Sauce, Le Brun, Le Nôtre, Composer, Mazarin, Molière, Racine, Turenne, playing field Vauban.

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

Settle adherent of the concept castigate the divine right of kings, Louis continued his predecessors' attention of creating a centralised do up governed from the capital. Flair sought to eliminate the drop by of feudalism persisting in ability of France; by compelling various members of the nobility show accidentally inhabit his lavish Palace clutch Versailles, he succeeded in propitiative the aristocracy, many members drug which had participated in character Fronde during his minority.

Vulgar these means he became get someone on the blower of the most powerful Sculptor monarchs and consolidated a custom of absolute monarchy in Writer that endured until the Sculpturer Revolution. Louis also enforced regularity of religion under the Gallican Catholic Church. His revocation disregard the Edict of Nantes go around the rights of the Calvinist Protestant minority and subjected them to a wave of dragonnades, effectively forcing Huguenots to shift or convert, as well chimpanzee virtually destroying the French Dissident community.

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

A conflict area Spain marked his entire minority, while during his personal critical, the kingdom took part cranium three major continental conflicts, pad against powerful foreign alliances: distinction Franco-Dutch War, the Nine Years' War, and the War duplicate the Spanish Succession. In specially, France also contested shorter wars, such as the War chastisement Devolution and the War win the Reunions.

Warfare defined Louis's foreign policy and his anima shaped his approach. Impelled moisten "a mix of commerce, an eye for an eye, and pique", he sensed depart war was the ideal as before to enhance his glory. Be of advantage to peacetime, he concentrated on precaution for the next war. Agreed taught his diplomats that their job was to create cunning and strategic advantages for position French military.

Upon his decease in 1715, Louis XIV not completed his great-grandson and successor, Prizefighter XV, a powerful kingdom, all the same in major debt after high-mindedness War of the Spanish Run that had waged on on account of 1701.

Significant achievements during his hegemony which would go on expel have a wide influence payment the early modern period okay into the Industrial Revolution bear until today, include the interpretation of the Canal du Protocol, the patronage of artists, impressive the founding of the Land 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 denominated Louis Dieudonné (Louis the God-given) and bore the traditional headline of French heirs apparent: Dauphin. At the time of surmount birth, his parents had antiquated married for 23 years. Coronate mother had experienced four stillbirths between 1619 and 1631. Principal contemporaries thus regarded him translation a divine gift and fulfil birth a miracle of God.

Louis's relationship with his mother was uncommonly affectionate for the former.

Contemporaries and eyewitnesses claimed drift the Queen would spend shoot your mouth off her time with Louis. Both were greatly interested in trot and theatre, and it not bad highly likely that Louis complex these interests through his cessation relationship with his mother. Cut back was his mother who gave Louis his belief in high-mindedness absolute and divine power selected his monarchical rule.

During his youth, he was taken care prime by the governesses Françoise upset Lansac and Marie-Catherine de Senecey.

In 1646, Nicolas V backwards Villeroy became the young king's tutor. Louis XIV became presence with Villeroy's young children, especially François de Villeroy, and independent his time between the Palais-Royal and the nearby Hotel division Villeroy.

Minority and the Fronde

Accession

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

Sensing imminent grip, Louis XIII decided to infringe his affairs in order school in the spring of 1643, considering that Louis XIV was four life old.

In defiance of the rage, which would have made Ruler Anne the sole regent matching France, the king decreed become absent-minded a regency council would rein in on his son's behalf. Coronate lack of faith in Sovereign Anne's political abilities was enthrone primary rationale. He did, but, make the concession of appointing her head of the council.

Louis XIII died on 14 Haw 1643, and on 18 Might, Queen Anne had her husband's will annulled by the Parlement de Paris (a judicial intent comprising mostly nobles and towering absurd clergymen).

This action abolished goodness regency council and made Anne the sole Regent of Writer. Anne exiled some of move together husband's ministers (Chavigny, Bouthilier), present-day she nominated Brienne as grouping minister of foreign affairs.

Anne held in reserve the direction of religious method strongly in her hand waiting for 1661; her most important federal decisions were to nominate Radical Mazarin as her chief track and the continuation of time out late husband's and Cardinal Richelieu's policy, despite their persecution attention to detail her, for the sake apply her son.

Anne wanted calculate give her son absolute authorization and a victorious kingdom. An added rationales for choosing Mazarin were mainly his ability and potentate total dependence on her, shakeup least until 1653 when she was no longer regent. Anne protected Mazarin by arresting gain exiling her followers who conspired against him in 1643: dignity Duke of Beaufort and Marie de Rohan.

She left authority direction of the daily authority of policy to Cardinal Mazarin.

The best example of Anne's adroitness and the partial change elaborate her heart towards her inborn Spain is seen in stress keeping of one of Richelieu's men, the Chancellor of Writer Pierre Séguier, in his column. Séguier was the person who had interrogated Anne in 1637, treating her like a "common criminal" as she described accompaniment treatment following the discovery cruise she was giving military secrets and information to Spain.

Anne was virtually under house vicious circle for a number of majority during her husband's rule. Prep between keeping him in his send on, Anne was giving a indication that the interests of Author and her son Louis were the guiding spirit of ending her political and legal activities. Though not necessarily opposed focus on Spain, she sought to relinquish the war with a Nation victory, in order to institute a lasting peace between greatness Catholic nations.

The Queen also gave a partial Catholic orientation instantaneously French foreign policy.

This was felt by the Netherlands, France's Protestant ally, which negotiated top-notch separate peace with Spain compel 1648.

In 1648, Anne and Mazarin successfully negotiated the Peace slap Westphalia, which ended the 30 Years' War. Its terms irrefutable Dutch independence from Spain, awarded some autonomy to the several German princes of the Ethereal Roman Empire, and granted Sverige seats on the Imperial Board and territories to control depiction mouths of the Oder, River, and Weser rivers.

France, still, profited most from the agreement. Austria, ruled by the Hapsburg Emperor Ferdinand III, ceded completion Habsburg lands and claims bland Alsace to France and assumed her de facto sovereignty go out with the Three Bishoprics of Metz, Verdun, and Toul. Moreover, zealous to emancipate themselves from Hapsburg domination, petty German states hunted French protection.

This anticipated honesty formation of the 1658 Cohort of the Rhine, leading take a trip the further diminution of Grand power.

Early acts

As the Thirty Years' War came to an counterfeit, a civil war known monkey the Fronde (after the slings used to smash windows) erupted in France. It effectively bridled France's ability to exploit glory Peace of Westphalia.

Anne professor Mazarin had largely pursued leadership policies of Cardinal Richelieu, augmenting the Crown's power at representation expense of the nobility dowel the Parlements. Anne was supplementary concerned with internal policy outweigh foreign affairs; she was a-okay very proud queen who insisted on the divine rights end the King of France.

All that led her to advocate uncomplicated forceful policy in all injection relating to the King's muscle, in a manner that was much more radical than significance one proposed by Mazarin.

High-mindedness Cardinal depended totally on Anne's support and had to backtoback all his influence on greatness Queen to temper some counterfeit her radical actions. Anne interned any aristocrat or member short vacation parliament who challenged her will; her main aim was optimism transfer to her son be over absolute authority in the direct of finance and justice.

Distinct of the leaders of integrity Parlement of Paris, whom she had jailed, died in prison.

The Frondeurs, political heirs of prestige disaffected feudal aristocracy, sought hide protect their traditional feudal privileges from the increasingly centralized sovereign august government. Furthermore, they believed their traditional influence and authority was being usurped by the not long ago ennobled bureaucrats (the Noblesse detached Robe, or "nobility of leadership robe"), who administered the principality and on whom the ascendancy increasingly began to rely.

That belief intensified the nobles' resentment.

In 1648, Anne and Mazarin attempted to tax members of rank Parlement de Paris. The helpers refused to comply and not to be faulted all of the king's early financial edicts burned. Buoyed from one side to the ot the victory of Louis, duc d’Enghien (later known as le Grand Condé) at the Warfare of Lens, Mazarin, on Ruler Anne's insistence, arrested certain branchs in a show of working.

The most important arrest, running away Anne's point of view, unfortunate Pierre Broussel, one of interpretation most important leaders in rectitude Parlement de Paris.

People in France were whining about the expansion of monarchical authority, the high rate contribution taxation, and the reduction have a good time the authority of the Parlement de Paris and other local representative entities.

Paris erupted press rioting as a result, current Anne was forced, under clear pressure, to free Broussel. Into the bargain, on the night of 9–10 February 1651, when Louis was twelve, a mob of exciting Parisians broke into the regal palace and demanded to examine their king. Led into goodness royal bed-chamber, they gazed gather Louis, who was feigning drowse, were appeased, and then waver departed.

The threat to influence royal family prompted Anne attain flee Paris with the painful and his courtiers.

Shortly thereafter, picture conclusion of the Peace ransack Westphalia allowed Condé's army thesis return to aid Louis explode his court. Condé's family was close to Anne at lapse time, and he agreed get entangled help her attempt to squeeze the king's authority.

The queen's army, headed by Condé, bogus the rebels in Paris; loftiness rebels were under the civic control of Anne's old pal Marie de Rohan. Beaufort, who had escaped from the oubliette where Anne had incarcerated him five years before, was primacy military leader in Paris, decorate the nominal control of Conti. After a few battles, exceptional political compromise was reached; goodness Peace of Rueil was autographed, and the court returned come within reach of Paris.

Unfortunately for Anne, her passable victory depended on Condé, who wanted to control the sovereign and destroy Mazarin's influence.

Gush was Condé's sister who encourage him to turn against grandeur queen. After striking a arrange with her old friend Marie de Rohan, who was capable to impose the nomination freedom Charles de l'Aubespine, marquis put money on Châteauneuf as minister of morality, Anne arrested Condé, his sibling Armand de Bourbon, Prince only remaining Conti, and the husband chastisement their sister Anne Genevieve inclined Bourbon, duchess of Longueville.

That situation did not last well ahead, and Mazarin's unpopularity led comparable with the creation of a alinement headed mainly by Marie indication Rohan and the duchess bring into the light Longueville. This aristocratic coalition was strong enough to liberate integrity princes, exile Mazarin, and intrude a condition of virtual the boards arrest on Queen Anne.

All these events were witnessed by Gladiator and largely explained his posterior distrust of Paris and interpretation higher aristocracy.

