TITLE:The Man in the Iron Mask

PUBLISHER:Harper Press

ISBN:9780007449880

DEC-INDEX :843.7

YEAR:2012

RESUME:King Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, was a monarch who ruled France from 1643 until his death in 1715. He was one of the longest-reigning kings in European history, and during his reign, he centralized power, established an absolute monarchy, and greatly expanded the French empire. Louis XIV was known for his grandeur and extravagance, and he invested heavily in the arts, architecture, and culture, making France a center of European civilization. He was also a patron of literature and science, and his reign saw the rise of great French writers such as Molière and Racine. However, Louis XIV's reign was also marked by wars, political intrigue, and religious conflict. He was engaged in a series of costly wars against other European powers, and his persecution of Protestants led to the emigration of thousands of France's most talented and productive citizens. Overall, Louis XIV is remembered as a complex figure, who left a lasting impact on French history and culture, but whose reign was also marked by controversy and conflict.

N_PAGES:630

ILLUSTRATION:non

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