The Sun KingThe Sun KingLouis XIVLouis XIV

• Louis XIII and Anne of Austria, the Louis XIII and Anne of Austria, the parents of Louis XIV had been married parents of Louis XIV had been married for twenty two years without a childfor twenty two years without a child

• When Louis was finally born in 1638 When Louis was finally born in 1638 they called him "Louis the God-Given." they called him "Louis the God-Given."

• When his father died, the regency fell When his father died, the regency fell to the hands of the intensely-disliked to the hands of the intensely-disliked queen and Cardinal Jules Mazarin.queen and Cardinal Jules Mazarin.

• Louis XIV came to the throne as a five Louis XIV came to the throne as a five year old boy on 14 May 1643, the year old boy on 14 May 1643, the Thirty Years' War was still in progressThirty Years' War was still in progress

• When Louis become king in 1643 the When Louis become king in 1643 the true ruler of France was Cardinal true ruler of France was Cardinal Mazarin being that Louis was king at Mazarin being that Louis was king at age five.age five.

• Many French civilians despised Many French civilians despised Mazarin because of his Mazarin because of his implementation of increased taxes implementation of increased taxes and strong central government.and strong central government.

• Anti-Mazarin riots took place from Anti-Mazarin riots took place from 1648-1653. 1648-1653.

• At the age of 23 Louis finally took At the age of 23 Louis finally took control of the government by using control of the government by using agents called intendants who would agents called intendants who would collect taxes.collect taxes.

• Louis devoted himself to helping Louis devoted himself to helping France attain economical, political, France attain economical, political, and cultural brilliance.and cultural brilliance.

• He hired minister of finance Jean He hired minister of finance Jean Baptiste Colbert to help make France Baptiste Colbert to help make France self-sufficient. self-sufficient.

• In order to ratify the peace treaty In order to ratify the peace treaty ending the war that had begun in ending the war that had begun in 1635 between France and Spain, 1635 between France and Spain, Louis XIV married Marie Thérèse of Louis XIV married Marie Thérèse of Austria in 1660 Austria in 1660

• Marie Thérèse was the daughter of Marie Thérèse was the daughter of the King of Spainthe King of Spain

• Louis XIV married Marie Thérèse Louis XIV married Marie Thérèse despite his love for Mazarin's niece, despite his love for Mazarin's niece, Marie ManciniMarie Mancini

• Louis was dignified and imposed Louis was dignified and imposed charming manners. He was also hard charming manners. He was also hard working, patient and self-disciplined working, patient and self-disciplined with an iron physical constitution with an iron physical constitution

• He maintained a strict routine of official He maintained a strict routine of official business, every daybusiness, every day

• Louis loved to indulge himself in luxury.Louis loved to indulge himself in luxury.• Close to 500 staff were hired to cook, Close to 500 staff were hired to cook,

wait on him and serve Louis every needwait on him and serve Louis every need• Versailles was the size of a small city Versailles was the size of a small city

and was richly decorated to show and was richly decorated to show Louis’ wealthLouis’ wealth

• Louis was the epitome of the absolute Louis was the epitome of the absolute monarch and embodied the idea of divine monarch and embodied the idea of divine right monarchyright monarchy

• As God's representative on earth, he felt As God's representative on earth, he felt that he was due respect and that his word that he was due respect and that his word was law was law

• He was responsible to God aloneHe was responsible to God alone• As an absolute monarch, Louis XIV wielded As an absolute monarch, Louis XIV wielded

unlimited authority with all decisions unlimited authority with all decisions made by himmade by him

• With good intentions Louis entered France With good intentions Louis entered France into war with the Dutch. But a European into war with the Dutch. But a European wide alliance was formed to stop Louis’ wide alliance was formed to stop Louis’ military.military.

• The French citizens longed for peace The French citizens longed for peace but they were given war.but they were given war.

• Starting in 1701 France and Spain was Starting in 1701 France and Spain was linked together to fight against linked together to fight against England, Austria, and the Dutch England, Austria, and the Dutch Republic. Republic.

• Louis realized he had ruined France’s Louis realized he had ruined France’s fortune and spend his last few years fortune and spend his last few years regretting what had happened to his regretting what had happened to his people under his leadership.people under his leadership.

• He died in his bed in 1715. • The people of France great rejoiced

that Louis XIV was finally gone.