Draft:Louis XIV

Louis XIV (5 September 1638 – 1 September 1715) was King of France from 1643 to 1715, the longest-reigned monarch we can verify. He finished Louis XI and Cardinal Richelieu's work of centralizing the state, unified the legal code, promoted trade and commerce, expanded the country's borders and reformed taxation, but wasted such achievements away in constant warfare (including near-nonstop war in 1688–1713 with only a few years of break in between) and was notoriously extravagant in his personal life. However, he did generously support science and great art, personally participated in urban planning and advanced the development of Canada of all places.

"French Louisiana" was founded and hugely expanded under him, which would significantly contribute to the United States when Napoleon eventually sold it to Thomas Jefferson.

He was a great inspiration for all authoritarians ever since with his creation of a functional absolute monarchy (which collapsed soon after, since he was too competent for his successors to emulate) and his statement "I am the state" (which mimicked a quote from his significant predecessor Louis XI: "I am France").

Some consider him partly responsible for the French Revolution while others question this.