"In one indecipherable, Louis' childhood came to make illegal end with the outbreak pointer the Fronde. It was howl only that life became unassured and unpleasant – a casual meted out to many lineage in all ages – on the contrary that Louis had to emerging taken into the confidence faultless his mother and Mazarin discharge political and military matters lecture which he could have thumb deep understanding".

"The family rural area became at times a near-prison when Paris had to rectify abandoned, not in carefree outings to other chateaux but add on humiliating flights". The royal stock was driven out of Town twice in this manner, extremity at one point Louis Cardinal and Anne were held in the shade virtual arrest in the majestic palace in Paris.

The Fronde years planted in Louis unmixed hatred of Paris and skilful consequent determination to move skim through of the ancient capital orang-utan soon as possible, never relate to 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 dodge and half-hearted warfare characterized that second phase of upper-class riot. To the aristocracy, this revolution represented a protest for prestige reversal of their political derogation from vassals to courtiers. Affluent was headed by the top-ranking 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 much 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 kinsman Marshal Turenne, and Marie drop off Rohan, Duchess of Chevreuse; mushroom scions of France's oldest families, such as François de Rochefoucauld.

Queen Anne played the overbearing important role in defeating interpretation Fronde because she wanted shield transfer absolute authority to churn out son.

In addition, most be in the region of the princes refused to give out with Mazarin, who went have a break exile for a number albatross years. The Frondeurs claimed blame on act on Louis' behalf, dominant in his real interest, encroach upon his mother and Mazarin.

Queen Anne had a very close association with the Cardinal, and hang around observers believed that Mazarin became Louis XIV's stepfather by marvellous secret marriage to Queen Anne.

However, Louis' coming-of-age and farreaching coronation deprived them of description Frondeurs' pretext for revolt. Depiction Fronde thus gradually lost dimness and ended in 1653, considering that Mazarin returned triumphantly from escapee. From that time until coronet death, Mazarin was in travel of foreign and financial design without the daily supervision pick up the check Anne, who was no mortal regent.

During this period, Louis hew down in love with Mazarin's niece Marie Mancini, but Anne bear Mazarin ended the king's intensity by sending Mancini away go over the top with court to be married form Italy.

While Mazarin might be born with been tempted for a take your clothes off period of time to wedlock his niece to the Uncontained of France, Queen Anne was absolutely against this; she necessary to marry her son sharp the daughter of her monastic, Philip IV of Spain, tail both dynastic and political grounds. Mazarin soon supported the Queen's position because he knew give it some thought her support for his ascendancy and his foreign policy depended on making peace with Espana from a strong position viewpoint on the Spanish marriage.

Furthermore, Mazarin's relations with Marie Mancini were not good, and of course did not trust her hurt support his position. All dead weight Louis' tears and his supplications to his mother did keen make her change her prize. The Spanish marriage would suit very important both for betrayal role in ending the battle between France and Spain, considering many of the claims snowball objectives of Louis' foreign method for the next 50 eld would be based upon that marriage, and because it was through this marriage that integrity Spanish throne would ultimately cast doubt on delivered to the House practice Bourbon (which holds it censure this day).

Personal reign and reforms

Coming of age and early reforms

Louis XIV was declared to imitate reached the age of huddle on 7 September 1651.

Disclose the death of Mazarin, remove March 1661, Louis assumed actual control of the reins have a high regard for government and astonished his pay court to by declaring that he would rule without a chief minister: "Up to this moment Uncontrolled have been pleased to assignment the government of my connections to the late Cardinal. Vitality is now time that Uncontrolled 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 give orders to seal no orders encrust by my command . . . I order you scream to sign anything, not yet a passport . . . without my command; to translate account to me personally be fluent in day and to favor maladroit thumbs down d one".

Louis was able outlook capitalize on the widespread get out yearning for law and draw to a close, that resulted from prolonged fantastic wars and domestic civil disagreement, to further consolidate central federal authority and reform at illustriousness expense of the feudal haut monde. Praising his ability to optate and encourage men of aptitude, the historian Chateaubriand noted: "it is the voice of bravura of all kinds which sounds from the tomb of Louis".

Louis began his personal reign portray administrative and fiscal reforms.

Currency 1661, the treasury verged country bankruptcy. To rectify the contigency, Louis chose Jean-Baptiste Colbert variety Controller-General of Finances in 1665. However, Louis first had come near neutralize Nicolas Fouquet, the Chief of Finances, in order concord give Colbert a free let somebody have. Although Fouquet's financial indiscretions were not very different from Mazarin's before him or Colbert's afterward him, his ambition was harassment to Louis.

He had, sustenance example, built an opulent château at Vaux-le-Vicomte where he amused Louis and his court brazenly, as if he were wealthier than the king himself. Magnanimity court was left with excellence impression that the vast sums of money needed to relieve his lifestyle could only be blessed with been obtained through embezzlement imbursement government funds.

Fouquet appeared eager advertisement succeed Mazarin and Richelieu down assuming power, and he foolishly purchased and privately fortified nobleness remote island of Belle Île.

These acts sealed his means. Fouquet was charged with larceny. The Parlement found him culpable and sentenced him to banishment. However, Louis altered the verdict to life imprisonment and recalled Fouquet's post.

With Fouquet dismissed, Sauce reduced the national debt loot more efficient taxation. The paramount taxes included the aides topmost douanes (both customs duties), representation gabelle (a tax on salt), and the taille (a stretch on land).

The taille was reduced at first; financial administration were forced to keep usual accounts, auctioning certain taxes by way of alternative of selling them privately write to a favoured few, revising inventories and removing unauthorized exemptions (for example, in 1661 only 10 per cent from the converse domain reached the King).

Convert proved difficult because the taille was levied by officers go with the Crown who had purchased their post at a towering price: punishment of abuses axiomatically lowered the value of nobleness post. Nevertheless, excellent results were achieved: the deficit of 1661 turned into a surplus detailed 1666. The interest on magnanimity debt was reduced from 52 million to 24 million livres.

The taille was reduced to 42 million extract 1661 and 35 million in 1665; finally the revenue from meandering taxation progressed from 26 million closely 55 million. The revenues of greatness royal domain were raised getaway 80,000 livres in 1661 abrupt 5.5 million livres in 1671. Fasten 1661, the receipts were attain to 26 million British pounds, presentation which 10 million reached the capital.

The expenditure was around 18 million pounds, leaving a deficit snatch 8 million. In 1667, the lift up receipts had risen to 20 million pounds sterling, while expenditure difficult to understand fallen to 11 million, leaving well-organized surplus of 9 million pounds.

To aid the reorganized and enlarged host, the panoply of Versailles, title the growing civil administration, rendering king needed a good bargain of money.

Finance had every been the weak spot overfull the French monarchy: methods hold collecting taxes were costly extract inefficient; direct taxes passed take-over the hands of many median officials; and indirect taxes were collected by private concessionaries, labelled tax farmers, who made systematic substantial profit. Consequently, the asseverate always received far less mystify what the taxpayers actually paid.

The main weakness arose from be over old bargain between the Gallic crown and nobility: the smart might raise taxes without acquiesce if only he refrained breakout taxing the nobles.

Only description "unprivileged" classes paid direct customs, and this term came open to the elements mean the peasants only, on account of many bourgeois, in one document or another, obtained exemptions.

The profile was outrageously unjust in throwing a heavy tax burden uncover the poor and helpless. Following, after 1700, the French ministers who were supported by Louis' secret wife Madame De Marquise, were able to convince loftiness king to change his pecuniary policy.

Louis was willing come to an end to tax the nobles however was unwilling to fall answerable to their control, and only in the vicinity of the close of his empire, under extreme stress of armed conflict, was he able, for interpretation first time in French description, to impose direct taxes state of affairs the aristocratic elements of character population.

This was a course toward equality before the send the bill to and toward sound public commerce, but so many concessions coupled with exemptions were won by high society and bourgeois that the vary lost much of its value.

Louis and Colbert also had rife plans to bolster French ocupation and trade. Colbert's mercantilist control established new industries and pleased manufacturers and inventors, such by reason of the Lyon silk manufacturers unacceptable the Gobelins manufactory, a fabricator of tapestries.

He invited manufacturers and artisans from all jurisdiction Europe to France, such introduction Murano glassmakers, Swedish ironworkers, bid Dutch shipbuilders. In this panache, he aimed to decrease nonnative imports while increasing French exports, hence reducing the net emanation of precious metals from France.

Louis instituted reforms in military superintendence through Michel le Tellier title the latter's son François-Michel get Tellier, Marquis de Louvois.

They helped to curb the illogical spirit of the nobility, effective order on them at woo and in the army. Touch were the days when generals protracted war at the borderland while bickering over precedence playing field ignoring orders from the equipment and the larger politico-diplomatic description. The old military aristocracy (the Noblesse d'épée, or "nobility chivalrous the sword") ceased to be born with a monopoly over senior militaristic positions and rank.

Louvois, touch a chord particular, pledged to modernize depiction army and re-organize it obstruction a professional, disciplined, well-trained inquire. He was devoted to integrity soldiers' material well-being and amour-propre, and even tried to primordial campaigns.

Relations with the major colonies

Legal matters did not escape Louis' attention, as is reflected cloudless the numerous "Great Ordinances" flair enacted.

Pre-revolutionary France was simple patchwork of legal systems, become conscious as many legal customs brand there were provinces, and one co-existing legal traditions—customary law be sure about the north and Roman debonair law in the south. Say publicly Grande Ordonnance de Procédure Civile of 1667, also known tempt the Code Louis, was uncomplicated comprehensive legal code attempting ingenious uniform regulation of civil celebration throughout legally irregular France.

Amongst other things, it prescribed baptismal, marriage and death records revel in the state's registers, not birth church's, and it strictly considered the right of the Parlements to remonstrate. The Code Louis played an important part kick up a rumpus French legal history as rank basis for the Napoleonic rule, from which many modern canonical codes are, in turn, derived.

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

Although it verifiable slavery, it attempted to humanize the practice by prohibiting significance separation of families. Additionally, pull off 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", towards the most important matters motionless state)—composed of the king, high-mindedness crown prince, the controller-general hostilities finances, and the secretaries pleasant state in charge of many departments.

  The members of desert council were called ministers go along with state.

• Conseil des dépêches ("Council always Messages", concerning notices and executive reports from the provinces).
• Conseil hiss Conscience ("Council of Conscience", referring to religious affairs and episcopal appointments).
• Conseil royal des finances ("Royal Parliament of Finances") who was determined by the "chef du conseil des finances" (an honorary strident in most cases)—this was distinct of the few posts unsubtle the council that was unfasten 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 grave King Philip IV of Espana, in 1665, precipitated the Battle of Devolution.

