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Louis XIV of France

Also known as Louis the Great (epithet) · Louis le Grand (epithet)

Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, 5 Sep 1638 – Palace of Versailles, 1 Sep 1715

14 facts3 sources

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About Louis XIV

Louis XIV of France: The Sun King and His Long Reign

AI-assisted · edited

The collection records Louis XIV’s birth in 1638 at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye. His parents were Louis XIII of France and Anne of Austria. 123

From 1643 to 1715, he was King of France and Navarre and also held the title of French co-prince of Andorra. The collection dates his First Communion to 1649. 456

The collection records his death in 1715 at the Palace of Versailles. Known as the “Sun King,” he is described as the longest-reigning monarch in history, with a reign of 72 years and 110 days; his era was associated with a golden age in France, colonial expansion, and a flourishing of French culture across Europe. 78

Drafted with AI and edited against the collection. Open a citation to see the record, its sources and how certain it is.

Facts and their sources

  • Born5 Sep 1638, Château de Saint-Germain-en-Layenot verified1 source
  • TitleFrench co-prince of Andorra, 1643–1715or King of France and Navarre, 1643–1715not verified1 source
  • TitleKing of France and Navarre, 1643–1715or French co-prince of Andorra, 1643–1715not verified1 source
  • EventFirst Communion, 1649not verified1 source
  • Died1 Sep 1715, Palace of Versaillesnot verified1 source
  • FatherLouis XIII of Francenot verified1 source
  • MotherAnne of Austrianot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 5 Sep 1638

    Born in Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye

  2. 1643–1715

    French co-prince of Andorra

  3. 1643–1715

    King of France and Navarre

  4. 1649

    First Communion

  5. 1661–1680

    20 children are born

  6. 1 Sep 1715

    Dies in Palace of Versailles, aged 76

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partners

Children · 20

During his lifetime

He lived through 9 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1630s · Louis XIV is born in Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye

In the news1630–1631

Great famine causes mass starvation

A series of continuous rains in 1630 led to widespread crop failures, causing a severe famine that lasted from August 1630 until May 1631 and caused massive demographic losses.

Getting around

Travelers on foot wore out shoes quickly

Ordinary people frequently traveled on foot, covering 20 to 30 kilometers a day, which meant they wore out a pair of shoes every two weeks.

In the news1631

First French newspaper is founded

Théophraste Renaudot founded La Gazette in 1631, which became the first newspaper in France.

Daily life

Living conditions in modest urban homes

Ordinary homes in cities were often tall, narrow buildings where upper floors were darker and difficult to heat, with limited light due to overhanging structures. A single room often served multiple purposes, including cooking, sleeping, and childcare.

What people wore

Clothing for feast days vs daily life

Common villagers typically wore the same basic garments daily, while the more prosperous members of the community had specific outfits reserved for Sundays and feast days.

Music

Pipe and tabor in rural festivities

Common people danced on Sundays to the sound of the pipe and tabor, a practice defended by some clergy as a necessary relaxation after a week of labor. These instruments were also used to celebrate local events, such as the lighting of the Saint John's fire.

At the table

Wine and cider over water

Fermented drinks like wine or cider were preferred over water, which was often considered unhealthy or unsafe to drink. People frequently drank inferior quality wine known as piquette, although better wine could be purchased for popular celebrations for ten sous per pint.