Portrait of King Louis XIV of France by Hyacinthe Rigaud.
Louis XIV (1638-1715) is my favorite historical figure. He reigned longer than any other recorded European monarch (72 years) at the zenith of French power and prestige. Often called "The Sun King", Louis made himself the center of his universe by commanding that all policy decisions had to go through him. A prodigious worker and famous lover of women, he never shrank from his duty. However the highly personal and centralized system of government he created depended largely upon his own personality, influence, and energy. His successors often found themselves unable to live up to his high standards, helping to create many of the issues that led to the French Revolution of 1789.
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