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King Louis XIV: A Life from Beginning to End
He was born on September 5th, 1638 in the French lap of luxury otherwise known as the “Chateau de Saint-Germain-en-Laye.” This extravagant palace of French excess is located about 12 miles west of Paris. His birth name, “Louis-Dieudonne,” is French for, literally, “Gift for God.” This belief of divine right, initially inspired by his mother Queen Anne, would be a powerful theme throughout Louis XIV’s life.
Inside you will read about...
✓ The Conflict of Kings
✓ War and Marriage
✓ The Noose Tightens
✓ The Scorched Earth of Louis XIV
✓ The Balance of Power
✓ Louis’s Last Stand
✓ The Death of the King
And much more!
Although he didn’t create absolutism in France, King Louis XIV seemed to embody the “divine right of kings” better than anyone had before him. Louis XIV directly correlated his own private good with that of the public good. There was really no concept of private property under Louis. The French King viewed all of France as his personal estate, with all who lived and toiled in his domain doing so only under his express permission; even so, not everyone in France had the same sentiment.
The ones who most notably resisted the notion of the King’s absolutism were the French nobles and aristocrats that Louis depended upon to raise armies and defend the country. Despite his theory of absolutism, this dependence on French nobility to bear arms, gave them increasing autonomy and independence from the King. It was this independence that would one day come to a head, and send Louis, the so-called “Sun King” of divine inheritance, into a full-blown conflict with his own subjects - and the world at large.
Inside you will read about...
✓ The Conflict of Kings
✓ War and Marriage
✓ The Noose Tightens
✓ The Scorched Earth of Louis XIV
✓ The Balance of Power
✓ Louis’s Last Stand
✓ The Death of the King
And much more!
Although he didn’t create absolutism in France, King Louis XIV seemed to embody the “divine right of kings” better than anyone had before him. Louis XIV directly correlated his own private good with that of the public good. There was really no concept of private property under Louis. The French King viewed all of France as his personal estate, with all who lived and toiled in his domain doing so only under his express permission; even so, not everyone in France had the same sentiment.
The ones who most notably resisted the notion of the King’s absolutism were the French nobles and aristocrats that Louis depended upon to raise armies and defend the country. Despite his theory of absolutism, this dependence on French nobility to bear arms, gave them increasing autonomy and independence from the King. It was this independence that would one day come to a head, and send Louis, the so-called “Sun King” of divine inheritance, into a full-blown conflict with his own subjects - and the world at large.
48 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2017
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256 people want to read
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Hourly History
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
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January 31, 2025Quelle étoile de la mode portait des talons aussi hauts qu'un gratte-ciel, avait un château qui brillait plus qu'un coffre à bijoux, et se faisait appeler Le Roi Soleil, malgré une aversion notable pour la crème solaire ?
September 28, 2018
Another very interesting offering from Hourly History. On this occasion it is about the famous King Louis 14 of France. He was the King who was not only ambitious but took steps to expand his empire as never before only to be matched subsequently by Napoleon. He was the one who took France on the path of absolutism and used marriage as an instrument to win over other countries.
January 10, 2018
Meh
It was ok but not great. Quite disappointed, actually. I felt that it focused on his failures and war mongering instead of who he was as a person and monarch. I also was still left with an unanswered question: why was he called The Sun King? Do not recommend this one
It was ok but not great. Quite disappointed, actually. I felt that it focused on his failures and war mongering instead of who he was as a person and monarch. I also was still left with an unanswered question: why was he called The Sun King? Do not recommend this one
October 1, 2017
This is a biography of the French Monarch during much of the 17th Century and early 18th Century, Louis XIV. He is known for being the youngest ever ruler of France, ascending the throne at the age of four (was also in the news recently as to how Emmanuel Macron can’t beat that record).
The book started with the premature death of his father, which led to Louis XIV being made the King at the age of four with his mother acting as the regent. It then goes on to talk about the initial turmoil in the empire, owing to the influence of Cardinal Mazarin and then, moves on to the period where he officially attained the throne after coming of age. His reign was filled with wars, be it the war for gaining control over the Spanish Netherlands and his subsequent conquests during the Spanish war of succession. The book also talks about his abilities as a diplomat as to how he added more to his territory through negotiations and marriages than by conquest. It also talks about the impact his second wife had on his administration owing to her deep Catholic faith.
The book covered nearly all aspects of Louis XIV’s life; his personal life, his conquests, his role as a statesman, and the problems of hunger faced in his empire owing to the wars that he waged. Considering the fact that they had to cover a reign of nearly seven decades, it was concise and it fulfilled the objective of imparting history in an hour.
The negative aspect of the book is that it attempted to glorify him too much; he took a lot of controversial decisions, such as the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, thereby declaring non-Catholics as outlaws; the extent of turmoil it caused and how France lost some of its top generals and academics was not given sufficient attention. Moreover, some of his conquests were disastrous, such as his attempt to annex the Spanish Netherlands or his subsequent attempt to annex Spain and those wars caused more harm than good.
