The Extravagant Daily Routine of King Louis XIV
The Sun King loved rich foods and a lot of publicity
Louis XIV is one of the most famous and the longest reigning monarch in European history. His reign lasted from 1643, when he inherited the French throne from his father, to 1715.
During this time, he waged countless wars, colonized many territories, encouraged the advancement of the arts and built the glittering palace of Versailles — a project that cost a whopping 2–300 billion US dollars. Interestingly, his construction of Versailles attracted the envy of other European monarchs, many of whom tried to replicate its breathtaking splendor.
Because of his immense fame, Louis’s private life gained attention from scholars. He was known for his countless love affairs. Although he married Maria Theresa of Spain and had six children with her, he enjoyed the company of numerous mistresses, many of whom had children of their own. While this might seem ironic for an avowedly Catholic monarch, it wasn’t uncommon for kings to be unfaithful to their wives.
Louis de Rouvroy, the duc de Saint-Simon, was a minor noble who recorded a detailed summary of King Louis’s daily habits. Like many other French nobles, he lived in Versailles, since the King preferred to keep his potential rivals in his sights. Despite the King’s love of flattery, Louis de…
