路易十四世(1638～1715年)

Louis XIV

别名太阳王（the Sun King）

法国国王（1643～1715），在位期间是法国历史上最辉煌的一个时期，也是古典时代专制君主的象徵。路易十三世之子，四岁就继承王位，由母后奥地利的安娜摄政。1648年贵族和巴黎议会因憎恨首相马萨林擅权而联合起来反对国王，即投石党运动。1653年马萨林战胜了造反分子，此後朝政由马萨林独揽，路易十四世即便在成年後也不敢过问。1660年路易和西班牙腓力四世的女儿奥地利的玛丽－泰蕾莎（1638～1683）结婚。1661年马萨林过世，路易十四世惊人地向大臣们表示他要负起统治王国的全部责任。他信奉天授神权的独裁统治，认为自己是上帝在人间的代表。他在能干的首相柯尔贝尔和卢瓦侯爵的辅佐下，削弱了贵族权力，让他们依赖王室。他也是艺术的赞助者，保护作家，并大力营建新的行宫，其中包括豪华的凡尔赛宫，在那里把大部分的贵族置於他的监视范围下。1667年路易十四世在权力转移战争（1667～1668）中进攻西属尼德兰。1672年再度在第三次荷兰战争中入侵。此时太阳王处於全盛时期，他拓展了把法国的北部和东部疆界，博得廷臣的敬爱。1680年与情妇蒙特斯庞侯爵夫人（1641～1707）闹出腓闻，深怕损及他的声誉而公开放弃享乐的生活。1683年王后过世，他秘密地与信仰虔诚的曼特农侯爵夫人结婚。在动用武力试图改变法国新教徒的信仰後，1685年还撤销南特敕令。在大同盟战争（1689～1697）和西班牙王位继承战争（1701～1714）期间，欧洲各国因害怕路易的扩张主义而结成联盟对抗法国。路易十四世在七十七岁时过世，堪称欧洲史上统治最久的一位君主。

English version：

1638～1715年

Louis XIV

King of France (1643-1715), ruler during one of France's most brilliant periods and the symbol of absolute monarchy of the classical age. He succeeded his father, Louis XIII, at age 4, under the regency of his mother, Anne of Austria. In 1648 the nobles and the Paris Parlement, who hated the prime minister, Cardinal Mazarin, rose against the crown and started the Fronde. In 1653, victorious over the rebels, Mazarin gained absolute power, though the king was of age. In 1660 Louis married Marie-Thérèse of Austria (1638-1683), daughter of Philip IV of Spain. When Mazarin died in 1661, Louis astonished his ministers by informing them that he intended to assume responsibility for ruling the kingdom. A believer in dictatorship by divine right, he viewed himself as God's representative on earth. He was assisted by his able ministers, Jean-Baptiste Colbert and the marquis de Louvois. Louis weakened the nobles' power by making them dependent on the crown. A patron of the arts, he protected writers and devoted himself to building splendid palaces, including the extravagant Versailles, where he kept most of the nobility under his watchful eye. In 1667 he invaded the Spanish Netherlands in the War of Devolution (1667-68) and again in 1672 in the Third Dutch War. The Sun King was at his zenith; he had extended France's northern and eastern borders and was adored at his court. In 1680, a scandal involving his mistress, the marquise de Montespan (1641-1707), made him fearful for his reputation and he openly renounced pleasure. The queen died in 1683, and he secretly married the pious marquise de Maintenon. After trying to convert French Protestants by force, he revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685. Fear of his expansionism led to alliances against France during the War of the Grand Alliance (1688-97) and the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14). Louis died at 77 at the end of the longest reign in European history.