Louis XV of France

Louis XV was the great-grandson of Louis XIV and the third son of the Duke of Burgundy and his wife Marie Adélaïde of Savoy. He was born in the Palace of Versailles on 15 February 1710 and became king of France at the age of five, following the death of his great-grandfather. He was nicknamed "the Beloved" by his subjects, who initially admired his charm and generosity. He was tutored by Cardinal Fleury, who became his chief minister in 1726. Under his guidance, Louis pursued a moderate foreign policy and supported the arts and sciences. He also expanded the royal domain by acquiring Lorraine and Corsica. However, Louis's later years were marked by military defeats, fiscal crises, and political scandals. He involved France in costly wars against Britain, Prussia, and Austria, which drained the treasury and eroded the prestige of the monarchy. He also alienated the nobility and the clergy by imposing new taxes and reforms. His personal life was also a source of controversy, as he had numerous mistresses and illegitimate children. His most famous lovers were Madame de Pompadour and Madame du Barry. He was also a patron of the Enlightenment, but he failed to implement its ideas in his government. Louis died of smallpox on 10 May 1774 in the Palace of Versailles. He was succeeded by his grandson Louis XVI, who inherited a large debt and a discontented population. Louis XV's reign is generally seen as a period of decline for the French monarchy, which contributed to the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789.