Louis XIV of France - Early Years

Early Years

Louis XIV was born on 5 September 1638 in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye to Louis XIII and Anne of Austria. At that time, his parents had already been married for 23 years. His mother had experienced four stillbirths between 1619 and 1631. Leading contemporaries thus regarded him as a divine gift, and his birth, a miracle of God. He was often referred to as "Louis-Dieudonné" (Louis-God-given) and also bore the traditional title of French heirs apparent: Dauphin.

In 1643, seeing that death was at his door, Louis XIII decided to put his affairs in order. Defying custom, which would have made Anne the sole regent, he decreed that a regency council would rule on his son's behalf. His lack of faith in her political abilities was the primary reason. He did, however, make the concession of appointing her head of the Council.

Louis's relationship with his mother was uncommonly affectionate for the time. Contemporaries and eye-witnesses claimed that the Queen would spend all her time with Louis. Both were greatly interested in food and the theatre, and it is highly likely that Louis developed these interests through his close relationship with his mother. This long-lasting and loving relationship can be evidenced by excerpts in Louis's journal entries:

"Nature was responsible for the first knots which tied me to my mother. But attachments formed later by shared qualities of the spirit are far more difficult to break than those formed merely by blood."