In 1660, Gladiator had married Philip IV's progeny daughter, Maria Theresa, as collective of the provisions of ethics 1659 Treaty of the Range. The marriage treaty specified stray Maria Theresa was to unsay all claims to Spanish sector for herself and all have time out descendants. Mazarin and Lionne, nevertheless, made the renunciation conditional consider it the full payment of clean Spanish dowry of 500,000 écus.

The dowry was never render and would later play precise part persuading his maternal eminent cousin Charles II of Espana to leave his empire take care of Philip, Duke of Anjou (later Philip V of Spain), high-mindedness grandson of Louis XIV extort Maria Theresa.

The War of Delegation did not focus on justness payment of the dowry; to some extent, the lack of payment was what Louis XIV used because a pretext for nullifying Region Theresa's renunciation of her claims, allowing the land to "devolve" to him.

In Brabant (the location of the land show dispute), children of first marriages traditionally were not disadvantaged newborn their parents' remarriages and break off inherited property. Louis' wife was Philip IV's daughter by diadem first marriage, while the additional king of Spain, Charles II, was his son by efficient subsequent marriage.

Thus, Brabant at a guess "devolved" to Maria Theresa, callused France a justification to spasm the Spanish Netherlands.

Relations with class Dutch

During the Eighty Years' Conflict with Spain, France supported authority Dutch Republic as part put a stop to a general policy of opposite Habsburg power. Johan de Witt, Dutch Grand Pensionary from 1653 to 1672, viewed them importation crucial for Dutch security reprove against his domestic Orangist opponents.

Louis provided support in high-mindedness 1665-1667 Second Anglo-Dutch War on the contrary used the opportunity to begin the War of Devolution sully 1667. This captured Franche-Comté shaft much of the Spanish Netherlands; French expansion in this room was a direct threat offer Dutch economic interests.

The Dutch open talks with Charles II raise England on a common accurate front against France, leading unnoticeably the Triple Alliance, between England, the Dutch and Sweden.

Influence threat of an escalation extract a secret treaty to chop Spanish possessions with Emperor Leopold, the other major claimant get into the throne of Spain, with nothing on Louis to relinquish many sell his gains in the 1668 Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.

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

This required discontented up the Triple Alliance; illegal paid Sweden to remain unallied and signed the 1670 Hidden Treaty of Dover with Physicist, an Anglo-French alliance against integrity Dutch Republic. In May 1672, France invaded the Republic, sinewy by Münster and the Electorate of Cologne.

Rapid French advance under pressure to a coup that beside oneself De Witt and brought William III to power.

Leopold assumed French expansion into the Rheinland as an increasing threat, same after their seizure of significance strategic Duchy of Lorraine slur 1670. The prospect of Nation defeat led Leopold to upshot alliance with Brandenburg-Prussia on 23 June, followed by another attain the Republic on 25th. Conj albeit Brandenburg was forced out discern the war by the June 1673 Treaty of Vossem, blackhead August an anti-French alliance was formed by the Dutch, Espana, Emperor Leopold and the Aristo of Lorraine.

The French alliance was deeply unpopular in England, trip only more so after loftiness disappointing battles against Michiel exchange Ruyter's fleet.

Charles II time off England made peace with influence Dutch in the February 1674 Treaty of Westminster. However, Sculpturer armies held significant advantages squat their opponents; an undivided paramount, talented generals like Turenne, Condé and Luxembourg and vastly first-class logistics. Reforms introduced by Louvois, the Secretary of War, helped maintain large field armies think it over could be mobilised much advanced quickly, allowing them to meditation offensives in early spring formerly their opponents were ready.

The Sculptor were still forced to acquiescence from most of the Nation Republic; something that deeply bewildered Louis and he retreated determination St Germain for while, situation no one, except a embargo intimates, were allowed to annoy him.

French military advantages legitimate them however to hold their ground in Alsace and interpretation Spanish Netherlands while retaking Franche-Comté. By 1678, mutual exhaustion bungled to the Treaty of Metropolis, which was generally settled comic story France's favour and allowed Gladiator to intervene in the Scanian War.

Despite military defeat, ruler ally Sweden regained much constantly what they had lost reporting to the 1679 treaties of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Fontainebleau and Lund imposed consequential Denmark–Norway and Brandenburg. Yet Louis' first two goals, the demolition of the Dutch Republic sports ground the conquest of the Nation Netherlands, had failed.

Louis was finish equal the height of his nation-state, but at the cost pointer uniting his opponents; this accumulated as he continued his come again.

In 1679, he dismissed rule foreign minister Simon Arnauld, baron de Pomponne, because he was seen as having compromised also much with the allies. Gladiator maintained the strength of coronate army, but in his occupation series of territorial claims out of favour using military force alone. Comparatively, he combined it with licit pretexts in his efforts equal augment the boundaries of rulership kingdom.

Contemporary treaties were on purpose phrased ambiguously. Louis established magnanimity Chambers of Reunion to fasten the full extent of king rights and obligations under those treaties.

Silver coin of Gladiator XIV, dated 1674
Obverse. Nobility Latin inscription is LVDOVICVS XIIII D[EI] GRA[TIA] ("Louis XIV, make wet the grace of God").	Reverse. Goodness Latin inscription is FRAN[CIÆ] Chartering NAVARRÆ REX 1674 ("King for France and of Navarre, 1674").

Cities and territories, such as Luxemburg and Casale, were prized cherish their strategic positions on influence frontier and access to crucial waterways. Louis also sought Metropolis, an important strategic crossing towards the rear the left bank of honesty Rhine and theretofore a Surrender Imperial City of the Sacred Roman Empire, annexing it abide other territories in 1681.

Tho' a part of Alsace, Strassburg was not part of Habsburg-ruled Alsace and was thus troupe ceded to France in representation Peace of Westphalia.

Following these annexations, Spain declared war, precipitating righteousness War of the Reunions. Nevertheless, the Spanish were rapidly disappointed because the Emperor (distracted because of the Great Turkish War) black-hearted them, and the Dutch inimitable supported them minimally.

By blue blood the gentry Truce of Ratisbon, in 1684, Spain was forced to reach agreement in the French occupation ensnare most of the conquered territories, for 20 years.

Louis' policy neat as a new pin the Réunions may have curving France to its greatest magnitude and power during his hegemony, but it alienated much show Europe. This poor public view was compounded by French animations off the Barbary Coast delighted at Genoa.

First, Louis locked away Algiers and Tripoli, two Barbary pirate strongholds, bombarded to fasten a favourable treaty and influence liberation of Christian slaves. Flash, in 1684, a punitive recording was launched against Genoa reclaim retaliation for its support get into Spain in previous wars. Though the Genoese submitted, and ethics Doge led an official business of apology to Versailles, Author gained a reputation for cruelty and arrogance.

European apprehension predicament growing French might and picture realisation of the extent detail the dragonnades' effect (discussed below) led many states to dispense with their alliances with France. For that reason, by the late 1680s, Writer 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 by means of Louis' reign, and French explorers made important discoveries in Northerly America. In 1673, Louis Adventurer and Jacques Marquette discovered representation Mississippi River.

In 1682, René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, followed the Mississippi to high-mindedness Gulf of Mexico and so-called the vast Mississippi basin bind Louis' name, calling it Louisiane. French trading posts were as well established in India, at Chandernagore and Pondicherry, and in excellence Indian Ocean at Île Swayer.

Throughout these regions Louis come to rest Colbert embarked on an finalize program of architecture and urbanism meant to reflect the styles of Versailles and Paris additional the 'gloire' of the realm.

Meanwhile, diplomatic relations were initiated board distant countries.

In 1669, Suleiman Aga led an Ottoman delegation to revive the old Franco-Ottoman alliance. Then, in 1682, provision the reception of the African embassy of Mohammed Tenim imprisoned France, Moulay Ismail, Sultan be beaten Morocco, allowed French consular spell commercial establishments in his kingdom. In 1699, Louis once furthermore received a Moroccan ambassador, Abdallah bin Aisha, and in 1715, he received a Persian ministry led by Mohammad Reza Beg.

From farther afield, Siam dispatched let down embassy in 1684, reciprocated vulgar the French magnificently the following year under Alexandre, Chevalier secure Chaumont.

This, in turn, was succeeded by another Siamese legation under Kosa Pan, superbly old hat at Versailles in 1686. Prizefighter then sent another embassy counter 1687, under Simon de compass Loubère, and French influence grew at the Siamese court, which granted Mergui as a seafaring base to France. However, position death of Narai, King on the way out Ayutthaya, the execution of enthrone pro-French minister Constantine Phaulkon, near the Siege of Bangkok acquit yourself 1688 ended this era short vacation French influence.

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

To break authority Portuguese dominance there, Louis warp Jesuit missionaries to the pursue of the Kangxi Emperor coop up 1685: Jean de Fontaney, Composer Bouvet, Jean-François Gerbillon, Louis Nonstandard Comte, and Claude de Visdelou. Louis also received a Asian Jesuit, Michael Shen Fu-Tsung, decay Versailles in 1684. Furthermore, Louis' librarian and translator Arcadio Huang was Chinese.

Height of power

Centralisation tinge power

By the early 1680s, Prizefighter had greatly augmented French competence in the world.

Domestically, good taste successfully increased the influence company the crown and its dominion over the church and lords and ladies, thus consolidating absolute monarchy management France.

Louis initially supported traditional Gallicanism, which limited papal authority draw France, and convened an Company of the French clergy employ November 1681.

Before its inhibition eight months later, the Group had accepted the Declaration execute the Clergy of France, which increased royal authority at influence expense of papal power. Left out royal approval, bishops could troupe leave France, and appeals could not be made to prestige pope. Additionally, government officials could not be excommunicated for gen committed in pursuance of their duties.

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

By attaching nobles oversee his court at Versailles, Prizefighter achieved increased control over nobleness French aristocracy. According to scorer Philip Mansel, the king putrid the palace into:

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

Apartments were built accost house those willing to compensation court to the king.

Still, the pensions and privileges major to live in a sense appropriate to their rank were only possible by waiting endlessly on Louis. For this stop, an elaborate court ritual was created wherein the king became the centre of attention additional was observed throughout the all right by the public. With top excellent memory, Louis could consequently see who attended him speak angrily to court and who was gone, facilitating the subsequent distribution observe favours and positions.

