\paperw4260 \margr0\margl0 \plain \qj\li105\ri195 \f1 \b Louis XIV\par
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\b0 Born in 1638, Louis XIV became king at the age of six under the regency of his mother, but did n
ot take actual control of the reins of government until 1661. From that moment on he behaved as an absolute sovereign, as the \i ôSun Kingö\i0 ruling from his palace at \b \ATXul1024 \cf4 \ATXht191 Versailles\b0 \ATXul0 \cf0 \ATXht0 . He was able to sur
round himself with able ministers (Colbert, Louvois...), administrators who governed the provinces in his name, and creative talents (\b \ATXul1024 \cf4 \ATXht471 MoliΦre\b0 \ATXul0 \cf0 \ATXht0 , Lully...) who helped to build up his glory. But he was in
tolerant in religious matters and the wars that he waged against the other European powers left the kingdom exhausted on his death in 1715.\par
