King Louis XIV of France

King Louis XIV of France

King Louis XIV of France is considered to be one of the most incredible monarchs in history with a reign of 72 years and 54 of them having personally controlled the government in France. Many consider King Lois XIV to have epitomized the ideals of kingship, mainly because of the fact that during his reign France would become one of the strongest powers in all of Europe.

Many because of the idea that the planets moved around the Sun and that France too should evolve around King Louis knew him as the Sun King.  Many claim that Louis was willing to pay any price in order to be the strongest ruler he could possibly be. He was the type of person that had a routine that he would seldom deviate from. Part of the reason that his reign is considered to be such an important part of history has a lot to do with ideals that he would implement into the monarchy that were nothing like what had happened in the past. At the age of 23, Louis would express his desire and determination to become a “real” king and the sole ruler of France by stating this:

“Up to this moment I have been pleased to entrust the government of my affairs to the late Cardinal. It is now time that I govern them myself. You [secretaries and ministers of state] will assist me with your counsels when I ask for them. I request and order you to seal no orders except by my command, . . . I order you not to sign anything, not even a passport . . . without my command; to render account to me personally each day and to favor no one.”