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Birth
Louis was born on 5 September 1638 in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, to Louis XIII and Anne of Austria. -
Louis becomes King of France
Louis XIV became king when he turned four. His reign was the longest that ever lasted of any European Monarch. He began ruling after the death of Cardinal Mazarin, his chief minister -
Louis Marries his First Wife
The first wife of Louis XIV was Maria Theresa Of Spain. Maria Theresa of Spain, the daughter of King Philip IV, and his wife Elisabeth of France. -
The Palace of Versailles
It was originally a hunting lodge, built in 1624, by Louis XIII. It was expanded by Louis XIV beginning in 1669. Jules Hardouin Mansart, the king's principal architect, drew the plans. The terrace that overlooked the gardens was removed to make way for the magnificent Hall of Mirrors, the Galarie de Glaces. It is here from which the king radiated his power and where the destiny of Europe was decided over a century. -
Louis Marries his Second Wife
No official documentation of the marriage exists, but that it took place is nevertheless accepted by historians. Biographers have dated the wedding to 9 October 1683 or January 1684. -
Louis's Death
After a week of agonizing pain, four days before his 77th birthday, Louis XIV died in Versailles on September 1. He had been king for 72 years, the longest reign in the history of France
