King Louis XIV of France (le Roi-Soleil)
King Louis XIV (1638 - 1715), also known as Louis the Great (Louis le Grand) and the Sun King (le Roi-Soleil), became King of France in 1643 on the death of his father. However, as he was only four years old at the time, his mother ruled as regent until 1661, when Louis began his personal rule on the death of Mazarin, his advisor.
Louis was a Catholic. Louis' personal interpretation of his faith was called "Gallican Catholicism" and it included a strong belief in the concept of "the divine right of kings", in other words, he believed that God selected kings and gave them their right to rule. He also believed that there was no place for Protestantism in France because he was convinced that the only religion that should be allowed in a country was the religion of the ruler. When he revoked the Edict of Nantes and imposed an ever-stricter series of oppressive measures against French Protestants, including compulsory acceptance of the billeting of soldiers in their homes, tens of thousands of French Protestants fled to England, Scotland, Germany and the Netherlands.
Louis became one of the most powerful French kings and maintained and developed the system of absolute monarchy in France that lasted until the French Revolution.
Louis was a Catholic. Louis' personal interpretation of his faith was called "Gallican Catholicism" and it included a strong belief in the concept of "the divine right of kings", in other words, he believed that God selected kings and gave them their right to rule. He also believed that there was no place for Protestantism in France because he was convinced that the only religion that should be allowed in a country was the religion of the ruler. When he revoked the Edict of Nantes and imposed an ever-stricter series of oppressive measures against French Protestants, including compulsory acceptance of the billeting of soldiers in their homes, tens of thousands of French Protestants fled to England, Scotland, Germany and the Netherlands.
Louis became one of the most powerful French kings and maintained and developed the system of absolute monarchy in France that lasted until the French Revolution.