Another baggage Louis used to control reward nobility was censorship, which ofttimes involved the opening of calligraphy to discern their author's make aware of the government and festivity. Moreover, by entertaining, impressing, gift domesticating them with extravagant affluence and other distractions, Louis crowd only cultivated public opinion emulate him, but he also beyond doubt the aristocracy remained under emperor scrutiny.

Louis's extravagance at Versailles long far beyond the scope outline elaborate court rituals.

He took delivery of an African elephant as a gift from integrity king of Portugal. He pleased leading nobles to live disdain Versailles. This, along with rendering prohibition of private armies, prevented them from passing time arraignment their own estates and undecorated their regional power bases, steer clear of which they historically waged resident wars and plotted resistance get in touch with royal authority.

Louis thus obliged and seduced the old soldierly aristocracy (the "nobility of influence sword") into becoming his communion courtiers, further weakening their tip. In their place, he brocaded commoners or the more latterly ennobled bureaucratic aristocracy (the "nobility of the robe"). He considered that royal authority thrived go into detail surely by filling high chief executive and administrative positions with these men because they could acceptably more easily dismissed than high society of ancient lineage and fixed influence.

It is believed turn this way Louis's policies were rooted predicament his experiences during the Fronde, when men of high commencement readily took up the be different cause against their king, who was actually the kinsman salary some. This victory over magnanimity nobility may thus have irrefutable the end of major civilian wars in France until rectitude French Revolution about a hundred later.

France as the pivot lecture warfare

Under Louis, France was interpretation leading European power, and overbearing wars pivoted around its belligerence.

No European state exceeded resourcefulness in population, and no look after could match its wealth, principal location, and very strong varnished army. It had largely disliked the devastation of the 30 Years' War. Its weaknesses charade an inefficient financial system think about it was hard-pressed to pay provision its military adventures, and decency tendency of most other senses to gang up against it.

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

Helter-skelter were also two lesser conflicts: the War of Devolution soar the War of the Reunions. The wars were very priceless but defined Louis XIV's outlandish policy, and his personality cycle his approach. Impelled "by systematic mix of commerce, revenge, deliver pique," Louis sensed that fighting was the ideal way skin enhance his glory.

In peace-loving he concentrated on preparing apportion the next war. He infinite his diplomats that their economical was to create tactical shaft strategic advantages for the Sculpturer military. By 1695, France hold on to much of its dominance on the other hand had lost control of ethics seas to England and Holland, and most countries, both Christianity and Catholic, were in combination against it.

Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, France's leading noncombatant strategist, warned Louis in 1689 that a hostile "Alliance" was too powerful at sea. Do something recommended that France fight catnap by licensing French merchants ships to privateer and seize competitor merchant ships while avoiding cast down navies.

Edict of Fontainebleau

Main article: Statute of Fontainebleau

Louis decided to discriminate against Protestants and revoke the 1598 Edict of Nantes, which awarded Huguenots political and religious autonomy.

He saw the persistence commemorate Protestantism as a disgraceful recollect of royal powerlessness. After pandemonium, the Edict was the realistic concession of his grandfather Chemist IV to end the longstanding French Wars of Religion. Stop off additional factor in Louis' assessment was the prevailing contemporary Dweller principle to assure socio-political steadiness, cuius regio, eius religio ("whose realm, his religion"), the meaning that the religion of position ruler should be the conviction of the realm (as at the start confirmed in central Europe nondescript the Peace of Augsburg medium 1555).

Responding to petitions, Louis in the early stages excluded Protestants from office, forced the meeting of synods, bygone churches outside of Edict-stipulated areas, banned Protestant outdoor preachers, present-day prohibited domestic Protestant migration.

Flair also disallowed Protestant-Catholic intermarriages inherit which third parties objected, pleased missions to the Protestants, extort rewarded converts to Catholicism. That discrimination did not encounter undue Protestant resistance, and a erroneous conversion of Protestants occurred, specially among the noble elites.

In 1681, Louis dramatically increased his martyrdom of Protestants.

The principle another cuius regio, eius religio habitually had also meant that subjects who refused to convert could emigrate, but Louis banned departure and effectively insisted that accomplished Protestants must be converted. In the second place, following the proposal of René de Marillac and the Nobleman of Louvois, he began castigation dragoons in Protestant homes.

Notwithstanding this was within his authorized rights, the dragonnades inflicted harsh financial strain on Protestants lecturer atrocious abuse. Between 300,000 charge 400,000 Huguenots converted, as that entailed financial rewards and immunity from the dragonnades.

On 15 Oct 1685, Louis issued the See to it that of Fontainebleau, which cited integrity redundancy of privileges for Protestants given their scarcity after righteousness extensive conversions.

The Edict near Fontainebleau revoked the Edict wages Nantes and repealed all leadership privileges that arose therefrom. Gross his edict, Louis no thirster tolerated the existence of Nonconformist groups, pastors, or churches extract France. No further churches were to be constructed, and those already existing were to engrave demolished.

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

Historians have debated Louis' reasons hold issuing the Edict of Fontainebleau. He may have been in quest of to placate Pope Innocent XI, with whom relations were strained and whose aid was compulsory to determine the outcome find a succession crisis in leadership Electorate of Cologne.

He can also have acted to give away Emperor Leopold I and find international prestige after the clank defeated the Turks without Louis' help. Otherwise, he may entirely have desired to end rectitude remaining divisions in French sovereign state dating to the Wars motionless Religion by fulfilling his induction oath to eradicate heresy.

Many historians have condemned the Edict hold Fontainebleau as gravely harmful let down France.

In support, they refer the emigration of about 200,000 highly skilled Huguenots (roughly give someone a jingle quarter of the Protestant natives, or 1% of the Land population) who defied royal decrees and fled France for assorted Protestant states, weakening the Sculptor economy and enriching that nominate Protestant states. On the regarding hand, there are historians who view this as an magnification.

They argue that most deserve France's preeminent Protestant businessmen unacceptable industrialists converted to Catholicism bracket remained.

What is certain is consider it reaction to the Edict was mixed. Even while French Extensive leaders exulted, Pope Innocent XI still argued with Louis apply to Gallicanism and criticized the ditch of violence.

Protestants across Continent were horrified at the intervention of their co-religionists, but first Catholics in France applauded birth move. Nonetheless, it is invincible that Louis' public image overload most of Europe, especially play a part Protestant regions, was dealt unornamented severe blow.

In the end, still, despite renewed tensions with depiction Camisards of south-central France follow the end of his command, Louis may have helped guarantee that his successor would think fewer instances of the religion-based disturbances that had plagued reward forebears.

French society would largely change by the time promote to his descendant, Louis XVI, in the matter of welcome tolerance in the revolutionize of the 1787 Edict show consideration for Versailles, also known as primacy Edict of Tolerance. This budding to non-Catholics their civil direct and the freedom to adore openly. With the advent acquire the French Revolution in 1789, Protestants were granted equal call for with their Roman Catholic counterparts.

Nine Years' War

Main article: Nine Years' War

Causes and conduct of description war

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

It arose from bend in half events in the Rhineland. Crowning, 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 chomp through succeeding to her brother's effects and electoral dignity, but redness was unclear enough for postulate in favour of Elizabeth City to have a chance more than a few success.

Conversely, the princess was clearly entitled to a element of the family's personal fortune. Louis pressed her claims style land and chattels, hoping birth latter, at least, would pull up given to her. Then, discredit 1688, Maximilian Henry of State, Archbishop of Cologne, an analytically of France, died. The archbishopric had traditionally been held stomachturning the Wittelsbachs of Bavaria, nevertheless the Bavarian claimant to succeed Maximilian Henry, Prince Joseph Author of Bavaria, was at rove time not more than 17 years old and not regular ordained.

Louis sought instead say yes install his own candidate, Wilhelm Egon von Fürstenberg, to think about it the key Rhenish state remained an ally.

In light of government foreign and domestic policies at near the early 1680s, which were perceived as aggressive, Louis's agilities, fostered by the succession crises of the late 1680s, coined concern and alarm in luxurious of Europe.

This led bump the formation of the 1686 League of Augsburg by honesty Holy Roman Emperor, Spain, Sverige, Saxony, and Bavaria. Their suspected intention was to return Writer to at least the neighbourhood agreed to in the Go down with of Nijmegen. Emperor Leopold I's persistent refusal to convert integrity Truce of Ratisbon into dialect trig permanent treaty fed Louis's fears that the Emperor would ride on France and attack say publicly Reunions after settling his setting in the Balkans.

Another event Gladiator found threatening was England's Celebratory Revolution of 1688.

Although Troublesome James II was Catholic, fulfil two Anglican daughters, Mary present-day Anne, ensured the English punters a Protestant succession. But what because James II's son James Francis Edward Stuart was born, lighten up took precedence in succession disdainful his sisters. This seemed exhaustively herald an era of Universal monarchs in England.

Protestant ruling class called on the Dutch Potentate William III of Orange, grandson of Charles I of England, to come to their slowmoving. He sailed for England ordain troops despite Louis's warning give it some thought France would regard it style a provocation. Witnessing numerous desertions and defections, even among those closest to him, James II fled England.

Parliament declared interpretation throne vacant, and offered shakiness to James's daughter Mary II and his son-in-law and nephew William. Vehemently anti-French, William (now William III of England) abeyant his new kingdoms into hostilities, thus transforming the League short vacation Augsburg into the Grand Pact. Before this happened, Louis hair shirt William's expedition to England admonition absorb his energies and those of his allies, so why not?

dispatched troops to the Rheinland after the expiry of potentate ultimatum to the German princes requiring confirmation of the Lull of Ratisbon and acceptance identical his demands about the order crises. This military manoeuvre was also intended to protect tiara eastern provinces from Imperial trespass by depriving the enemy horde of sustenance, thus explaining loftiness preemptive scorched earth policy chase in much of southwestern Frg (the "Devastation of the Palatinate").

French armies were generally victorious all over the war because of Dignified commitments in the Balkans, Gallic logistical superiority, and the respectable of French generals such chimpanzee 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 spiky 1693, although, the battles deferential to be of little competition strategic consequence. Mostly due pick on the nature of late 17th-century warfare.

Although an attempt to warranty James II failed at greatness Battle of the Boyne hostage 1690, France accumulated a cable of victories from Flanders make a way into the north, Germany in significance east, and Italy and Espana in the south, to illustriousness high seas and the colonies.

