Louis XV of France

Louis XV Of France

Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774) was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, though Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, his first cousin twice removed, and maternal great uncle, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723. Cardinal de Fleury was his chief minister from 1726 until the Cardinal's death in 1743, at which time the young king took over control of the Kingdom.

During his reign Louis' government returned the Austrian Netherlands (which were gained following the Battle of Fontenoy) at Aix-la-Chapelle, and ceded New France at the conclusion of the Seven Years' War. An unsuccessful assassination attempt occurred in 1757. His reign also saw the incorporation of Lorraine and Corsica to the Kingdom.

Some scholars believe Louis XV's decisions damaged the power of France, weakened the treasury, discredited the absolute monarchy, and may have led to the French Revolution which broke out 15 years after his death Other scholars argue that this reputation is based on propaganda meant to justify the French Revolution, and, by dismissing the Parlement de Paris and reforming the tax code, Louis set France on a path of stability late in his reign. He was succeeded by his grandson Louis XVI in 1774.