Louis XIV (5th September 1638- 1 September 1715; reigned 1643-1715). Louis was born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye in 1638 and became king on his father's death when he was 4 years and 8 months old. One result of this unhappy accident was that he would reign for 72 years, his life thus becoming an historical testament to the inherent weakness of monarchical systems. At first Louis reigned under the regency of his mother, Anne of Austria, and after her death in 1651 was closely guided by Cardinal Mazarin, the protégé of Cardinal Richelieu, an absolutist and intolerant Catholic who instructed the young king in the arts of rule until his own death in 1661. Thereafter, from the age of 21, Louis reigned directly.
During the early part of his reign, the rebellion of the Fronde had cautioned Louis
1627 words
Citation: Clark, Robert. "Reign of Louis XIV of France". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 13 February 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=4168, accessed 23 November 2024.]
