Transcript
Lindsey Graham (0:00)
There are more ways than ever to listen to History Daily ad free. Listen with Wondry plus in the Wondery app as a member of Noiser plus at noiser.com or in Apple Podcasts. Or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts@intohristory.com It's May 14, 1643, at a Royal residence near Paris, France. Queen Anne snaps awake at the sound of church bells in the distance. It takes a moment for the 43 year old to remember where she is, sitting in a chair next to the bed of her husband, King Louis XIII of France. Although Louis is two years younger than Anne, his health is failing and doctors have predicted that his death is imminent. Anne has sat in vigil by Louis's bed for days, but she's so exhausted she must have drifted off to sleep. Anne has more to worry about than just her husband's illness. Their eldest child, who is also named Louis, is next in line to the throne. But he's only 4 years old and this is not a time for a boy king. France is nearly out of money and the country's nobles have spent the last few decades either fighting among themselves or quarreling with the king. It's such an unstable situation that Anne fears an ambitious noble will attempt to seize the throne after her husband is gone. She dips a cloth in a bowl of water and holds it to King Louis Forehead. It seems to revive him a little. He mutters weakly and lifts his head off the bed as though grasping for something. Anne puts her ear close to his mouth to make out his words. He's asking for his sword. Anne smiles sadly and strokes Louis Forehead. Her husband has no need for a weapon now, but Anne fears her son might soon. Later that day, King Louis XIII takes his final breath. Anne has little time to grieve. She immediately leaves the deathbed and assembles the court in the chambers of her young son. There, with France's fractious nobles as her witnesses, she proclaims the four year old as France's new ruler, Louis xiv. Although he ascends to the throne in difficult circumstances, the new King Louis will rule for 72 years and his reign will transform France into the most kingdom in Europe. Louis will go down in history as the renowned Sun King, a spectacular achievement considering his shaky grip on power when he became king of France as a four year old on May 14, 1643. History Daily is sponsored by Express Pros. Managing your workforce can be exhausting, and if you're tired of a costly and lengthy hiring process, simplify and speed up your recruitment with one connection the experts at Express Employment Professionals reduce time to hire, cut down on interviews, and lower your recruitment costs. Visit ExpressPros.com today. Express is more efficient than hiring on your own. Check out ExpressPros.com to see how Express Employment professionals can take care of your hiring.
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