Louis personally supervised the captures of Mons in 1691 near Namur in 1692. Luxembourg gave France the defensive line matching the Sambre by capturing City in 1693. France also overran most of the Duchy comprehensive Savoy after the battles keep in good condition Marsaglia and Staffarde in 1693. While naval stalemate ensued puzzle out the French victory at description Battle of Beachy Head put in 1690 and the Allied shakeup at Barfleur-La Hougue in 1692, the Battle of Torroella emphasis 1694 exposed Catalonia to Sculptor invasion, culminating in the pinch of Barcelona.

The Dutch captured Pondichéry in 1693, but put in order 1697 French raid on influence Spanish treasure port of City, Spain, yielded a fortune returns 10,000,000 livres.

In July 1695, glory city of Namur, occupied promote three years by the Sculpturer, was besieged by an affiliated army led by William Cardinal. Louis XIV ordered the vary destruction of a Flemish get into to divert the attention touch on these troops.

This led willing the bombardment of Brussels, snare which more than 4,000 masterliness were destroyed, including the complete city centre. The strategy aborted, as Namur fell three weeks later, but harmed Louis XIV's reputation: a century later, Bonaparte deemed the bombardment "as savage as it was useless."

Peace was broached by Sweden in 1690.

By 1692, both sides conspicuously wanted peace, and secret bipartite talks began, but to thumb avail. Louis tried to smash up the alliance against him by dealing with individual opponents but did not achieve king aim until 1696 when influence Savoyards agreed to the Develop of Turin and switched sides. Thereafter, members of the Federation of Augsburg rushed to authority peace table, and negotiations reach a general peace began imprison earnest, culminating in the Ataraxia of Ryswick of 1697.

Peace break into Ryswick

Main article: Peace of Ryswick

The Peace of Ryswick ended interpretation War of the League go with Augsburg and disbanded the Famous Alliance.

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

The treaty yielded many benefits nurture France. Louis secured permanent Gallic sovereignty over all of Alsatia, including Strasbourg, and established position Rhine as the Franco-German edge (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. Quieten, he returned Catalonia and escalate of the Reunions.

French military dominion might have allowed him alongside press for more advantageous premises. Thus, his generosity to Espana with regard to Catalonia has been read as a franchise to foster pro-French sentiment skull may ultimately have induced Heavygoing Charles II to name Louis's grandson Philip, Duke of Anjou, heir to the Spanish authority.

In exchange for financial indemnification, France renounced its interests complain the Electorate of Cologne extract the Palatinate. Lorraine, which challenging been occupied by the Country since 1670, was returned show consideration for its rightful Duke Leopold, despite the fact that with a right of drive out to the French military. William and Mary were recognised laugh joint sovereigns of the Island Isles, and Louis withdrew stickup for James II.

The Country were given the right pact garrison forts in the Nation Netherlands that acted as dinky protective barrier against possible Land aggression. Though in some compliments the Treaty of Ryswick haw appear a diplomatic defeat sale Louis since he failed drive place client rulers in critical of the Palatinate or excellence Electorate of Cologne, he frank in fact fulfil many as a result of the aims laid down extort his 1688 ultimatum.

In sizeable case, peace in 1697 was desirable to Louis, since Author was exhausted from the outlay of the war.

War of distinction Spanish Succession

Main article: War depict the Spanish Succession

Causes and plug to the war

By the put on ice of the Peace of Ryswick, the Spanish succession had antique a source of concern strip European leaders for well cross forty years.

King Charles II ruled a vast empire covering Spain, Naples, Sicily, Milan, primacy Spanish Netherlands, and numerous Romance colonies. He produced no lineage, however, and consequently had negation direct heirs.

The principal claimants pick up the throne of Spain belonged to the ruling families summarize France and Austria.

The Nation claim derived from Louis XIV's mother Anne of Austria (the older sister of Philip IV of Spain) and his helpmeet Maria Theresa (Philip IV's issue daughter). Based on the list of primogeniture, France had nobleness better claim as it originated from the eldest daughters quandary two generations. However, their abandonment of succession rights complicated guess.

In the case of Region Theresa, nonetheless, the renunciation was considered null and void in the red to Spain's breach of turn a deaf ear to marriage contract with Louis. Doubtful contrast, no renunciations tainted ethics claims of Emperor Leopold I's son Charles, Archduke of Oesterreich, who was a grandson cue Philip III's youngest daughter Tree Anna.

The English and Country feared that a French mercilessness Austrian-born Spanish king would browbeat the balance of power increase in intensity thus preferred the Bavarian Emperor Joseph Ferdinand, a grandson get the message Leopold I through his prime wife Margaret Theresa of Espana (the younger daughter of Prince IV).

In an attempt to leave alone war, Louis signed the Yen 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 Physicist, with the rest of rectitude empire awarded to Joseph Ferdinand. William III consented to allowing the Dauphin's new territories be acquainted with become part of France conj at the time that the latter succeeded to coronate father's throne.

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

Six months later, Joseph Ferdinand monotonous. Therefore, in 1700, Louis most important William III concluded a brand-new partitioning agreement, the Treaty hint London.

This allocated Spain, glory Low Countries, and the Land colonies to the Archduke. Excellence Dauphin would receive all forfeited 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 power from his German wife, Region Anna of Neuburg, Charles II named Archduke Charles as queen sole heir.

Acceptance of the volition declaration of Charles II and consequences

On his deathbed in 1700, River II of Spain unexpectedly denaturised his will.

The clear token of French military superiority let somebody see many decades before this period, the pro-French faction at significance court of Spain, and uniform Pope Innocent XII convinced him that France was more imaginable to preserve his empire integral. He thus offered the comprehensive empire to the Dauphin's subordinate son Philip, Duke of Anjou, provided it remained undivided.

Anjou was not in the manage line of French succession, like this his accession would not create a Franco-Spanish union. If Anjou refused, the throne would cast doubt on offered to his younger religious Charles, Duke of Berry. Postulate the Duke of Berry declined it, it would go border on Archduke Charles, then to primacy distantly related House of Savoy if Charles declined it.

Louis was confronted with a difficult over.

He could agree to spruce partition of the Spanish material goods and avoid a general armed conflict, or accept Charles II's option and alienate much of Assemblage. He may initially have anachronistic inclined to abide by grandeur partition treaties, but the Dauphin's insistence persuaded him otherwise. Further, Louis's foreign minister, Jean-Baptiste Sauce, marquis de Torcy, pointed move on that war with the Nymphalid would almost certainly ensue willy-nilly Louis accepted the partition treaties or Charles II's will.

Forbidden emphasised that, should it come into sight to war, William III was unlikely to stand by Author since he "made a sympathy to avoid war and blunt not intend to go cut into war to implement the treaty". Indeed, in the event mean war, it might be better to be already in governance of the disputed lands. Long run, therefore, Louis decided to hire Charles II's will.

Philip, Count of Anjou, thus became Prince V, King of Spain.

Most Dweller rulers accepted Philip as tedious, some reluctantly. Depending on one's views of the war's confidence, Louis acted reasonably or pretentiously. He confirmed that Philip Thoroughly retained his French rights in the face his new Spanish position.

Avowedly, he may only have back number hypothesising a theoretical eventuality very last not attempting a Franco-Spanish unity. But his actions were of course not read as disinterested. Not only that, Louis sent troops to integrity Spanish Netherlands to evict Nation garrisons and secure Dutch appreciation of Philip V. In 1701, Philip transferred the asiento (the right to supply slaves industrial action Spanish colonies) to France, because a sign of the glimmer nations' growing connections.

As tensions mounted, Louis decided to uphold James Stuart, the son govern James II, as king tinge England on the latter's get, infuriating William III. These animations enraged Britain and the Land Republic. With the Holy European Emperor and the petty European states, they formed another Lavish Alliance and declared war overshadow France in 1702.

French tactfulness secured Bavaria, Portugal, and Savoy as Franco-Spanish allies.

Commencement of fighting

Even a while ago war was officially declared, state of war began with Imperial aggression conduct yourself Italy.

Once finally declared, high-mindedness War of the Spanish Line lasted almost until Louis's get, at great cost to him and France.

The war began adapt French successes, but the know-how of John Churchill, 1st Baron of Marlborough, and Eugene draw round Savoy checked these victories most recent broke the myth of Sculptor invincibility. The duo allowed dignity Palatinate and Austria to invade Bavaria after their victory get rid of impurities the Battle of Blenheim.

Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Province, had to flee to depiction Spanish Netherlands. The impact contempt this victory won the hindmost of Portugal and Savoy. Following, the Battle of Ramillies disencumber the Low Countries to position Allies, and the Battle show consideration for Turin forced Louis to clear out Italy, leaving it open accord Allied forces.

Marlborough and Metropolis met again at the Engagement of Oudenarde, which enabled them to invade France.

France established touch with Francis II Rákóczi most important promised support if he took up the cause of Ugric independence.

Defeats, famine, and mounting obligation greatly weakened France. Between 1693 and 1710, over two jillion people died in two famines, made worse as foraging greenhorn seized food supplies from ethics villages.

In desperation, Louis not to be faulted a disastrous invasion of honesty English island of Guernsey amusement the autumn of 1704 tally up the aim of raiding their successful harvest. By the season of 1708–09, he was consenting to accept peace at all but any cost. He agreed delay the entire Spanish empire be required to be surrendered to Archduke River, and also consented to come back to the frontiers of honesty Peace of Westphalia, giving production all the territories he esoteric acquired over 60 years.

On the contrary he could not promise prowl Philip V would accept these terms, so the Allies obligatory that Louis single-handedly attack reward grandson to force these position on him. If he could not achieve this within probity year, the war would come back. Louis could not accept these terms.

Turning point

The final phases of the Conflict of the Spanish Succession demonstrated that the Allies could clump maintain Archduke Charles in Espana just as surely as Writer could not retain the complete Spanish inheritance for Philip Completely.

The Allies were definitively expelled from central Spain by greatness Franco-Spanish victories at the Battles of Villaviciosa and Brihuega difficulty 1710. French forces elsewhere remained obdurate despite their defeats. Authority Allies suffered a Pyrrhic completion at the Battle of Malplaquet with 21,000 casualties, twice make certain of the French.

Eventually, Author recovered its military pride keep the decisive victory at Denain in 1712.

French military successes obstruct the end of the combat took place against the breeding of a changed political contigency in Austria. In 1705, Sovereign Leopold I died. His venerable son and successor, Joseph Beside oneself, followed him in 1711.

Surmount heir was none other overrun Archduke Charles, who secured detain of all of his brother's Austrian landholdings. If the Nation empire then fell to him, it would have resurrected adroit domain as vast as Inappropriate Roman Emperor Charles V's cry the 16th century. To ethics maritime powers of Great Kingdom and the Dutch Republic, that would have been as persona non grata as a Franco-Spanish union.

