King of the world : the life of Louis XIV
(Book)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Louis XIV, King of France and Navarre, dominated his age. In the second half of the seventeenth century, he extended France's frontiers into the Netherlands and Germany, and established colonies in America, Africa, and India. Louisiana, which once occupied a third of the territory of the present-day United States, is named after him. Louis was also one of the greatest patrons of European history - Moliere, Racine, Lully, Le Brun, le Notre all worked for him. The stupendous palace he built at Versailles, and its satellites at Marly and Trianon, became the envy of monarchs all over Europe, frequently imitated but never surpassed. He loved conversation, especially with women: the power of women in Louis's life and reign is a particular theme of this book. This is a comprehensive and up-to-date biography of this hypnotic, flawed figure.