King Louis Xiv
King Louis XIV’s Life and Reign
Maureen Bauer
HUM 361
King Louis XIV’s Life
Louis XIV was born September 5, 1638 to his parents Louis XIII and Anne of
Austria. He was their first child after twenty-two years of marriage. His brother,
Philippe, was born in 1640. His parents did not have a happy marriage as they were
chosen for each other and the King’s duties often kept them apart.
The Beginning
At the age of four King Louis XIII became ill with tuberculosis and rushed to have
his son baptized. His baptismal name was Louis-Dieudonne which means gift of God.
At this period in time the baptism would normally have taken place at the age of seven.
King Louis XIII died about a month after the baptism, leaving his son to become King
Louis XIV.
Louis XIV became king on May 14, 1643, just short of his fifth birthday. Control
of the government was handed over to his mother and the First Minister, Mazarin, due
to his young age. Since Louis XIV became king at such a young age he did not have
the education or background that most kings would have. Mazarin took it upon himself
to try to pass on his knowledge to him. He focused his teachings on what he
considered to be the necessities to run a country. Mazarin continued to run the
government until his death in 1661. At this time Louis XIV took control and began
running the government and country himself.
A series of financial and administrative reforms were necessary to begin
controlling the government on his own. One of the first changes was to sentence
Nicolas Fouquet, the superintendent of finances, to life imprisonment. King Louis XIV
had him charged with peculation. It is believed that Fouquet did not commit financial
indiscretions but was charged due to his ambitions to become First Minister. He would
have interfered with Louis plans to rule alone. Louis appointed Jean-Baptiste
Colbert as the controller
Maureen Bauer
HUM 361
King Louis XIV’s Life
Louis XIV was born September 5, 1638 to his parents Louis XIII and Anne of
Austria. He was their first child after twenty-two years of marriage. His brother,
Philippe, was born in 1640. His parents did not have a happy marriage as they were
chosen for each other and the King’s duties often kept them apart.
The Beginning
At the age of four King Louis XIII became ill with tuberculosis and rushed to have
his son baptized. His baptismal name was Louis-Dieudonne which means gift of God.
At this period in time the baptism would normally have taken place at the age of seven.
King Louis XIII died about a month after the baptism, leaving his son to become King
Louis XIV.
Louis XIV became king on May 14, 1643, just short of his fifth birthday. Control
of the government was handed over to his mother and the First Minister, Mazarin, due
to his young age. Since Louis XIV became king at such a young age he did not have
the education or background that most kings would have. Mazarin took it upon himself
to try to pass on his knowledge to him. He focused his teachings on what he
considered to be the necessities to run a country. Mazarin continued to run the
government until his death in 1661. At this time Louis XIV took control and began
running the government and country himself.
A series of financial and administrative reforms were necessary to begin
controlling the government on his own. One of the first changes was to sentence
Nicolas Fouquet, the superintendent of finances, to life imprisonment. King Louis XIV
had him charged with peculation. It is believed that Fouquet did not commit financial
indiscretions but was charged due to his ambitions to become First Minister. He would
have interfered with Louis plans to rule alone. Louis appointed Jean-Baptiste
Colbert as the controller
Citations: Use of this standard APA style “will result in a favorable impression on your instructor” (Smith, 2001). This was affirmed again in 2003 by Professor Anderson (Anderson, Charles & Johnson, 2003). Anderson, Charles & Johnson (2003). The impressive psychology paper. Chicago: Lucerne Publishing. Smith, M. (2001). Writing a successful paper. The Trey Research Monthly, 53, 149-150.