Louis XIV had the longest verified reign of any sovereign of a country, lasting 72 years and 110 days.
He became king of France in 1643, when he was four years old, after the death of his father, Louis XIII. His mother, Anne of Austria, and chief minister Cardinal Mazarin governed during his childhood. Louis began personal rule after Mazarin’s death in 1661 and became the leading symbol of absolute monarchy in Europe.
Known as the Sun King, Louis XIV expanded and centralized royal authority, sponsored the arts, and transformed the hunting lodge at Versailles into a vast palace and political center. His reign included major wars, costly court spending, and the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685.
Louis XIV died in 1715 and was succeeded by his great-grandson, Louis XV. Elizabeth II held the longest reign of any British monarch, but her 70 years and 214 days were shorter than Louis XIV’s. Louis XIV’s reign began before he reached adulthood, so the total includes years under a regency.