Louis XIV of France

Biography

The Sun King had dominated European politics for half a century when his grandson Philip was offered the Spanish throne in 1700. His acceptance of that inheritance — breaking his earlier treaty commitment — precipitated the greatest war of his reign. Louis personally directed French strategy throughout, refusing humiliating peace terms in 1709 even when France faced starvation and military collapse, and lived to see Villars's victories at Denain rescue something from the wreckage. He died in September 1715, just months after the final peace treaties were signed, leaving a France that was contained but not crushed.