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Louis XIV was born on September 5, 1638, at Saint Germain-en-Laye. His parents, King Louis XIII and Anne of Austria, grateful for an heir after 23 childless years of marriage, christened him Louis Dieudonne (literally, the “gift of God”). Louis XIV of France had the longest reign in European history (1643-1715). He became king at the age of four years with the death of his father, Louis XIII on May 14, 1643. Louis XIV came of age Sept. 5, 1651, on his thirteenth birthday, and was crowned three years later on June 7, 1654. It was during this period, in February of 1653, that Louis first encountered Jean-Baptiste Lully. At 14 Lully had come to France and worked as page to cousin of Louis XIV until his prowess as dancer and mime was noticed by the king. Louis XIV was also quite a dancer. He had been dancing since he was a boy, having inherited both musical talent and dancing ability from his father