King Louis XIV Historians of three centuries have both defended and ridiculed King Louis XIV’s controversial reign. Many people have hailed him as a great king; mighty as the sun he took for his emblem. Being “great” as a king entails putting people before personal ambition, taking only necessary military action, achieving big things for his country, and instilling a sense of national pride in the people he rules. Louis the XIV did indeed …showed first 75 words of 617 total…

…showed last 75 words of 617 total…is not enough to let its king claim “great” as his title. King Louis XIV did not always put his people before himself, he fought wars that were unnecessary, and he did not accomplish much for France. Although the King did instill a sense of national pride because of his magnificent court, this did nothing in the destiny of France. Louis XIV was not great because he possessed only one quality of a great king.