Louis XV, king of France: Early Reign

Louis succeeded to the throne with Philippe II, duc d'Orléans (see Orléans, family) as regent. After the regent died (1723), the king was guided by André Hercule de Fleury, his main adviser from 1726. When Fleury died in 1743, the king decided not to appoint a chief minister. Louis, however, lacked both the will and interest to govern forcefully, and his reign was influenced by a succession of favorites. Of these, Mme de Pompadour and her adherents were the most important and were in favor from the 1730s until 1764. The comtesse Du Barry was installed in 1768 and retained her influence until the king's death.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Domestic Policies
• Foreign Affairs
• Early Reign
• Bibliography

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