Louis XIV (1638–1715)

Louis XIV at the age of 68. Louis XIV was king of France 1643–1715. He fought a number of wars against Britain, Spain, Sweden, and the Netherlands 1667–1713.

The baroque palace and parterre of Versailles, France (built 1661–87). The palace was built for Louis XIV (on the site of a hunting lodge) to a design by the architect Louis Le Vau, with later enlargements and alterations by Hardouin-Mansart. It became the residence of the French kings from 1678 to 1769.

King of France from 1643, when he succeeded his father Louis XIII; his mother was Anne of Austria. Until 1661 France was ruled by the chief minister, Jules Mazarin, but later Louis took absolute power, summed up in his saying L'Etat c'est moi (‘I am the state’). Throughout his reign he was engaged in unsuccessful expansionist wars – 1667–68, 1672–78, 1688–97, and 1701–13 (the War of the Spanish Succession) – against various European alliances, always including Britain and the Netherlands. He was a patron of the arts.

In 1660 Louis married the Infanta Maria Theresa of Spain, but he was greatly influenced by his mistresses, including Louise de La Vallière, Madame de Montespan, and Madame de Maintenon.

Properity and power His reign was one of prosperity and increase for France: under chief minister Jean Baptiste Colbert the finances of the kingdom were reformed, trade was increased, and there was a strong colonial policy. Under his war minister, Louvois, the armies were re-formed, and under his generals, Turenne and Condé, the French army became the finest fighting machine in Europe.

At home his power was absolute. The courts were entirely under his control, and his principle of embodying the state personally was all but true. Louis had a large number of mistresses, and many illegitimate children, but after Maria Theresa's death he married Madame de Maintenon in 1684. She was greatly influenced by the Jesuits and played a great part in persuading Louis to revoke the Edict of Nantes in 1685.