Louis XIV signed documentA 1701 document signed by Louis XIV (the Sun King) Louis XIV (1638 1715) ascended to the French throne in 1643, when he was four years old. His reign lasted 72 years, still the longest in European history. France was the greatest power on the continent at this time. Under Louis reign, France greatly expanded its territory and influence. As a child, Louis adopted the sun as his own personal emblem. He came to be known as the Sun King. The symbol can be