Identifier: libraryofhistori02spof (find matches)
Title: The library of historic characters and famous events of all nations and all ages;
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors: Spofford, Ainsworth Rand, 1825-1908 Weitenkampf, Frank, 1866-1962 Lamberton, John Porter, 1839-1917
Subjects: Biography History
Publisher: Philadelphia : W. Finley
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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le power thathe was accepted by his contem-poraries and is still regarded byhistorians as the perfect exemplar of modern kingship. Inhis councils was found such ability of administrative geniusas promoted the power and glory of his kingdom. In thefield he was served by military talent which in most casescompelled other nations to submit to his dictation. In hiscourt he was surrounded by a galaxy of wit and beauty,finding life and pleasure in ministering to his diversion. Hewas indeed the sun, around whom a whole system of inferiorplanets revolved, and from whom they derived their ownbrilliancy. Louis XIV. was born on the 5th of September, 1638. Hismother, Anne of Austria, had almost from the day of hermarriage been regarded with aversion and treated withneglect by her husband, Louis XIII. At last, after a scoreof years, some reconciliation was effected, and her hopelessbarrenness was redeemed by the birth of a son, who was sur-named by the joyful attendants of the court Dieu-donn6.294
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p 33 LOUIS XIV. 295 His father died at the Castle of St. Germain on the nth ofMay, 1643, and the child succeeded to the throne of thegreatest kingdom in Europe at the age of four years andeight months. During his minority France was under the regency of theQueen-mother, who was guided by the shrewd counsels ofCardinal Mazarin, an Italian, who had been the pupil andfavorite of the greater Cardinal Richelieu. The Frenchnobility, however, had a strong dislike to the supple foreigner,and brought about the civil war of the Fronde. During thistime the Queen was obliged to leave Paris as no longer safe,and seek refuge in St. Germain en Laye. Here the courtsuffered much, and the King was often in want of necessaries.This humiliation made a deep impression in the mind ofLouis, and rendered him afterwards imperious. As soon asthe violence of the nobility was curbed and the Frondebrought to an end by the exile of its leaders, Louis becamemaster of affairs, and although Mazarin, who had beenrecal

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