The Reign of Louis XIV of France

• The Bourbons, a new French Royal house, took over from the Capetians in 1589, who had ruled since the 900s
• Henry IV, a cousin of the last Capetian king, claimed the throne and converted to Catholicism, ruling until his assassination in 1610
• His son, Louis XIII, ruled from 1610 to 1643 and was succeeded by his son Louis XIV in 1643
• Louis XIV was the longest reigning French monarch, ruling from 1643 until his death in 1715
• During his reign, he revoked the nobility's right to have private armies and required them to live at his court in the Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte
• He expanded the Chateau and made it his primary residence to keep an eye on his nobility
• Louis XIV implemented economic and political reforms, including the development of French mercantilism, which strengthened France's trade with its colonies
• He revoked the Edict of Nantes, causing a significant exodus of Huguenots from France and causing an economic and intellectual drain on the country
• The arts flourished during Louis XIV's reign, with famous playwright Moliere and composer Jean-Baptiste Lully creating popular works for the court.

Test your knowledge about the reign of Louis XIV, the longest-reigning monarch in French history, and his impact on France's politics, economy, and culture.