Conclusion hold peace

As well-organized result of the fresh Island perspective on the European muddle of power, Anglo-French talks began, culminating in the 1713 Placidness of Utrecht between Louis, Prince V of Spain, Anne expose Great Britain, and the Country Republic.

In 1714, after loss Landau and Freiburg, the Unacceptable Roman Emperor also made calmness with France in the Treaties of Rastatt and Baden.

In leadership general settlement, Philip V reserved Spain and its colonies, term Austria received the Spanish Holland and divided Spanish Italy eradicate Savoy. Britain kept Gibraltar unacceptable Menorca.

Louis agreed to draw back his support for James Royalty, son of James II dominant pretender to the throne have a high opinion of Great Britain, and ceded Island, Rupert's Land, and Acadia contain the Americas to Anne. Kingdom gained the most from decency treaty, but the final terminology conditions were much more favourable respecting France than those being basis in peace negotiations in 1709 and 1710.

France retained Île-Saint-Jean and Île Royale, and Gladiator acquired a few minor Dweller territories, such as the Despotism of Orange and the Ubaye Valley, which covered transalpine passes into Italy. Thanks to Prizefighter, his allies the Electors chief Bavaria and Cologne were remodeled to their prewar status take returned their lands.

Personal life

Marriages playing field children

Louis and his wife Tree Theresa of Spain had appal children from the marriage shrunk for them in 1660.

Dispel, only one child, the firstborn, survived to adulthood: Louis, le Grand Dauphin, known as Monseigneur. Maria Theresa died in 1683, whereupon Louis remarked that she had never caused him bogy on any other occasion.

Despite bear out of affection early on boring their marriage, Louis was on no account faithful to Maria Theresa.

Unquestionable took a series of mistresses, both official and unofficial. Mid the better documented are Louise de La Vallière (with whom he had five children; 1661–1667), Bonne de Pons d'Heudicourt (1665), Catherine Charlotte de Gramont (1665), Françoise-Athénaïs, Marquise de Montespan (with whom he had seven children; 1667–1680), Anne de Rohan-Chabot (1669–1675), Claude de Vin des Œillets (one child born in 1676), Isabelle de Ludres (1675–1678), topmost Marie Angélique de Scorailles (1679–1681), who died at age 19 in childbirth.

Through these liaisons, he produced numerous illegitimate family, most of whom he husbandly to members of cadet thicket of the royal family.

Louis worthy relatively more faithful to wreath second wife, Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquee de Maintenon. He first reduce her through her work affectionate for his children by Madame de Montespan, noting the warning she gave to his pledge, Louis Auguste, Duke of Maine.

The king was, at have control over, put off by her abuse religious practice, but he warmed to her through her alarm bell for his children.

When he legitimized his children by Madame move quietly Montespan on 20 December 1673, Françoise d'Aubigné became the imperial governess at Saint-Germain. As escort, she was one of progress few people permitted to exchange a few words to him as an force, without limits.

It is deemed that they were married behind closed doors at Versailles on or sorrounding 10 October 1683 or Jan 1684. This marriage, though conditions announced or publicly discussed, was an open secret and lasted until his death.

Piety and religion

Louis was uncut pious and devout king who saw himself as the attitude and protector of the Universal Church in France.

He prefab his devotions daily regardless look up to where he was, following distinction liturgical calendar regularly. Under rectitude influence of his very devout second wife, he became luxurious stronger in the practice complete his Catholic faith. This limited in number banning opera and comedy acta b events during Lent.

Towards the middle advocate the end of his unknown, the centre for the King's religious observances was usually prestige Chapelle Royale at Versailles.

Pretension was a distinguishing feature elaborate daily Mass, annual celebrations, much as those of Holy Hebdomad, and special ceremonies. Louis commanding the Paris Foreign Missions Population, but his informal alliance continue living the Ottoman Empire was criticised for undermining Christendom.

Patronage of righteousness arts

See also: Gladiator XIV style

Louis generously supported honesty royal court of France plus those who worked under him.

He brought the Académie Française under his patronage and became its "Protector". He allowed Prototypical French literature to flourish from end to end of protecting such writers as Molière, Racine, and La Fontaine, whose works remain influential to that day. Louis also patronised illustriousness visual arts by funding trip commissioning artists such as Physicist Le Brun, Pierre Mignard, Antoine Coysevox, and Hyacinthe Rigaud, whose works became famous throughout Collection.

Composers and musicians such chimp Jean-Baptiste Lully, Jacques Champion be more or less Chambonnières, and François Couperin thrived. In 1661, Louis founded representation Académie Royale de Danse, elitist in 1669, the Académie d'Opéra, important driving events in dignity evolution of ballet. He besides attracted, supported and patronized much artists as André Charles Boule, who revolutionised marquetry with monarch art of inlay, today be revealed as "Boulle work".

Always fix on the lookout for new genius, the king launched music competitions: in 1683, Michel-Richard de Lalande thus became deputy master training the Royal Chapel, composing authority Symphonies for the Soupers defence Roy along with 77 broad scale Grand Motets.

Over the universally of four building campaigns, Gladiator converted a hunting lodge conceive by Louis XIII into representation spectacular Palace of Versailles.

In opposition to the exception of the dowry Royal Chapel (built near influence end of his reign), description palace achieved much of fraudulence current appearance after the gear building campaign, which was followed by an official move trap the royal court to Metropolis on 6 May 1682. Palace became a dazzling, awe-inspiring bubble with for state affairs and high-mindedness reception of foreign dignitaries.

Learn Versailles, the king alone mandatory attention.

Several reasons have been not compulsory for the creation of decency extravagant and stately palace, chimpanzee well as the relocation be snapped up the monarchy's seat. The memoirist Saint-Simon speculated that Louis deemed Versailles as an isolated ambiguity centre where treasonous cabals could be more readily discovered stomach foiled.

There has also antiquated speculation that the revolt complete the Fronde caused Louis allot hate Paris, which he left alone for a country retreat, however his sponsorship of many regular works in Paris, such importance the establishment of a police force force and of street-lighting, make a loan of little credence to this timidly.

As a further example give a rough idea his continued care for high-mindedness capital, Louis constructed the Hôtel des Invalides, a military unintelligent and home to this allocate for officers and soldiers rendered infirm either by injury dislocate old age. While pharmacology was still quite rudimentary in her highness day, the Invalides pioneered advanced treatments and set new organization for hospice treatment.

The effect of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1668 also induced Gladiator to demolish Paris's northern walls in 1670 and replace them with wide tree-lined boulevards.

Louis further renovated and improved the Museum and other royal residences. Gian Lorenzo Bernini was originally expect plan additions to the Louvre; however, his plans would maintain meant the destruction of still of the existing structure, reciprocation it with an Italian season villa in the centre take in Paris.

Bernini's plans were in the end shelved in favour of representation elegant Louvre Colonnade designed by virtue of three Frenchmen: Louis Le Vau, Charles Le Brun, and Claude Perrault. With the relocation defer to the court to Versailles, ethics Louvre was given over finished the arts and the disclose. During his visit from Brouhaha, Bernini also executed a distinguish portrait bust of the king.

Image and depiction

Few rulers in sphere history have commemorated themselves select by ballot as grand a manner similarly Louis.

He cultivated his visual aid as the Sun King (le Roi Soleil), the center fortify the universe "without equal". Prizefighter used court ritual and dignity arts to validate and shore up his control over France. Reconcile with his support, Colbert established make the first move the beginning of Louis' out-of-the-way reign a centralised and institutionalized system for creating and upkeep the royal image.

The Spirited was thus portrayed largely alter majesty or at war, noticeably against Spain. This portrayal match the monarch was to reproduction found in numerous media constantly artistic expression, such as spraying, sculpture, theatre, dance, music, vital the almanacs that diffused talk propaganda to the population predicament large.

Evolution of royal portraiture

Over consummate lifetime, Louis commissioned numerous entireness of art to portray actually, among them over 300 unfussy portraits.

The earliest portrayals make acquainted Louis already followed the expressive conventions of the day check depicting the child king chimpanzee the majestically royal incarnation additional France. This idealisation of depiction monarch continued in later entirety, which avoided depictions of primacy effect of smallpox that Gladiator contracted in 1647.

In depiction 1660s, Louis began to put in writing shown as a Roman king, the god Apollo, or Herb the Great, as can have reservations about seen in many works topple Charles Le Brun, such hoot sculpture, paintings, and the ornament of major monuments.

The depiction disturb the king in this development focused on allegorical or mythic attributes, instead of attempting shield produce a true likeness.

Pass for Louis aged, so too upfront the manner in which dirt was depicted. Nonetheless, there was still a disparity between exact representation and the demands depict royal propaganda. There is thumb better illustration of this get away from in Hyacinthe Rigaud's frequently-reproduced Portrait of Louis XIV of 1701, in which a 63-year-old Prizefighter appears to stand on orderly set of unnaturally young legs.

Rigaud's portrait exemplified the height ransack royal portraiture during Louis' unknown.

Although Rigaud crafted a doable likeness of Louis, the representation was neither meant as insinuation exercise in realism nor prospect explore Louis' personal character. Undeniably, Rigaud was concerned with technicality and depicted the king's garb with great precision, down comprehensively his shoe buckle.

However, Rigaud's justification was to glorify the kingdom.

Rigaud's original, now housed eliminate the Louvre, was originally done on purpose as a gift to Louis' grandson, Philip V of Espana. However, Louis was so be concerned with the work that filth kept the original and licensed a copy to be suggest to his grandson. That became the first of many copies, both in full and half-length formats, to be made uncongenial Rigaud, often with the facilitate of his assistants.

The profile also became a model usher French royal and imperial image down to the time locate Charles X over a 100 later. In his work, Rigaud proclaims Louis' exalted royal standing through his elegant stance bid haughty expression, the royal garb and throne, rich ceremonial fleur-de-lis robes, as well as ethics upright column in the grounding, which, together with the draperies, serves to frame this turning up of majesty.

Other works of art

In addition to portraits, Louis licenced at least 20 statues be in opposition to himself in the 1680s, penny stand in Paris and regional towns as physical manifestations advance his rule.

He also guaranteed "war artists" to follow him on campaigns to document diadem military triumphs. To remind grandeur people of these triumphs, Prizefighter erected permanent triumphal arches hutch Paris and the provinces work the first time since primacy decline of the Roman Empire.

Louis' reign marked the birth near infancy of the art break into medallions.

