Louis XV of France 1710 – 1774

Biography

Louis XV came into the world on February 15, 1710, at the Palace of Versailles, born into one of Europe’s most powerful dynasties. His entire life would unfold within the grandeur of French royal life, from his earliest years through his final days. In 1715, at just five years old, he ascended to the throne as King of France and Navarre, a position he would hold for nearly six decades. This remarkably long reign would define an era of French history, during which he navigated the complex responsibilities of leading one of Europe’s greatest nations.

For fifty-nine years, Louis XV presided over the French kingdom from Versailles, the magnificent palace that served as both his birthplace and his home throughout his life. On May 10, 1774, his reign came to an end when he succumbed to smallpox while still residing at Versailles. His death marked the close of an extraordinary chapter in French royal history. Following royal tradition, he was laid to rest at the Basilica of Saint-Denis in Saint-Denis, France, the traditional burial place of French monarchs. There, among his predecessors and successors, his legacy endured in stone.