While I felt that the book was informative, I felt that it was highly one sided and there is always more than one side to history; considering that it is from a neutral source, there was no need to go overboard in glorifying every single act of his. I would award the book a rating of two.
The book started with the premature death of his father, which led to Louis XIV being made the King at the age of four with his mother acting as the regent. It then goes on to talk about the initial turmoil in the empire, owing to the influence of Cardinal Mazarin and then, moves on to the period where he officially attained the throne after coming of age. His reign was filled with wars, be it the war for gaining control over the Spanish Netherlands and his subsequent conquests during the Spanish war of succession. The book also talks about his abilities as a diplomat as to how he added more to his territory through negotiations and marriages than by conquest. It also talks about the impact his second wife had on his administration owing to her deep Catholic faith.
The book covered nearly all aspects of Louis XIV’s life; his personal life, his conquests, his role as a statesman, and the problems of hunger faced in his empire owing to the wars that he waged. Considering the fact that they had to cover a reign of nearly seven decades, it was concise and it fulfilled the objective of imparting history in an hour.
The negative aspect of the book is that it attempted to glorify him too much; he took a lot of controversial decisions, such as the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, thereby declaring non-Catholics as outlaws; the extent of turmoil it caused and how France lost some of its top generals and academics was not given sufficient attention. Moreover, some of his conquests were disastrous, such as his attempt to annex the Spanish Netherlands or his subsequent attempt to annex Spain and those wars caused more harm than good.
While I felt that the book was informative, I felt that it was highly one sided and there is always more than one side to history; considering that it is from a neutral source, there was no need to go overboard in glorifying every single act of his. I would award the book a rating of two.
January 5, 2021
Very interesting read
I enjoyed this book, the only thing that I was disappointed about was there was mention of the building of Versailles. Probably because that alone is a very long subject and that deserves attention by itself.
I finished this book in one sitting. Wasn't very long, but a very good read.
I enjoyed this book, the only thing that I was disappointed about was there was mention of the building of Versailles. Probably because that alone is a very long subject and that deserves attention by itself.
I finished this book in one sitting. Wasn't very long, but a very good read.
September 23, 2022
More History Class report than book
I did like that this was a distinct timeline of King Louis XIVs life but no details are to be gleaned from this. The warfare covered quickly and without detail and his personal live is barely mentioned. Certainly provides a good background for another book about his actual life.
I did like that this was a distinct timeline of King Louis XIVs life but no details are to be gleaned from this. The warfare covered quickly and without detail and his personal live is barely mentioned. Certainly provides a good background for another book about his actual life.
October 1, 2023
This was a quick bio of the Sun King. It looks mainly at the wars, with little attention to Versailles or Louis's internal control. So it is slightly mislabeled, but was interesting and useful. If you want to know the was of Louis XIV, this is concise and straightforward.
December 26, 2017
Short but informative
Enjoyed this short biography of King Louis XIV. Definitely will read other hourly history biographies. Interesting reading in a quick biography.
Enjoyed this short biography of King Louis XIV. Definitely will read other hourly history biographies. Interesting reading in a quick biography.
January 19, 2018
a very brief and condensed version of King Louis XIV's life.
September 2, 2018
To short to do justice of "The Sun King"
January 14, 2019
A Life - Not
This should be titled "Wars and Conflicts During the Reign of Louis XIV". There was little about Louis, the man.
This should be titled "Wars and Conflicts During the Reign of Louis XIV". There was little about Louis, the man.
March 17, 2019
Informative about military engagements and nation conflicts under King Louis XIV, but not much insight into the man himself. One of the most poorly edited editions of Hourly History I've read.
April 22, 2019
Waste
This book is comparable to the most boring history class you can imagine. Dates and battles dressed up as the life of Louis the 14th.
This book is comparable to the most boring history class you can imagine. Dates and battles dressed up as the life of Louis the 14th.
April 22, 2020
Superficial
Superficial and with uncorrected typographical mistakes. More like a popular magazine article than a book; and definitely not a scholarly book.
Superficial and with uncorrected typographical mistakes. More like a popular magazine article than a book; and definitely not a scholarly book.
January 19, 2021
I enjoyed reading about Louis XIV, but would have liked to have had more information on him than mostly his wars and battles.
February 10, 2022
A basic, mildly interesting history of Louis X!V. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood. Not at all bad, but not gripping. Didn't keep me up all night unable to put it down.
October 24, 2023
I liked the quick and concise chapters, showing the times, surroundings, enemies, and the story of Louis XIV from childhood till his death
November 17, 2023
The beginning of the end of the Ancien Regime
Certainly interesting with possibility of union of major parts of Europe mixed in with religious turmoil and Franco German rivalry.
