Louis XIV changed the definition of royalty in Europe forever. You likely know him as the Sun King who built Versailles, but his daily habits were incredibly strange. He forced nobles to watch him wake up every morning to keep them loyal. Furthermore, he ruled for over 72 years, outliving his own son and grandson. His obsession with fashion created trends we still see today, like high heels. Let’s explore the life of the absolute monarch.
Louis XIV
Louis XIV holds the record for the longest reign of any monarch in European history. He ruled France for exactly 72 years and 110 days. Consequently, he outlived his son and his grandson before he finally died at an old age.
He terrified his mistresses with his terrible breath. Doctors pulled all his upper teeth in 1685 without any anesthesia. Therefore, he could not chew properly and often swallowed his food whole, which caused severe indigestion.
He made high heels popular for men to boost his height. He wore red heels to show his power and status at court. Interestingly, he forbade anyone in his presence from wearing heels higher than his own to maintain his dominance.
The King underwent a painful surgery to fix an anal fistula without any painkillers. Remarkably, loyal courtiers bandaged their own bottoms afterwards. They did this to show support for their suffering leader and make the bandage a trend.
He earned the nickname Sun King because of a ballet costume. He dressed as the rising sun in The Royal Ballet of the Night when he was 14. He loved dance and participated in 80 different ballets during his life.
He enticed expert glassmakers from Venice to build the Hall of Mirrors. This act was dangerous because the Venetian government threatened to kill anyone who shared their secrets. Nevertheless, Louis XIV paid them enough to take the risk.
His stomach was reportedly twice the size of an average human stomach. Autopsy reports confirmed this physical anomaly after he died. This explains why he could eat massive feasts consisting of four different plates of soup and whole pheasants.
He bought the famous French Blue diamond, which we now know as the Hope Diamond. He wore the massive gem on a ribbon around his neck for ceremonial occasions. It disappeared during the French Revolution years later.
He turned his daily routine into a public spectacle to control his nobles. Aristocrats competed for the honor of holding his shirt while he dressed in the morning. Louis XIV used these rituals to keep them busy and loyal.
He helped make potatoes popular in France by wearing their flowers. People previously believed the vegetable caused leprosy and avoided it. He wore the purple blooms on his coat to prove they were safe and fashionable.
He encouraged his younger brother Philippe to wear women’s dresses. Louis XIV wanted to ensure his sibling would never become a political threat to the throne. Thus, Philippe focused on fashion and jewelry instead of military power.
The American state of Louisiana is named directly after him. Explorer René-Robert Cavelier named the vast territory “La Louisiane” to honor the King in 1682. It covered a massive part of North America at the time.
He rarely took a full bath in water during his life. Doctors at the time believed that hot water opened the pores to disease. Instead, he cleaned himself by rubbing spirits on his skin and changing his linen shirt constantly.
He owned over 1,000 wigs to hide his thinning hair. He started losing his hair as a teenager, likely due to an illness like typhoid. His elaborate wigs sparked a massive fashion craze across Europe that lasted for a century.
A British geologist reportedly ate the mummified heart of Louis XIV years after the revolution. Reverend William Buckland bought the organ and consumed it during a dinner party. He claimed he wanted to taste a piece of history.
