Louis XV of France
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| Louis XV of France | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Louis XV |
| Caption | Portrait by Hyacinthe Rigaud |
| Succession | King of France |
| Reign | 1 September 1715 – 10 May 1774 |
| Coronation | 25 October 1722, Reims Cathedral |
| Predecessor | Louis XIV |
| Successor | Louis XVI |
| Birth date | 15 February 1710 |
| Birth place | Palace of Versailles, Kingdom of France |
| Death date | 10 May 1774 (aged 64) |
| Death place | Palace of Versailles, Kingdom of France |
| Burial place | Basilica of Saint-Denis |
| Spouse | Marie Leszczyńska |
| Issue | Louise Élisabeth, Duchess of Parma, Henriette, Louise, Louis, Dauphin, Adélaïde, Victoire, Sophie, Thérèse, Louise Marie |
| House | Bourbon |
| Father | Louis, Duke of Burgundy |
| Mother | Marie Adélaïde of Savoy |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Louis XV of France, known as "Louis the Beloved" early in his reign, was the King of France from 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five, with the kingdom initially governed by a regency led by his cousin, Philippe II, Duke of Orléans. His lengthy reign, the second-longest in French history at the time, was marked by significant military conflicts, diplomatic realignments, and a gradual decline in the monarchy's prestige, which sowed the seeds for the French Revolution.
Early life and accession
Born at the Palace of Versailles in 1710, he was the third son of Louis, Duke of Burgundy and Marie Adélaïde of Savoy. A series of tragic deaths from diseases like measles and smallpox in 1711 and 1712 eliminated his father, mother, and elder brother, leaving him as the heir apparent to Louis XIV. Upon the Sun King's death in 1715, the five-year-old boy became king, with the Parlement of Paris overturning the late king's will to appoint Philippe II, Duke of Orléans as Regent. His education was overseen by his governor, the Duke of Villeroy, and his tutor, André-Hercule de Fleury, the future Cardinal de Fleury. He was declared of majority at age thirteen in 1723, though real power initially remained with the Duke of Bourbon.
Reign and government
After the death of the Duke of Orléans in 1723, the young king placed his trust in his former tutor, Cardinal de Fleury, who served as de facto chief minister until 1743. Fleury's administration promoted economic stability and peace. Following Fleury's death, Louis XV attempted to rule personally in the style of Louis XIV, but his inconsistent leadership and reliance on a succession of ministers, including the Duke of Choiseul and the Duke of Aiguillon, led to a fragmented government. Key institutions like the Parlement of Paris increasingly challenged royal authority, culminating in crises such as the Maupeou coup of 1771, which sought to crush parliamentary opposition.
Foreign policy and wars
His reign was dominated by major European conflicts that strained France's finances and military. He entered the War of the Polish Succession to support his father-in-law, Stanisław Leszczyński, gaining the Duchy of Lorraine. The War of the Austrian Succession saw French victories at battles like Fontenoy but ended with the unfavorable Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. The diplomatic reversal known as the Diplomatic Revolution of 1756 allied France with its traditional enemy, Austria, against Great Britain and Prussia in the Seven Years' War. Disastrous defeats, including the Battle of Rossbach and the loss of colonies like New France and Pondicherry, were confirmed by the humiliating Treaty of Paris.
Personal life and court
In 1725, he married Marie Leszczyńska, daughter of the deposed King Stanisław Leszczyński of Poland; they had ten children, including the Dauphin Louis. After the queen's retirement from the marital bed, the king took a series of influential mistresses, most famously Madame de Pompadour, who became a key political advisor and patron of the Enlightenment. Later, the scandalous Madame du Barry held sway. His private life, including the secretive Parc-aux-Cerfs for brief liaisons, and the extravagance of the court at Versailles fueled public criticism and pamphlets, eroding the monarchy's moral authority.
Death and legacy
He died of smallpox at the Palace of Versailles on 10 May 1774, deeply unpopular and with the monarchy's reputation at a low ebb. He was succeeded by his grandson, Louis XVI. His reign saw France's global power diminish, the state driven deeply into debt by costly wars, and the foundations of royal absolutism critically weakened. While his era witnessed a flourishing of French culture, science, and philosophy—figures like Voltaire, Diderot, and d'Alembert were active—his failure to implement necessary fiscal and administrative reforms is often seen as a direct prelude to the crisis of the French Revolution.
Category:House of Bourbon Category:Monarchs of France Category:18th-century French monarchs