Louis XIV is an important historical figure. He was known as the Sun King because all activity in France basically revolved around him. He built up the property at Versailles to a glorious palace and got the nobility to compete for his attention there. They would even compete with each other for the right to help the king get dressed in the morning. This was Louis' way of keeping the ranking nobles from being a threat to his power. He lured them to come live at the glorious Versailles palace with him where he could keep them under his influence and away from their lands in the provinces. They were lavishly entertained, but lost the real power they would have had as lords governing in their provincial lands.
