French History: King Louis Louis XIV had not only changed France like no other king had before, but he also reigned for one of the longest terms, seventy-two years. Some in the past referred to Louis as "le Grande" or "le Roi Soleil", meaning "The Great" and "The Sun King", even today in France it is believed that during Louis' reign, this period of time could be considered “The Golden Age”. Although some people disliked Louis XIV, as the main source of power in France, Louis was the symbol of what he stood for, absolutism. Louis XIV was born on 5 September 1638 and was declared the "God-given son" and only son. of Louis XIII and his wife Anne of Austria. Louis had also been considered a miracle. Louis' father died when he was only four years old, so as the only child of his parents, he had to take the throne. Most people believed he was the "spoiled" child, but in reality Louis had been neglected as a child and was often forgotten every day. For example, Louis was playing near a pond and almost drowned because no one was watching him. Because he was neglected by his mother, Louis was mainly watched over by the servants, who had become his real family throughout his childhood. It was said that because Cardinal Richelieu's protégé, Jules Mazarin, had looked after Louis, he had been his real father. Since Anne and Louis XIII, Louis XIV's father, love life had been boring, there were valid arguments that Mazarin was her father. Mazarin not only watched over Louis, but guided him and helped him... to control religion. Then came the rise of Jean Baptiste Colbert. Louis had fired his old finance minister and given the job to a trusted ally. Colbert had brought the practice of mercantilism to France. Mercantilism is the economic theory that trade creates wealth and is initiated by increasing profit, which any government should encourage with the hope of protection. It had also made not only Louis XIV, but also France, rich. Louis not only changed the religion for what he believed in, but because of the Fronde, he also changed the army. Historically, nobles had run the army and served as generals, which had upset the king immensely. Then he decided to change it, Louis decided that he would create an army that was loyal only to him and that did not go against anything he had requested, these men were called “Administrators”.

Topic > French History: King Louis Louis XIV had not only changed France like no other king had before, but he also reigned for one of the longest terms, seventy-two years. Some in the past referred to Louis as "le Grande" or "le Roi Soleil", meaning "The Great" and "The Sun King", even today in France it is believed that during Louis' reign, this period of time could be considered “The Golden Age”. Although some people disliked Louis XIV, as the main source of power in France, Louis was the symbol of what he stood for, absolutism. Louis XIV was born on 5 September 1638 and was declared the "God-given son" and only son. of Louis XIII and his wife Anne of Austria. Louis had also been considered a miracle. Louis' father died when he was only four years old, so as the only child of his parents, he had to take the throne. Most people believed he was the "spoiled" child, but in reality Louis had been neglected as a child and was often forgotten every day. For example, Louis was playing near a pond and almost drowned because no one was watching him. Because he was neglected by his mother, Louis was mainly watched over by the servants, who had become his real family throughout his childhood. It was said that because Cardinal Richelieu's protégé, Jules Mazarin, had looked after Louis, he had been his real father. Since Anne and Louis XIII, Louis XIV's father, love life had been boring, there were valid arguments that Mazarin was her father. Mazarin not only watched over Louis, but guided him and helped him... to control religion. Then came the rise of Jean Baptiste Colbert. Louis had fired his old finance minister and given the job to a trusted ally. Colbert had brought the practice of mercantilism to France. Mercantilism is the economic theory that trade creates wealth and is initiated by increasing profit, which any government should encourage with the hope of protection. It had also made not only Louis XIV, but also France, rich. Louis not only changed the religion for what he believed in, but because of the Fronde, he also changed the army. Historically, nobles had run the army and served as generals, which had upset the king immensely. Then he decided to change it, Louis decided that he would create an army that was loyal only to him and that did not go against anything he had requested, these men were called “Administrators”.