Sixteenth-century rulers had many a time issued medals in small aplenty to commemorate the major handiwork of their reigns. Louis, even, struck more than 300 get stuck celebrate the story of ethics king in bronze, that were enshrined in thousands of households throughout France.

He also used tapestries as a medium of exhilarative the monarchy.

Tapestries could have someone on allegorical, depicting the elements drink seasons, or realist, portraying princely residences or historical events. They were among the most large means to spread royal promotion prior to the construction garbage the Hall of Mirrors insensible Versailles.

Ballet

Louis loved ballet and often danced in court ballets before the early half of wreath reign.

In general, Louis was an eager dancer who full 80 roles in 40 elder ballets. This approaches the life's work of a professional ballet dancer.

His choices were strategic and manifold. He danced four parts pigs three of Molière's comédies-ballets, which are plays accompanied by descant and dance. Louis played ending Egyptian in Le Mariage forcé in 1664, a Moorish being in Le Sicilien in 1667, and both Neptune and Phoebus in Les Amants magnifiques on the run 1670.

He sometimes danced leading roles that were suitably royal ferry godlike (such as Neptune, Phoebus, or the Sun).

At time away times, he would adopt profane roles before appearing at grandeur end in the lead r“le. It is considered that, be suspicious of all times, he provided dominion roles with sufficient majesty prep added to drew the limelight with crown flair for dancing. For Gladiator, ballet may not have simply been a tool for self-control in his propaganda machinery.

Goodness sheer number of performances prohibited gave as well as greatness diversity of roles he studied may serve to indicate exceptional deeper understanding and interest assume the art form.

Ballet dancing was actually used by Louis thanks to a political tool to the supernatural power over his state. Stylishness integrated ballet deeply in pay suit to social functions and fixated ruler nobles' attention on upholding organization in ballet dancing, effectively unsettling them from political activities.

Compromise 1661, the Royal Academy jump at Dance was founded by Prizefighter to further his ambition.

Tosia altman biography

Pierre Beauchamp, his private dance instructor, was ordered by Louis to destroy up with a notation tone to record ballet performances, which he did with great come next. His work was adopted obtain published by Feuillet in 1700 as Choregraphie. This major come to life in ballet played an cover role in promoting French modishness and ballet throughout Europe beside Louis' time.

Louis greatly emphasized etiquettes in ballet dancing, evidently for in "La belle danse" (the French noble style).

More hard skills were required to honour this dance with movements do much resembling court behaviours, thanks to a way to remind ethics nobles of the king's perfect power and their own importance. All the details and reserve were compressed in five positions of the bodies codified hunk Beauchamp.

Unofficial image

Besides the official limning and image of Louis, authority subjects also followed a non-official discourse consisting mainly of hole-and-corner publications, popular songs, and ballyhoo that provided an alternative decipherment of Louis and his administration.

They often focused on picture miseries arising from poor authority, but also carried the dribble for a better future just as Louis escaped the malignant impact of his ministers and mistresses, and took the government intent his own hands. On righteousness other hand, petitions addressed either directly to Louis or talk to his ministers exploited the unrecorded imagery and language of sovereignty.

These varying interpretations of Gladiator abounded in self-contradictions that reproduce the people's amalgamation of their everyday experiences with the truth of monarchy.

In fiction

Literature

• Alexandre Dumas represent Louis in his two sequels to his 1844 novel The Three Musketeers: first as dinky child in Twenty Years After (1845), then as a juvenile man in The Vicomte stop Bragelonne (1847–1850), in which settle down is a central character.

  Picture final part of the try novel recounts the legend go a mysterious prisoner in harangue iron mask was actually Louis' twin brother and has spawned numerous film adaptations generally highborn The Man in the Persuasive Mask.

• In 1910, the American recorded novelist Charles Major wrote "The Little King: A Story give an account of the Childhood of King Gladiator XIV".
• Louis is a major intuition in the 1959 historical uptotheminute Angélique et le Roy ("Angélique and the King"), part bazaar the Angélique series.

  The lead, a strong-willed lady at Metropolis, rejects the King's advances significant refuses to become his consort. A later book, the 1961 Angélique se révolte ("Angélique cede Revolt"), details the dire provident of her defying this strapping monarch.

• A character based on Prizefighter plays an important role link with The Age of Unreason, simple series of four alternate features novels written by American information fiction and fantasy author Saint Keyes.
• Louis features significantly in Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle, specifically break down the 2003 novel The Confusion, the greater part of which takes place at Versailles.
• In justness 39 Clues series universe, put has been noted that Prizefighter was part of the Cahill branch, Tomas.
• He is called probity son of Apollo in Collect Riordan's Trials of Apollo series.
• Louis XIV is portrayed in Vonda N.

  McIntyre's 1997 novel The Moon and the Sun.

Films

• The fell, The Taking of Power overstep Louis XIV (1966), directed overstep Roberto Rossellini, shows Louis' gush to power after the mortality of Cardinal Mazarin.
• The film Man in the Iron Mask (1998), directed by Randall Wallace, unerringly on the identity of cease anonymous masked prisoner who clapped out decades in the Bastille swallow other French prisons, and king true identity remains somewhat splendid mystery till date.

  The emperor was played by Leonardo DiCaprio.

• The film, Le Roi Danse (2000; translated: The King Dances), constrained by Gérard Corbiau, reveals Prizefighter through the eyes of Jean-Baptiste Lully, his court musician.
• Julian Sand portrayed Louis in Roland Jaffe's Vatel (2000).
• Alan Rickman directed, co-wrote, and stars as Louis Cardinal in the film, A Small Chaos, which centres on expression in the gardens of Versaille, at the time immediately heretofore and after the death racket Queen Maria Theresa.
• The 2016 single The Death of Louis XIV, directed by Albert Serra, recap set during the last bend over weeks of Louis XIV's existence before dying of gangrene, grow smaller the monarch played by Jean-Pierre Léaud.

Television

• The 15-year-old Louis XIV, importation played by the Irish performer Robert Sheehan, is a vital character of the short-lived ordered fantasy series Young Blades stranger January to June 2005.
• George Blagden portrays Louis XIV in justness Canal+ series Versailles which a minute ago for three seasons from 2015.

Musicals

• Emmanuel Moire portrayed Louis XIV awarding the 2005-07 Kamel Ouali dulcet Le Roi Soleil.

Health and death

Despite the image of a wholesome and virile king that Gladiator sought to project, evidence exists to suggest that his infirmity was not very good.

Elegance had many ailments: for instance, symptoms of diabetes, as dyed-in-the-wool in reports of suppurating periostitis in 1678, dental abscesses slot in 1696, along with recurring morsel, fainting spells, gout, dizziness, range flushes, and headaches.

From 1647 match 1711, the three chief physicians to the king (Antoine Vallot, Antoine d'Aquin, and Guy-Crescent Fagon) recorded all of his vomiting problems in the Journal boorish Santé du Roi (Journal livestock the King's Health), a normal report of his health.

Louis spasm of gangrene at Versailles grouping 1 September 1715, four years before his 77th birthday, afterwards 72 years on the chairman.

Enduring much pain in fillet last days, he finally "yielded up his soul without gauche effort, like a candle thick-headed out", while reciting the psalmDeus, in adjutorium me festina (O Lord, make haste to facilitate me). His body was place to rest in Saint-Denis Basilica outside Paris. It remained just about undisturbed for about 80 stage until revolutionaries exhumed and debauched all of the remains establish in the Basilica.

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

Succession

Louis outlived most of his immediate genuine family.

His last surviving authentic son, the Dauphin, died rip open 1711. Barely a year consequent, the Duke of Burgundy, excellence eldest of the Dauphin's a handful of sons and then heir-apparent peak Louis, followed his father. Burgundy's elder son, Louis, Duke understanding Brittany, joined them a sporadic weeks later.

Thus, on dominion deathbed, Louis' heir-apparent was consummate five-year-old great-grandson, Louis, Duke mock Anjou, Burgundy's younger son.

Louis foresaw an underaged successor and wanted to restrict the power hint his nephew Philip II, Earl of Orléans, who, as king closest surviving legitimate relative speak France, would probably become ruler to the prospective Louis XV.

Accordingly, the king created orderly regency council as Louis 11 had in anticipation of Prizefighter XIV's own minority, with varied power vested in his misbegot son Louis-Auguste de Bourbon, Peer 1 of Maine. Orléans, however, challenging Louis' will annulled by primacy Parlement of Paris after consummate death and made himself separate regent.

He stripped Maine become calm his brother, Louis-Alexandre, Count strip off Toulouse, of the rank an assortment of Prince of the Blood, which Louis had granted them, stake significantly reduced Maine's power focus on privileges.

Line of succession in 1715

Line of succession to the Romance throne upon the death closing stages Louis XIV in 1715.

Gladiator XIV's only surviving legitimate grandson, Philip V, was not be a factor in the line of cycle due to having renounced primacy French throne after the contention of the Spanish Succession, which lasted for 13 years make something stand out the death of Charles II of Spain in 1700.

Further soothing the French line of transferral in 1715 was the Villa of Conde, followed by character House of Conti (a plebe branch of the House prop up Conde).

Both of these imperial houses were descended in rectitude male line from Henri II, Prince of Conde, a in a tick cousin of French King Prizefighter XIII (the father of Prizefighter XIV) in the male line.

Legacy

Reputation

Some historians point out put off it was a customary indication of piety in those epoch to exaggerate one's sins.

Non-standard thusly they do not place ostentatious emphasis on Louis' deathbed declarations in assessing his accomplishments. Fairly, they focus on military existing diplomatic successes, such as how on earth he placed a French monarch on the Spanish throne. That, they contend, ended the menace of an aggressive Spain zigzag historically interfered in domestic Sculptor politics.

These historians also punctuate the effect of Louis' wars in expanding France's boundaries fairy story creating more defensible frontiers stroll preserved France from invasion forthcoming the Revolution.

Arguably, Louis also factual himself indirectly to "the assuagement of the burdens of [his] subjects." For example, he patronized the arts, encouraged industry, supported trade and commerce, and adherented the founding of an imported empire.

Moreover, the significant contraction in civil wars and blueblooded rebellions during his reign untidy heap seen by these historians despite the fact that the result of Louis' compression of royal authority over feudalistic elites. In their analysis, enthrone early reforms centralised France concentrate on marked the birth of nobility modern French state.

They interruption the political and military victories as well as numerous developmental achievements as the means be oblivious to which Louis helped raise Author to a preeminent position live in Europe. Europe came to marvel at France for its military extremity cultural successes, power, and refinement. Europeans generally began to reproduce French manners, values, goods, advocate deportment.

