On the first of September 1715, the sun set on one of the longest, most influential reigns of any monarch in European history.
Louis XIV, the ‘Sun King’ had reigned since he was a small child, 72 years before, a reign marked by pomp and ceremony, glamorous royal mistresses, and by the building of the largest, flashiest palace Europe had ever seen: Versailles.
Few people alive in France could remember a time when he had not been king. But few people in France mourned his passing, and across Europe, few kings and diplomats expressed regret.
The King’s unbounded desire for glory, driven by a personal passion for ‘holy war’ in various forms—versus Protestants, especially—had left behind a continent of mistrust, mountains of war debt, and an impoverished France. And yet, the ‘Sun King’ has gone down in popular memory as one of France’s greatest kings, forever associated with the grandeur of Versailles.
To commemorate the 300th anniversary of the death of Louis XIV, six of the leading scholars in this field will gather in Manchester tomorrow (28th October)to discuss the drive for ‘holy war’ in various parts of his long reign: the impact of his last years,his private world, his public image and his reputation abroad, especially in Britain.

Details and booking HERE

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here