Who was Louis XIV?

The Sun King, Megalomaniac, and Versailles BuilderBefore Napoleon or Marie Antoinette, there was Louis XIV, the Sun King, the longest-reigning monarch in European history, who turned France into a cultural powerhouse while bankrupting it with his obsession for power, mirrors, and gardens.👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠For all show notes & recommendations⁠⁠⁠⁠👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Skip-the-Line Versailles & Gardens Tour⁠⁠👉 Secrets of the Louvre Tour 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠The best Paris ToursSo who was Louis XIV really?In this episode, we dive into the outrageous life of the “Sun King,” a man who made nobles fight for the right to put on his underwear, staged banquets just to be watched eating alone, and built Versailles by draining 25% of France’s annual income. From traumatized child-king to legendary megalomaniac, Louis XIV centralized power, reshaped France, and left behind a palace that changed how the world thinks about luxury—even if it meant his heirs would lose their heads.Chapters:Louis XIV’s wild stereotypes (yes, people watched him get dressed)Versailles: from hunting lodge to the world’s biggest palaceWhy Versailles bankrupted France (mirrors > warships)The Sun King’s daily rituals and bizarre ceremoniesGardens, fountains, and the birth of the modern lawnLife at Versailles: courtiers, courtesans, and chamber potsWas Louis XIV a “good” king—or just a legend of excess?