King Louis XIV

King Louis XIV of France (5 September 1638 – 1 September 1715), authentic, autographed manuscript document. Document measures approximately 10" x 16" in size and is dated 1698. King Louis XIV was well known as King Louis the Great or the Sun King. He ruled as King from 1643 until his death - a tenure of over 72 years and the longest of monarchs in major countries in European history.

After the death of his Chief Minister, Cardinal Mazarin, Louis began his own personal rule of France. A champion of the system of absolute monarchial rule, much of his success was brought upon by eliminating the remnants of feudalism and by inviting several members of the nobility to live at the Palace of Versailles, for which King Louis had moved his family and the court of government to in 1682. The Royal Families of France remained at Versailles until the outbreak of the French Revolution in October of 1789.

During Louis' reign, France became the leading power of the European countries and participated in three major wars: the Franco-Dutch War, the War of the League of Augsburg and the War of the Spanish Succession. Louis and his wife Maria Theresa of Spain had six children, all for which only one survived to adulthood. Upon his death, he was succeeded by his five year old great-grandson, Louis XV.

This untranslated document, crisply signed by Louis at the conclusion is in good to very good condition, with expected intersecting folds and light age wear to the edges and corners.