Certainly interesting with possibility of union of major parts of Europe mixed in with religious turmoil and Franco German rivalry.
September 7, 2019
Unlike our bias towards the man and his country, Louis Bourbon wasn't that horrible a tyrant, and France wasn't always a nation of feminine image that succumbed to invaders without a fight like it did once under Hitler's Nazi invasion. France under its Bourbon monarchy was the champion of Europe and global superpower like the United Kingdom in the 19th to early-20th century and the United States in our time.
It is short, yet the book talks enough about the rise of Bourbon-France, reaching her peak during the reign of one of the most ambitious kings in Human history: Louis XIV le roi soleil (The Sun King, Lewis the Fourteenth: r. 1643-1715). And the book tells the story why the king chose to go for the Absolutism. It's an amusing read.
FYI, this book and a couple of other Hourly History books as a series, namely "Pirates: The Golden Age of Piracy" and "James Cook", help the readers see a clear film of the global powershift from Habsburg-Spain, Bourbon-France, Great Britain to the United States through the centuries.
Read the full review here
It is short, yet the book talks enough about the rise of Bourbon-France, reaching her peak during the reign of one of the most ambitious kings in Human history: Louis XIV le roi soleil (The Sun King, Lewis the Fourteenth: r. 1643-1715). And the book tells the story why the king chose to go for the Absolutism. It's an amusing read.
FYI, this book and a couple of other Hourly History books as a series, namely "Pirates: The Golden Age of Piracy" and "James Cook", help the readers see a clear film of the global powershift from Habsburg-Spain, Bourbon-France, Great Britain to the United States through the centuries.
Read the full review here
June 23, 2022
More about battles, wars and alliances than his personal life so only very average I'm afraid.
Yet another accidental reread
Yet another accidental reread
April 10, 2017
Time has a way of changing perspectives. It has the ability to smooth out lines and disguise the truth in a glittering veil of beauty. Today when the name Louis XIV is uttered, visions of intricately patterned furniture with shapely drawers and doors combined with sweeping delicate legs. The rounded forms and curved legs form a style that is still popular today.
This style of furniture has little or nothing to do with the French monarch King Louis XIV. As with all monarchs, the young dauphin was born into a position of power and only time and the annals of history can determine if they were successful or not. He proved to be precocious as a leader at a young age. This was a fortunate development as he was thrust into the role of (under the regency of his mother, Queen Anne of Austria) King of France. In this time, Europe was almost constantly engaged in warfare and few countries were truly safe from foreign aggression.
Unlike Napoleon, Louis wasn’t a military tactician that grabbed victory out of the jaws of defeat. His forte was negotiation. During his reign, more French expansion was due to negotiation than military conquest. In retrospect, the price paid in blood, destruction, and suffering was far too great a price for the minimal and temporary gains.
His draconian methods don’t mesh with his title “Sun King.” I think that the passing of time has done much to revitalize the shine of this man of his times. He was not the best, nor was he the worst but he succeeded to build a more unified France and many monarchs would be glad to claim his legacy.
This abbreviated tome is written to inform and to inspire. It is filled with facts and begs for more in-depth research. The French no longer suffer from hunger or bare the brute of constant war. The negativities have faded into the shadows of time and all that now remains are the opulent architecture in buildings and furniture.
This style of furniture has little or nothing to do with the French monarch King Louis XIV. As with all monarchs, the young dauphin was born into a position of power and only time and the annals of history can determine if they were successful or not. He proved to be precocious as a leader at a young age. This was a fortunate development as he was thrust into the role of (under the regency of his mother, Queen Anne of Austria) King of France. In this time, Europe was almost constantly engaged in warfare and few countries were truly safe from foreign aggression.
Unlike Napoleon, Louis wasn’t a military tactician that grabbed victory out of the jaws of defeat. His forte was negotiation. During his reign, more French expansion was due to negotiation than military conquest. In retrospect, the price paid in blood, destruction, and suffering was far too great a price for the minimal and temporary gains.
His draconian methods don’t mesh with his title “Sun King.” I think that the passing of time has done much to revitalize the shine of this man of his times. He was not the best, nor was he the worst but he succeeded to build a more unified France and many monarchs would be glad to claim his legacy.
This abbreviated tome is written to inform and to inspire. It is filled with facts and begs for more in-depth research. The French no longer suffer from hunger or bare the brute of constant war. The negativities have faded into the shadows of time and all that now remains are the opulent architecture in buildings and furniture.
April 25, 2017
Short but good!
Have read many books on the subject of Louis XIV
but this is the shortest so far! Subjects only scantily touched on far too quickly glossed over!
If you want a more detailed book this is not for you! Having said that this book for all its shortness its very well written!
Have read many books on the subject of Louis XIV
but this is the shortest so far! Subjects only scantily touched on far too quickly glossed over!
If you want a more detailed book this is not for you! Having said that this book for all its shortness its very well written!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews