Louis XIV (1638-1715) reigned as King of France from 1643 to 1715. Known as Le Roi Soleil ('the Sun King'), he fervently believed in the concept of the 'divine right' of kings and is remembered for ruling as an absolute monarch. His 72-year reign saw several wars and crises, such as the Fronde, the Nine Years' War, and the War of the Spanish Succession. It also saw the construction of the glorious Palace of Versailles, the expansion of France's colonial empire, and the emergence of France as the dominant military, economic, and cultural power in Europe. Louis XIV was arguably one of the most important rulers in European history, who shaped the destiny of the continent heading into the 18th century.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original content at https://www.worldhistory.org/Louis_XIV_of_France/.