Louis XIV (1638-1715) reigned as King of France from 1643 to 1715. Known as Le Roi Soleil ('the Sun King'), he fervently believed in the concept of the 'divine right' of kings and is remembered for ruling as an absolute monarch. His 72-year reign saw several wars and crises, such as the Fronde, the Nine Years' War, and the War of the Spanish Succession. It also saw the construction of the glorious Palace of Versailles, the expansion of France's colonial empire, and the emergence of France as the dominant military, economic, and cultural power in Europe. Louis XIV was arguably one of the most important rulers in European history, who shaped the destiny of the continent heading into the 18th century.
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Definition
Timeline
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5 Sep 1638King Louis XIV of France is born to Anne of Austria and King Louis XIII of France.
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1643Anne of Austria becomes queen regent for her son, King Louis XIV of France, after the death of her husband, King Louis XIII.
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1648 - 1653The Fronde, a series of rebellions and civil wars in France.
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1651Anne of Austria' regency ends as King Louis XIV was old enough to rule.
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1670The Treaty of Dover between Charles II of England and Louis XIV of France, an alliance against the Netherlands.
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1685Revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV of France.
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20 Sep 1697The Treaty of Ryswick (Rijswijk) ends the Nine Years' War.
