Son of Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse, Louis de France (1661-1711) was known during his lifetime as Monseigneur and, after his death, as the Grand Dauphin.

The Duke of Saint-Simon summed up the prince’s life with these succinct and accurate words: “Son of a king, father of a king, but never king himself.”

Son of a king: destined to reign on the most powerful throne in Europe, the Dauphin received a careful and modern education and played a prominent role in court life, particularly at Versailles.

Father of a king: from his marriage to a Bavarian princess, he had three sons, the youngest of whom, the Duke of Anjou, became King of Spain under the name Philip V.

Having died before Louis XIV, Monseigneur never became king. However, his love of music and hunting, his fabulous collections, and the splendor of his estate in Meudon made him the ideal prince. Recounting his life, status, and role as a patron of the arts, this book sheds light on this little-known yet important figure of the Grand Siècle.

Dimensions: 24 x 27 cm

Number of pages: 472

335 illustrations

Publication date: October 2025

French