Louis XIV, also known as Louis the Great (presumably under pain of death) or the Sun King, ascended to the throne at the age of four. Fortunately for him, his mom chipped in to help, as did Cardinal Jules Mazarin and it wasn't until the still tender age of 22, when Mazarin died, that he assumed full power.

As with most monarchs, there are some good things and some bad things. Earlier in his reign, he had brought unprecedented prosperity to France which saw the country become a dominant force in science and arts. He also instigated a rule that the Palace of Versailles hallways were to be cleansed for faeces and dirt once every week. That's right, Versailles was very short on loos, forcing guests to occasionally relieve themselves in the corridors of power. Passing this decree was easier than installing the odd water closet or providing guests with a complimentary bucket when they visited.

On the other hand, he oppressed the Huguenots (Protestants) and towards the end of his reign got involved in several unsuccessful wars, nearly bankrupted the state and played more than his fair part in bringing famine to his country. Like a lot of people who never get questioned, he started to believe his own hype, assuming his role as a direct representative of God.