(“the Great”; “the Sun King” ) 1638–1715, king of France 1643–1715 (son of Louis XIII). |
| Louis XIV Known as "Louis the Great" and "the Sun King." 1638-1715. King of France (1643-1715). His reign, the longest in French history, was characterized by a magnificent court and the expansion of French influence in Europe. Louis waged three major wars: the Dutch War (1672-1678), the War of the Grand Alliance (1688-1697), and the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714). |
A king of France in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Louis was known as the Sun King for his power and splendor. By inviting French nobles to live in luxury at his palace at Versailles, he removed them as threats and greatly increased his own power. He is known for saying, “L'état, c'est moi” (“I am the state”).