Louis XIV, known as the "Sun King", was King of France from 14 May 1643 until his death in 1715. He is the longest-reigning monarch in history, reigning for 72 years and 110 days. His reign brought about a golden age in French history, marked by a great expansion of the French colonial empire and a flourishing of French culture throughout Europe. As an absolute monarch, Louis expanded monarchical rule and diminished the power of the nobility, developing a strong centralised state ruled from the Palace of Versailles that persisted until the French Revolution. September 5, 1638 – September 1, 1715; died at 76. Alive at the same time as Isaac Newton, Johann Sebastian Bach, Voltaire, René Descartes, and Rembrandt. Wiki link