Louis XIV
Ian Dunlop
A comprehensive single-volume life of the Sun King, court, wars, and absolute power.
The World During Their Reign
The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.
Kangxi Emperor
China
1661–1715
Aurangzeb
Mughal Empire
1658–1707
Mehmed IV
Ottoman Empire
1648–1687
Charles II of Spain
Spain
1665–1700
Charles II of England
England
1660–1685
Shah Jahan
Mughal Empire
1643–1658
Charles I of England
England
1643–1649
Frederick I of Prussia
Prussia
1701–1713
Bahadur Shah I
Mughal Empire
1707–1712
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Empire
1658–1705
Oliver Cromwell
England
1653–1658
Charles XI of Sweden
Sweden
1660–1697
Philip IV of Spain
Spain
1643–1665
Tokugawa Ietsuna
Japan (Shogunate)
1651–1680
Tokugawa Tsunayoshi
Japan (Shogunate)
1680–1709
Charles II of England
Scotland
1660–1685
Afonso VI of Portugal
Portugal
1656–1683
Emperor Reigen
Japan
1663–1687
Shunzhi Emperor
China
1644–1661
Emperor Higashiyama
Japan
1687–1709
William III of England
England
1689–1702
Peter II of Portugal
Portugal
1683–1706
Ahmed III
Ottoman Empire
1703–1715
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Empire
1643–1657
Anne, Queen of Great Britain
Great Britain
1707–1714
Mustafa II
Ottoman Empire
1695–1703
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Spain
1706–1714
Mary II of England
England
1689–1694
Anne, Queen of Great Britain
England
1702–1707
Pope Clement XI
Papacy
1700–1715
Philip V of Spain
Spain
1700–1706
James II of England
England
1685–1688
John IV of Portugal
Portugal
1643–1656
Charles XII of Sweden
Sweden
1697–1715
Ibrahim I
Ottoman Empire
1643–1648
Meanwhile in history
One “meanwhile in history” story each week: who ruled where, and what was happening on thrones across the world.
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Further Reading
Well-regarded biographies and histories to go deeper on Louis XIV of France's life and times.
Love and Louis XIV: The Women in the Life of the Sun King
Antonia Fraser
Fraser on the women who shaped Louis's reign, mistresses, mother, and daughters.
The Sun King
Nancy Mitford
Mitford's witty classic on Versailles, still a joy to read after seventy years.
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