In 1715, the Sun King – thought to be immortal – passed away at 77. Three centuries later, new scientific analyses are still casting doubt on the cause of his death, long believed to be gangrene. Louis XIV’s agony lasted 23 days and unfolded in full view of the court, at the heart of his architectural masterpiece: the Chateau de Versailles.
A succession crisis with repercussions across Europe, medical incompetence, intrigue and jealousy – within this gripping closed-door drama, the early tremors of the French Revolution can already be felt. This death is the final act of an extraordinary life – and longest reign in world history – that would seal the legend of the greatest king of France.
Filmed in Versailles, Notre-Dame de Paris, and the Basilica of Saint Denis, this film blends historical reconstructions, rare archives, period journals and the contributions of contemporary experts, to revisit the last moments of a legendary monarch – whose death continue to yield new revelations today.
Direction: Sylvie Faiveley
Production: ZED for France Télévisions