The Sun King and the Grand Palace of Versailles

Long ago in France, a young boy named Louis XIV became king at just four years old. Because he was so young, his mother and advisors ruled for him at first. But as Louis grew up, he decided he wanted to rule France all by himself. He believed that his power came directly from God, and he chose the sun as his personal symbol. Just as the planets revolved around the sun, Louis believed all of France should revolve around him. For this reason, he became known as the "Sun King."

As a young ruler, Louis did not feel safe in the busy, crowded city of Paris. There had been rebellions when he was a child, and he wanted a place where he could rule without fear. He remembered a quiet forest about twelve miles outside of Paris where his father had built a simple brick-and-stone hunting lodge. This place was called Versailles. In 1661, Louis decided to transform this humble lodge into the grandest palace the world had ever seen.

Turning Versailles into a masterpiece was a massive undertaking. Louis hired the best architects, painters, and landscape designers in France. Thousands of workers, including soldiers, were brought in to drain the marshy land, move entire forests, and build giant aqueducts to bring water to the palace's famous fountains. The project took decades to complete, and Louis was constantly demanding changes and expansions.

The finished Palace of Versailles was a marvel of art and engineering. It was so large that it could hold thousands of people. The most famous room in the palace was the Hall of Mirrors. This long hallway featured seventeen massive arches, each filled with mirrors that faced tall windows looking out over the gardens. In the seventeenth century, mirrors were incredibly expensive and rare, so this room was a dazzling display of the king's immense wealth and power.

Louis XIV used Versailles for more than just a home; he used it as a tool to control his kingdom. In 1682, he officially moved the French government and court to Versailles. He forced the country's powerful nobles to live there with him. By keeping the nobles busy with fancy parties, strict rules of etiquette, and competition for the king's favor, Louis prevented them from plotting rebellions back in their home provinces. A noble might spend his entire day trying to get the honor of holding the king's candle or helping him put on his shoes.

Louis XIV ruled France for seventy-two years, which is one of the longest reigns in European history. By the time he died in 1715, he had turned France into a powerful global empire and left behind a breathtaking monument. Today, the Palace of Versailles stands as a symbol of the Sun King's absolute power and the incredible artistry of the people of France.