Louis XIV, nicknamed the "Sun King," is one of the most controversial figures in history. His reign lasted 72 years, and his influence has led some to say that he shaped an era in European history.
Louis XIV holds the record for the longest documented reign of any monarch in history. He ascended the throne at the age of four in 1643 and ruled until his death in 1715. In total, he reigned for 72 years and 110 days.
The title "Sun King" did not appear immediately but was bestowed upon him in 1662 during a ceremonial equestrian display. Louis rode a horse dressed as a Roman emperor, carrying a golden shield bearing the image of the sun. This image symbolized the sun's protection of the king and of all France.
When Louis ascended the throne, the entire kingdom was in decline. Louis and his brother Philip constantly wore shabby clothes, lacking proper attire, and even resorted to stealing food from the kitchen when hungry. Louis's childhood was marked by hunger and poverty.
Later, Louis became known for his love of food, and he was quite gluttonous. The amount of food he ate at dinner was enough to feed his entire entourage. He also liked to eat at night, and his servant would secretly bring him his favorite dishes.
Even his birth was not easy. His parents waited 22 years for an heir, and the birth of "the Dauphin," his original name, was considered a blessing from heaven. He was baptized "Louis Dieudonné," meaning "gift of God." In his childhood, he witnessed a revolution known as the "Fronde Revolution," led by the Paris Parliament and the aristocracy, which greatly influenced his views, as he firmly believed that the absolute power of the king was the key to stability.
The Palace of Versailles was his life's major project. Louis transformed a modest hunting lodge into a lavish residence. He even commissioned a system to pump water from the Seine to the garden fountains and transplanted fully grown trees into his gardens. The sheer scale of the construction and maintenance of Versailles is evident in the fact that it consumed nearly 14 percent of the Treasury's annual revenue.
Historians believe he coined the phrase "I am the state," though this is debatable. Those who attribute it to him say it was a response he made at the age of seventeen to attempts by Parliament to limit his power.
In his youth, Louis actively participated in the Royal Ballet performances, and was so fond of this art that he performed roles such as the Rising Sun, Apollo (the sun god), and other mythological figures.
He was also passionate about fashion. King Louis XIV himself contributed to the design of jewelry, fans, clothing, medals, and fountains. He is credited with introducing high-heeled shoes with red soles to the fashion world. A culture of extravagance prevailed at his court, with clothes changed daily, and wigs, powders, and perfumes used not only for aesthetic purposes but also to mask unpleasant odors in the context of poor hygiene.
Surprisingly, Louis XIV was afraid of water, believing it could transmit diseases. Historical accounts indicate that he bathed only a few times in his life, perhaps just two or three times, and mostly on the advice of doctors. Instead, he maintained his cleanliness by changing his clothes several times a day and using perfumes and alcohol-based ointments.
Despite his power and might, Louis XIV suffered from poor health, contracting numerous illnesses including smallpox, breast cancer, and typhoid fever. At the age of twenty, after suffering severe poisoning and typhoid fever, he went bald and subsequently wore a wig.
One of the more curious details is that King Louis XIV imposed a rather peculiar rule at the Palace of Versailles. Before knocking on any door, the person knocking had to scratch it first with their fingernail. At the time, knocking on doors with a fist or knuckles was considered rude and impolite in the palace, so courtiers and visitors were required to gently scratch the door of a room using the little fingernail of their left hand. Because of this rule, some courtiers and nobles even grew their little fingernails long specifically for this purpose.
In his later years, Louis confessed, "I loved war and palaces too much." And so it was with him: while riding, he fell from his horse, injuring his leg, which developed into gangrene. Doctors suggested amputation, but the king refused. Later, he suffered excruciating pain, and a few days later, he died, just four days shy of his seventy-seventh birthday.
