Louis XIV

Birth of the King Louis XIV

Sep 16, 1638

Louis XIV was born on 5 September 1638 in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, to Louis XIII and Anne of Austria. He was named Louis Dieudonné (Louis the God-given) and bore the traditional title of French heirs apparent: Dauphin.

Death of Louis XIII

May 14, 1643

Death of Louis XIII

Parliament de Paris (Anne and Mazarin)

1648

In 1648, Anne and Mazarin attempted to tax members of the Parliament de Paris.

Louis XIV takes part in war against Spain on northern

1654

Louis XIV takes part in war against Spain on northern, north-eastern and eastern frontiers of France.

Louis XIV crowned

Jun 7, 1654

In the age of absolutism in Europe, Louis XIV's France was a leader in the growing centralization of power. He had five years old.

Maria Theresa of Spain and Louis XIV

Jun 9, 1660

Louis and his wife Maria Theresa of Spain had six children from the marriage contracted for them in 1660.

Personal rule

1661

Louis began his personal rule of France in 1661, after the death of his chief minister, the Italian Cardinal Mazarin

Town of Versailles started.

1671

Town of Versailles started. Chapel begun, not completed till 1710.

Revocation of the Edict of Nantes.

Oct 16, 1685

Louis XIV's death

Sep 1, 1715

After 72 years on the throne, Louis died of gangrene at Versailles, on 1 September 1715, four days before his 77th birthday.