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LOUIS XIV
1638 - 1715
Louis XIV was also called Louis the Great or The Sun King.
Louis ruled France for 72 years under his motto “L'état c'est moi”
(I am the state). He became the image of the classic monarch with
supreme powers. Possessing a love for all things refined, he stood
in stark contrast to the rustic and sturdy medieval rulers.
Louis brought Versailles to its glorious days. He survived
devastating personal calamities with dignity. Louis had numerous
love affairs, enjoyed gambling, entertaining, and dancing. He even
established the Royal Academy of Dance.
Fame and France were Louis's
passions.
THE SUN KING
Louis chose the sun as his royal symbol. Many parallels may be
found, i.e. everything revolved around Louis, the brilliance of his
court, etc.
And here is a map of the territorial acquisitions during the reign
of Louis XIV:
Eastern France
1643-1715
FAMILY
Louis's parents were Louis XIII and Anne of Austria.
In 1660, he married Marie-Thérèse of Austria who died 1683.
In 1684, he married Françoise Scarron, a poor author's widow, who
died 1719.
Louis's kid was Louis, Dauphin de Viennois, Grand Dauphin (son of Marie-Thérèse.)
Louis had many other illegitimate children.
Picture R & L Akerson.
Château de Versailles. Louis XIV
transformed the former hunting
lodge of Louis XIII into a breathtaking royal residence.
MILITARY CAMPAIGNS
1667 - 1668 War of
Devolution
Louis XIV makes war in Spain and conquers a large part of the Spanish
Netherlands.
1672 - 1678 Dutch War
France invades the
Dutch Republic,
almost overpowers it. Charles
II of England is Louis' prisoner. England helps the French
in their attacks upon Holland until 1674. Heroic resistance of the
Dutch under the Prince of Orange.
In 1674, Louis conquers Franche-Comte.
In 1681, Louis invades and occupies Alsace.
In 1685, Louis commences a merciless persecution of his Protestant
subjects.
1689 - 1697 War
of the Grand Alliance
The Austrian Habsburgs, the English, and the Dutch allied against
France in defense of Holland, thus Louis supported the
Jacobites.
1701 - 1714 War
of Spanish Succession
The Spanish ruler Charles II died without an heir. England, the
Dutch Republic, and France claimed to have the rightful
successor. Louis believed his grandson Philip V to be the rightful
heir. Philip V was crowned King of Spain.
MORE EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF LOUIS XIV
November 7, 1659 -
Treaty of the Pyrenees
SUCCESSION
Because Louis XIV outlived his son and grandson, he was succeeded by
his great-grandson Louis XV.
Here is Louis XIV's
timeline.
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