Louis XIV, known as the "Sun King," was the monarch of France who reigned from 1643 to 1715. His reign is one of the longest in European history, and he is often associated with the peak of absolute monarchy in France. His signifying sun emblem represented his belief that he was the center of the French state, with his rule characterized by centralization of power, the strengthening of the monarchy, and the patronage of the arts. His construction of the extravagant Palace of Versailles remains an enduring symbol of his reign and the excesses of royal power.