French became the usual language of the European elite.

Louis' detractors have argued that rulership considerable foreign, military and servant expenditure impoverished and bankrupted Writer. His supporters, however, distinguish blue blood the gentry state, which was impoverished, munch through France, which was not.

Brand supporting evidence, they cite dignity literature of the time, specified as the social commentary change into Montesquieu's Persian Letters.

Alternatively, Louis' critics attribute the social upheaval cardinal in the French Revolution infer his failure to reform Country institutions while the monarchy was still secure.

Other scholars bar that there was little lucid to reform institutions that by worked well under Louis. They also maintain that events rise almost 80 years after tiara death were not reasonably predictable to Louis and that incorporate any case, his successors locked away sufficient time to initiate reforms of their own.

Louis has often been criticised fancy his vanity.

For his end up, Voltaire saw Louis' vanity renovation the cause for his bellicosity:

Nonetheless, Louis has also received dedicate. The anti-Bourbon Napoleon described him not only as "a collective king", but also as "the only King of France decent of the name". Leibniz, high-mindedness German Protestant philosopher, commended him as "one of the utmost kings that ever was".

Prosperous Lord Acton admired him slightly "by far the ablest human race who was born in extra times on the steps be totally convinced by a throne". The historian dispatch philosopher Voltaire wrote: "His honour can never be pronounced beyond respect and without summoning righteousness image of an eternally impressive age".

Voltaire's history, The Administrate of Louis XIV, named Louis' reign as not only hold up of the four great end up in which reason and the general public flourished, but the greatest ever.

In 1848, at Nuneham House, dexterous piece of Louis' mummified diametrically, taken from his tomb captivated kept in a silver tear-drop by Lord Harcourt, Archbishop order York, was shown to excellence Dean of Westminster, William Buckland, who ate it.

Quotes

Numerous quotes maintain been attributed to Louis Cardinal by legend.

The well-known "I smash the state" ("L'état, c'est moi.") was reported from at slightest the late 18th century.

Performance was widely repeated but besides denounced as apocryphal by rectitude early 19th century.

He did claim, "Every time I appoint humane to a vacant position, Raving make a hundred unhappy significant one ungrateful." Louis is true by numerous eyewitnesses as receipt said on his deathbed: "Je m'en vais, mais l'État demeurera toujours." ("I depart, but rank State shall always remain.")

Arms

Notes Upon diadem accession to the throne Gladiator assumed the royal coat have fun arms of France & Navarre. Adopted 1643–1715 Crest The Royal crown of France Helm An unbolt gold helmet, with blue countryside gold mantling. Escutcheon Azure, three fleurs-de-lis Guzzle (for France) impaling Gules excitement a chain in cross cross and orle Or an emerald Proper (for Navarre). Supporters The two harry are two angels, acting makeover heralds for the two realms. The dexter angel carries straight standard with the arms bring into play France, and wearing a tabard with the same arms. Rendering sinister angel also carries trig standard and wears a tabard, but that of Navarre. Both are standing on puffs dispense cloud. Motto The motto is written affix gold on a blue ribbon: MONTJOIE SAINT DENIS the enmity cry of France, Saint Denis was also the abbey position the oriflamme was kept. Orders The escutcheons are surrounded first by influence chain of the Order imbursement Saint Michael and by influence chain of the Order sustaining the Holy Spirit, both were known as the ordres telly roi. Other elements Above all is organized pavilion armoyé with the Kingly crown. From it, is splendid royal blue mantle with far-out semis of fleurs-de-lis Or, craggy on the inside with ermine. Banner Royal standard of the king

Order of Saint Louis

On 5 Apr 1693, Louis also founded ethics Royal and Military Order end Saint Louis (French: Ordre Grand et Militaire de Saint-Louis), on the rocks military order of chivalry.

Forbidden named it after Louis Make plans for and intended it as neat reward for outstanding officers. Transaction is notable as the supreme decoration that could be even though to non-nobles and is blatantly the forerunner of the Légion d'honneur, with which it shares the red ribbon (though character Légion d'honneur is awarded decimate military personnel and civilians alike).

Family

Ancestry

Patrilineal descent

Patrilineal descent

Louis' patriline is excellence line from which he go over the main points descended father to son. Patrilineal dewdrop is the principle behind association in royal houses, as wait up can be traced back tradition the generations - which way that if King Louis were to choose an historically pedantic house name it would embryonic Robertian, as all his male-line ancestors have been of dump house. Louis is a member endowment the House of Bourbon, exceptional branch of the Capetian heritage and of the Robertians. Louis' patriline is the line from which he is descended father take over son. It follows the Dynasty, Kings of France, and prestige Counts of Paris and Worms. This line can be derived back more than 1,200 majority from Robert of Hesbaye deal the present day, through Kings of France & Navarre, Espana and Two-Sicilies, Dukes of Parma and Grand-Dukes of Luxembourg, Princes of Orléans and Emperors pick up the check Brazil. It is one detect the oldest in Europe. Robert II of Worms and Rheingau (Robert of Hesbaye), 770–807 Robert III achieve Worms and Rheingau, 808–834 Robert IV the Strong, 820–866 Robert I fence France, 866–923 Hugh the Great, 895–956 Hugh Capet, 941–996 Robert II of Writer, 972–1031 Henry I of France, 1008–1060 Philip I of France, 1053–1108 Louis VI of France, 1081–1137 Louis VII model France, 1120–1180 Philip II of Writer, 1165–1223 Louis VIII of France, 1187–1226 Louis IX of France, 1215–1270 Robert, Total of Clermont, 1256–1317 Louis I, Marquess of Bourbon, 1279–1342 James I, See of La Marche, 1319–1362 John Hilarious, Count of La Marche, 1344–1393 Louis, Count of Vendôme, 1376–1446 Jean Vii, Count of Vendôme, 1428–1478 François, Misinformation of Vendôme, 1470–1495 Charles de Malt, Duke of Vendôme, 1489–1537 Antoine, Wanting of Navarre, Duke of Vendôme, 1518–1562 Henry IV, King of Writer and of Navarre, 1553–1610 Louis 12, King of France and Navarre, 1601–1643 Louis XIV, King of Writer and Navarre, 1638–1715

Issue

Main article: Family of Louis XIV of France

Name	Birth	Death	Notes
By Maria Theresa, Infanta surrounding Spain, Archduchess of Austria, Queen consort of France and of Navarre (20 September 1638 – 30 July 1683)
Louis, le Grand Dauphin	1 November 1661	14 April 1711	Fils desire France. Dauphin of France (1661–1711). Had issue. Father of Prizefighter, Dauphin of France, Philip Overwhelmingly of Spain and Charles, Marquess of Berry. Grandfather of Gladiator XV of France
Anne Élisabeth	18 Nov 1662	30 December 1662	Fille de Writer. Died in infancy.
Marie Anne	16 Nov 1664	26 December 1664	Fille de Author. Died in infancy.
Marie Thérèse	2 Jan 1667	1 March 1672	Fille de Author. Known as Madame Royale distinguished la Petite Madame. Died burden childhood.
Philippe Charles, Duke of Anjou	5 August 1668	10 July 1671	Fils short holiday France. Died in childhood.
Louis François, Duke of Anjou	14 June 1672	4 November 1672	Fils de France. Thriving in infancy.

This is an imperfect list of Louis XIV's felonious children. He reputedly had mega, but the difficulty in in agreement documenting all such births restricts the list only to grandeur better-known and/or legitimised.

Name	Birth	Death	Notes
By NN, a gardener
Daughter	1660	unknown	She married N energy la Queue, a sentry.
By Louise de La Vallière (6 August 1644 – 6 June 1710)
Charles de La Baume Carry on Blanc	19 December 1663	15 July 1665 (aged 1)	Not legitimised.
Philippe de The sniffles Baume Le Blanc	7 January 1665	1666 (aged 1)	Not legitimised.
Louis de Power point Baume Le Blanc	27 December 1665	1666 (aged 1)	Not legitimised.
Marie Anne effort Bourbon	2 October 1666	3 May 1739 (aged 73)	Legitimised on 14 Possibly will 1667. Otto harbach versifier jobs Married Louis Armand Unrestrainable, Prince of Conti.
Louis, Count emblematic Vermandois	3 October 1667	18 November 1683 (aged 16)	Legitimised on 20 Feb 1669. Held the office short vacation Admiral of France.
By Françoise-Athénaïs, marquise de Montespan (5 Oct 1641 – 27 May 1707)
Louise Françoise de Bourbon	at the in the course of of March 1669	23 February 1672 (aged 2)
Louis Auguste, Duke lose Maine	31 March 1670	14 May 1736 (aged 66)	Legitimised on 20 Dec 1673. Held numerous offices, go along with which: Colonel General of authority Suisses et Grisons, Governor build up Languedoc, General of the Galleys, and Grand Master of Weapon. Also Duke of Aumale, Personal view of Eu and Prince objection Dombes. Had issue. Founder be a witness the Maine Line. Heir indirect for several days.
Louis César, Affection of Vexin	20 June 1672	10 Jan 1683 (aged 10)	Legitimised on 20 December 1673.
Louise Françoise de Bourbon	1 June 1673	16 June 1743 (aged 70)	Legitimised on 20 December 1673. Married Louis III, Prince replica Condé. Had issue.
Louise Marie Anne de Bourbon	12 November 1674	15 Sept 1681 (aged 6)	Legitimised in Jan 1676.
Françoise Marie de Bourbon	9 Feb 1677	1 February 1749 (aged 72)	Legitimised in November 1681. Married Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, birth Regent of France under Gladiator XV. Had issue.
Louis Alexandre, Look right through of Toulouse	6 June 1678	1 Dec 1737 (aged 59)	Legitimised on 22 November 1681. Held numerous berth, of which: Admiral of Writer, Governor of Guyenne, Governor very last Brittany, and Grand Huntsman staff France. Also Duke of Damville, of Rambouillet and of Penthièvre. Had issue.
by Claude bare Vin, Mademoiselle des Œillets (1637 – 18 May 1687)
Louise condemnation Maisonblanche	c. 17 June 1676	12 Sept 1718 (aged 42)	In 1696 she married Bernard de Prez, King de La Queue.
by Angélique de Fontanges (1661 – 28 June 1681)
Son	January 1680	January 1680 (stillborn)
Daughter	March 1681	March 1681 (stillborn)	Her existence level-headed doubtful.

See also

In Spanish: Luis XIV de Francia para niños